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Tag: NASCAR

Trump applauds ‘guts’ of NASCAR drivers ahead of Daytona 500, sends them special message

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NASCAR drivers will hit speeds of nearly 200 mph when the green flag waves for the Daytona 500 on Sunday as the season begins at Daytona International Speedway.

President Donald Trump was on hand for the start of the “Great American Race.” He led the drivers on a lap before the race started. It’s the second time he’s attended the event.

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty at the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Ahead of the call for drivers to start their engines, Trump talked to FOX Sports’ Jamie Little and applauded the racers for competing in the event.

“They have a lot of courage doing this. I see it and I’ve been here,” the president said. “They have a lot of guts, as they would say.”

Trump, who was joined on the track by his granddaughter, highlighted the progress of the United States since he started his second term as president.

“I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s great for the country,” he said. “The country is doing well again. We have spirit all over the world. There’s spirit again, we brought it back and it’s been less than four weeks. You’ll see what we do in a little period of time. It’s gonna only get better. But this is very exciting.”

Trump had a message for the drivers on their radios before the green flag waved.

President Donald Trump, with granddaughter Carolina, speaks during an interview at the NASCAR Daytona 500, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

NASCAR FANS CHEER AS TRUMP ARRIVES FOR DAYTONA 500 IN AIR FORCE ONE

“This is your favorite. I’m a big fan. I’m a really big fan of you people. (How) you do this, I don’t know. But I just want you to be safe. You’re talented people and great people and great Americans. Have a good day. Have a lot of fun and I’ll see you later.”

Trump touted the American spirit in a statement before he arrived in Daytona Beach, Florida.

“This iconic race showcases the fastest, most fearless drivers in motorsports, who represent our Nation’s love of tradition, competition, and automotive innovation,” the statement read. “The Daytona 500 brings together people from all walks of life—from lifelong racing fans to first-time spectators—they all join in celebrating a shared passion for speed, adrenaline, and the thrill of the race.

“From the roar of the engines on the track to the echo of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ soaring through the stands, the Daytona 500 is a timeless tribute to the speed, strength, and unyielding spirit that make America great. That spirit is what will fuel America’s Golden Age, and if we harness it, the future is truly ours.”

President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Daytona Beach International Airport, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, en route to NASCAR’s Daytona 500. (Pool via AP)

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The president was joined at the track by Eric Trump, Luke Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, John Paul Duffy, Patrick Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Kathryn Burgum, Sens. Todd Young and Ashley Moody, and Reps. Jason Smith, Byron Donalds and Mike Haridopolos.

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February 16, 2025
NASCAR fans cheer as Trump arrives for Daytona 500 in Air Force One

President Donald Trump received cheers from the crowd at Daytona International Speedway as Air Force One landed at the airport ahead of his arrival for the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

The president’s plane flew over the speedway before it landed at Daytona International Airport. Cheers from the crowd were heard on the FOX broadcast as the pre-race hosts talked to Chase Elliott. NASCAR fans and drivers watched as the plane flew over the track.

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President Donald Trump departs the White House on Feb. 14, 2025. Trump is attending the Daytona 500 this weekend. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Trump released a statement ahead of landing at the airport. He will be the first sitting president to attend two Daytona 500 races at Daytona International Speedway. He attended the race the first time in February 2020.

“This iconic race showcases the fastest, most fearless drivers in motorsports, who represent our Nation’s love of tradition, competition, and automotive innovation,” the statement read. “The Daytona 500 brings together people from all walks of life—from lifelong racing fans to first-time spectators—they all join in celebrating a shared passion for speed, adrenaline, and the thrill of the race.

“From the roar of the engines on the track to the echo of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ soaring through the stands, the Daytona 500 is a timeless tribute to the speed, strength, and unyielding spirit that make America great. That spirit is what will fuel America’s Golden Age, and if we harness it, the future is truly ours.”

Air Force One with President Donald Trump on board flies over the scoring tower at the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Trump also thanked U.S. military members for their service.

“Since the very beginning, NASCAR has carried forth a proud tradition of honoring our heroic Service members for their unwavering courage,” the statement added. “While fans from around the world gather today at Daytona International Speedway, we extend our unending gratitude to the selfless men and women in uniform who risk their lives to keep us safe. When the engines start or the checkered flag waves, and all 500 thrilling miles in between, our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Guardians stand ready to defend cherished traditions like this—and for that, we are truly thankful.

“Melania and I send our best wishes for a safe and successful race. May God bless our Armed Forces, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.”

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, en route to NASCAR’s Daytona 500. (Pool Photo via AP)

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Trump was at Super Bowl LIX for the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 16, 2025
NASCAR star Bubba Wallace responds to Trump possibly attending Daytona 500 after past feud

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President Donald Trump is rumored to be attending this year’s Daytona 500 on Feb. 16. If he shows up, he will be there to watch a driver he has a spotty history with.

Bubba Wallace, who drives the McDonald’s car for Michael Jordan’s NASCAR team 23XI Racing, engaged in a public feud with Trump in 2020.

In July 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the George Floyd riots, Wallace made multiple posts on X, then known as Twitter, condemning Trump for promoting hate.

Trump himself attacked Wallace on social media over the driver calling for a ban on confederate flags at races and alleged that an investigation into a noose being found in his garage was a “hoax.” An FBI investigation found that the noose had been in the garage stall since October 2019, and no crime had been committed.

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Bubba Wallace, #43, wears a “I Can’t Breathe, Black Lives Matter” shirt before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, June 7, 2020 in Hampton, Georgia. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Later that year, Wallace alleged that he had been told he was “bringing politics into NASCAR,” in response to his condemnation of Trump. However, in 2024, Wallace made no political posts to speak of. Wallace previously told Fox News Digital why.

“Investing my time into that seems like a waste of time,” Wallace said at the time. “I was definitely more vocal then because our sport was in desperate need of change.”

Now, with Trump set to possibly attend the Daytona 500, Wallace feels just as indifferent as he did during the past year’s election. At the Daytona 500 media day on Wednesday, Wallace said he “couldn’t care less” if Trump showed up or not.

“We’re here to race. Not for the show,” Wallace added.

The response is in line with Wallace’s recent approach to politics. Unlike in 2020, he no longer makes any political social media posts. His feed on X is now just a curated mix of racing photos, promotional posts and photos of family.

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Bubba Wallace, right, argues with Kyle Larson after the two crashed during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

One of the biggest reasons Wallace abandoned that habit from 2020 is because of cultural shifts in social media during that time. Wallace said there is overwhelming “negativity” on the platforms he would use to get any messages of his beliefs out.

“Social media nowadays is just a way for people to hide behind a screen and voice their opinions on things they don’t really know about,” Wallace previously told Fox News Digital.

“It’s just too much negativity that it’s going to take years and years and years to get rid of, and we don’t have time for that,” Wallace said of the current culture of social media. “Now, with being a dad and trying to be the best that I can be here for my race team and my team here, that’s where I’m investing my energy so that’s all you can really ask for.”

For Wallace, the impact of becoming a father has been a transformative experience for him in such a short amount of time. Since his son was born, Wallace has two top-10 finishes in the three races he has competed in. He is also looking at life through a lense he was not looking through before.

“You have your kid at home and a full family to provide for now, so it’s crazy to go through all that,” Wallace said.

Meanwhile, if Trump shows up, it will be two major sporting event appearances for the president within the span of a week.

Last Sunday, Trump became the first sitting president in U.S. history to attend a Super Bowl when he traveled to the Superdome in New Orleans to watch the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

Trump previously served as grand marshal for the 2020 Daytona 500 and gave the command for drivers to start their engines. He also took a parade lap around the 2 1/2-mile speedway in his armored limousine, leading the 40-car field before the green flag. The presidential motorcade remained on the apron in the corners instead of taking to the high-banked turns.

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President Donald Trump, accompanied by Ivanka Trump, speaks before signing the National Security Presidential Memorandum to Launch the “Women’s Global Development and Prosperity” Initiative. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Thousands cheered, and a band played patriotic music when Air Force One flew over the famed track, a flyover that was simultaneously shown on big screens. Trump’s presence energized fans and caused huge headaches because of logistical issues at entrance points.

Trump, with first lady Melania Trump by his side, addressed the crowd before the race and called the Daytona 500 “a legendary display of roaring engines, soaring spirits and the American skill, speed and power that we’ve been hearing about for so many years.”

A notice from the Federal Aviation Administration posted Monday indicated that Trump was expected to attend the race, but NASCAR said Wednesday it had gotten no confirmation.

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February 13, 2025
NASCAR driver Ross Chastin discusses Daytona 500, Super Bowl commercial, and goals for 2025 season

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It is not easy to win in NASCAR, but that is not necessarily acceptable to Ross Chastain.

Chastain has five victories to his resume, and he narrowly missed out on being the Cup Series winner in 2022, finishing in second on the season.

However, on Feb. 16, the Daytona 500 marks a new season and a new opportunity.

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Ross Chastain, driver of the #1 Busch Light Flannel Chevrolet, is carried by his crew on stage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

“The Daytona 500 is such a big event to kick off the season. To kick off the first points event, the walking out for the Daytona 500, the race is big, but it’s the most nerve-racking for me pre-race, because it’s the whole season,” Chastain said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. “When we’re on the pre-race stage, and we walk out, it’s the first time that the season’s starting. So much opportunity is right there in front of me, and I get to try to take it.

“Once I get in the car, it all goes away, I don’t see the grandstands, I don’t think about anybody else. It’s me, my car, my crew chief, and my spotter. That’s it. It’s amazing how the human mind can just block everything. Everything else goes away. And it’s only that car and every detail, every smell, every vibration, every feeling in it. It’s all that to say, at the end of the race, I’m having a Busch Light no matter what.”

In an ideal world, Chastain would have several cold ones to celebrate a win. The driver partnered with Busch Light last year, and that has landed him an acting gig in a Super Bowl commercial this year – the commercial debuted on Wednesday’s edition of “Fox & Friends.”

Chastain said his initial reaction when he got the nod was, “when can we film it?” However, it took him by surprise how much work actually went into it.

Ross Chastain, #1 TrackHouse Racing Busch Light Throwback Chevrolet, races into turn 2 during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 on May 11, 2024 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. (Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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“We filmed for hours, a lot of takes. Trying to get the angle right and trying to get my ‘What’s wrong with going in circles?’ It sounds so simple to say, but they wanted it to come across a certain way,” he said. “The take they used was actually pretty early, but we did a lot more seeing what else, you know, what kind of octaves and different tones I could do it in,” he said.

The commercial, though, is just another benefit of being a Busch Light athlete, said Chastain.

“It’s been life-changing, really. What it’s done for Trackhouse, my team and me, it’s solidified us in the sport. This will be my fourth year going into a Trackhouse and second year with Busch Light,” he said. “It’s amazing to see what Justin Marks, our owner, what he’s built, and just how the team operates and what his vision was for Trackhouse was exactly this. It was to partner with brands that believed in the future of the sport.

“There can be negativity around anything, you can pick the happiest idea in the world, and somebody’s gonna have a negative view on it, so Justin has a forward-thinking mindset and does things a bit different, and Busch Light wanted to be a part of that. Justin’s a disruptor, he wants us to come inand do things a different way, and Busch Light lets us be us. They wanted to be with Trackhouse because we were different, because we weren’t what they had seen for so long in a sport.”

Just one week after the commercial, his season will officially get underway, and Chastain has had enough of coming up short in both the big race and the season standings.

“[The goal is] to survive 500 miles. It’s such a grueling race from an attrition standpoint; so many cars crash, we’re so close together. We always think we’re all gonna do better and not crash, but we crash. It’s what NASCAR drivers do. If you’re there at the end like we were last year – I could see the white flag and made a move to try to win and spun myself out. I’ll do that a little differently.

“But no, Daytona 500 is played out the same way. It’s always different. And then, once we go from there through the season, this is our fourth year with Trackhouse, my fifth year with my team, just continue to evolve. I think I’ve got the best team, so it’s all out there. When I walk out for driver introductions, it hits me, this is the opportunity to go take what we want. I’m a competitor, I want to beat all the people in this race.”

Ross Chastain, #1 TrackHouse Racing Busch Light Chevrolet, stands next to the Harley J Earl trophy prior to the running of the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 on Feb. 19, 2024 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Chastain added, “That goal of winning in the competition, it drives me. It’s why I do all this, it’s why I’m in New York today, and brands like Busch Light want to be a part of that. They want to win, as well, they want to win to consumers, sell more beer, and that’s the people I want around me.”

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February 6, 2025
Legendary NASCAR broadcaster Bill Weber dead at 67

A major loss in the world of NASCAR was announced Tuesday.

Longtime broadcaster Bill Weber died Dec. 13, and the organization kept his death private until recently.

Weber was 67.

“The National Motorsports Press Association is saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR broadcaster and pit reporter Bill Weber,” the organization wrote on X.

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The NASCAR Cup Series logo as drivers race at Bristol Motor Speedway. (Mark Humphrey/Pool Photo via USA Today Network)

NASCAR fans were shocked at the news of Weber’s death as it began circulating online.

“Man…this is a sad email to get today from my friends at the @NMPAonline,” one X user wrote. “Bill Weber, to me was such an iconic NASCAR voice of my childhood, specifically with his role in what is my all-time favorite NASCAR video game, NASCAR 2005. RIP Bill Weber.”

Weber rose through the ranks of NASCAR broadcasting to the point he was the lap-by-lap caller at NBC, beginning in 2004, where he was quickly embraced by the sport’s fan base.

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Weber was known for some of the most memorable calls in the sport during his time in the booth, including Tony Stewart’s second Cup Series championship in 2005.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway during the USA Today 301. (Eric Canha/USA Today Sports)

He retired in 2009 as a NASCAR broadcaster, though there was no reason disclosed. Weber spent time working as an illusionist after his career in broadcasting.

Ralph Sheheen replaced Weber at NBC.

Weber’s broadcasting career spanned NBC, ESPN and TNT, and he was known as a fan favorite because of his “Ask Bill Weber a Question” online, where fans could ask about anything on or off the track.

The NASCAR Cup Series AutoTrader EcoPark Automotive 400 logo on the starting grid at Texas Motor Speedway. (Michael C. Johnson/USA Today Sports)

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The National Motorsports Press Association noted there will be an online memorial for Weber at a later date.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 29, 2025
Former NASCAR star Danica Patrick supports Trump revoking Fauci’s security detail

Former NASCAR star Danica Patrick gave her seal of approval to President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke Dr. Anthony Fauci’s security detail.

In an Instagram story Friday night, Patrick shared a news story about Fauci losing the security detail with a quote from Trump, adding the caption “Damn right.”

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) requested security for Fauci in 2020 to protect him from threats he received as the top health official and public spokesperson during the COVID-19 pandemic. But that detail was pulled Thursday night.

“I think, you know, when you work for government, at some point your security detail comes off and, you know, you can’t have them forever,” Trump said of the decision. “We took some off other people, too, but you can’t have a security detail for the rest of your life because you work for government.”

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Dr. Anthony Fauci (William B. Plowman/NBC via Getty Images)

When asked if he would feel partially responsible if something were to happen to Fauci, Trump said he would not.

“No. You know, they all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security,” Trump said. “Certainly, I would not take responsibility.”

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Patrick has been one of the more outspoken figures in her sport in support of Trump and Republicans over the last year. She most recently suggested it must be difficult for California residents to accept how their state is managed after the government response to the LA wildfires.

After Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones said Wednesday teams have struggled to maintain water pressure on the system, which allows water to be pushed into fire hydrants, Patrick responded with a post on X.

Former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick speaks during a campaign rally for former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, at Lancaster Airport Nov. 3, 2024, in Lititz, Pa. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

“California has 840 miles of coast line and 3,000 lakes and reservoirs. Why don’t they have enough water to fix any and all fires?” she wrote on X.

“At some point I have to imagine it’s getting difficult for hardcore Cali lovers to accept the state of their state and how it’s managed.”

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She then wrote that it’s time for Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign, using the term “Newscum.”

In October, Patrick confirmed in an interview on “Jesse Watters Primetime” she would be casting her first-ever vote for president in 2024, and it would be for Trump.

“It feels like voting for Donald Trump is like the vote of reason. It’s like the rational, reasonable choice,” Patrick told Watters.

Danica Patrick’s last raced in the 2018 Indy 500. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Patrick added she doesn’t understand why “MAGA,” or Trump’s slogan of “Make America Great Again,” is considered an “insult” to some.

“I feel like, most of all, though, what this country could be if he gets into office, with all the amazing, brilliant people who are supporting him, I feel like it can not only make America great again, but make America greater than it’s ever been,” she said.

In that same interview, she expressed her belief that transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports, which became a key campaign issue for Trump and Republicans in 2024.

“It’s completely wrong,” Patrick said of transgender athletes being allowed to compete as women. “And this is coming from someone who was a woman who was basically in a man’s sport. A man is just different. Their hormones are different. Their body is different.”

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

January 26, 2025