DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The excitement at the fully packed Daytona International Speedway began to build about an hour prior to the start of the much-anticipated Daytona 500, marking the official launch of the event on Sunday.

This buzz wasn’t about the renowned Latin artist Pitbull, who was scheduled to perform a short set, nor was it related to Anthony Mackie, the leading actor from the top-grossing film “Captain America: Brave New World,” who was set to signal the drivers to start their engines. It also didn’t center around Alan Ritchson, the star of “Reacher,” who would lead the pace car.

Instead, the crowd’s excitement peaked as a Boeing VC-25 — famously known as Air Force One — conducted a flying pass over the Speedway.

President Trump made his entrance at Daytona Beach International Airport just before noon, taking a brief five-minute ride to the racetrack in “The Beast,” his armored presidential vehicle. Upon exiting, he greeted the enthusiastic crowd with a wave and a fist pump, before mingling with both current and former drivers, as well as race officials.

Trump gave a single interview to Fox News, stating, “I believe the Daytona 500 is incredible; it’s a significant event for our nation,” as he highlighted his accomplishments during his presidency. He was accompanied by one of his granddaughters throughout the day.

Before the event commenced, Trump’s fortified limousine took a few laps around the iconic track. During these laps, he communicated with the drivers through radio, expressing his admiration: “This is your favorite president. I’m a huge fan of you all. I can’t fathom how you do this, but please stay safe. You’re all talented individuals and great Americans. Enjoy your day; have fun, and I’ll be seeing you later.”

However, the “later” never arrived, as Trump departed as planned during a brief rain delay.

President Trump’s limousine, famously known as “The Beast,” completes a pace lap at the Daytona 500.

(Chris O’Meara / Associated Press)

Trump previously attended the Daytona 500 back in 2020, a race that was ultimately delayed due to inclement weather and rescheduled.

This visit marked Trump’s second significant sporting engagement within a week, having also been present at the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Chase Elliott, voted NASCAR’s favorite driver for seven consecutive years, noted, “I didn’t sit next to him, but I saw he was at the game recently. It’s significant for our biggest event of the year to have a sitting president present. It undoubtedly brings heightened attention and a unique perspective to our race.”

The notion of a presidential presence echoed throughout the garages, with Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion, adding, “When prominent figures attend the 500, it’s remarkable. I recall when President Reagan visited in 1984, which was indeed special.”

“It’s not just about celebrity performances during the pre-race shows — last year, The Rock [Dwayne Johnson] was here, and I got a photo with him. Each time we can attract notable personalities to our sport, it accentuates the importance of the event.”

While it was clear the crowd was supportive of Trump both on and off the track, attention was particularly focused on Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver in the race. Wallace has been at odds with Trump since 2020 when NASCAR banned the Confederate battle flag at events, a cause Wallace has long advocated for. Trump criticized NASCAR’s decision at the time.

In a tense moment, a noose was discovered in Wallace’s garage, leading to widespread support from fellow drivers and fans. This episode was seen by some as a unifying experience within NASCAR, although an investigation revealed that the rope had been in the garage for months and was not intended as a threat against Wallace.

Bubba Wallace during driver introductions before the Daytona 500 qualifying race on Thursday.

(John Raoux / Associated Press)

In response to Trump’s tweet, where he questioned if Wallace had apologized to those in NASCAR who supported him, Wallace replied, “I address hate with love! Love should come naturally while hate is taught. That includes hate from the President.”

It was expected that during a media event, the first question directed at Wallace would pertain to Trump’s attendance at the race.

“Honestly, I don’t care,” Wallace responded coolly. “We’re here to compete, not to put on a show.”

Wallace seemed eager to move past the matter and avoid further controversy. He has progressed through NASCAR’s diversity initiative. Contrast this with Trump’s advocacy for dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at the federal level and beyond.

“There will always be critics who fail to appreciate the value of diversity,” Wallace expressed later. “It’s essential to keep an open heart and treat others kindly, regardless of appearance. Doing the right thing isn’t complicated; it’s about respecting all individuals.”

While two racing officials were approached for insights on NASCAR’s future diversity initiatives, neither provided a comment.