DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — As rumors swirl about President Donald Trump’s potential appearance at the 2025 Daytona 500, 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Chase Elliott has shared his thoughts on what it could mean for the sport.
With NASCAR’s season opener at Daytona International Speedway set for Sunday, Elliott acknowledged that a sitting president’s attendance would be a major moment—just as it was when Trump served as Grand Marshal for the 2020 Daytona 500.
Elliott: ‘It Brings a Lot of Eyes to Our Sport’
Elliott emphasized the significance of a presidential visit, noting that it shines a spotlight on NASCAR’s biggest race of the year and brings new audiences into the fold.
“Yeah, I think just having a sitting president come and be part of one of our biggest days of the year, certainly our biggest, what I would call our biggest event of the year, I think is special and certainly brings a lot of eyes and a different perspective to what we do down here for the race. Always thought it was really cool.”
Presidents and the Daytona 500: A Historic Connection
NASCAR has long enjoyed a close relationship with the White House. Elliott recalled an older tradition where the president would personally call the Daytona 500 winner—a custom that may or may not still be in place today.
“I remember the sitting president used to call the winner. I don’t know if you’ll remember that or not, but some stories happening. I don’t know if that happens now. It’s just a cool thing.”
Elliott’s Daytona 500 Challenge
As Elliott looks ahead to Sunday’s race, he knows securing a win in the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet won’t be easy. Starting from P17, he’ll have to navigate through a chaotic 200-lap, 500-mile battle—one notorious for its unpredictability.
“It’s going to be a tough race. You have to put yourself in the right position and avoid the big wrecks.”
Whether or not Trump makes his way to Daytona, Elliott and his competitors are focused on one thing: securing the Harley J. Earl Trophy and etching their name in the history books.
