See It: President Trump’s ‘Beast’ Laps Daytona
The Daytona 500 was red-flagged for rain after 11 laps, but the Cup cars weren’t the only ones that got on the track before it got wet.
President Donald Trump was at Daytona International Speedway for the start of the race and he did a couple of parade laps in the presidential limousine known as The Beast, leading the Cup Series field.
Much like the Cup Series cars that wear production-style bodies on a custom chassis, The Beast is designed to look like a Cadillac sedan-based limousine, but uses a medium duty truck frame that can handle its 10-ton armored body.
Trump is actually a Daytona veteran as he was also at the 2020 race when he was Grand Marshal. Actor Anthony Mackie filled that role this time around.
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“I think it’s fantastic, it’s great for the country, our country is doing well again,” Trump said during an interview on Fox from pit lane.
“They [the drivers] have a lot of courage doing this,” Trump added. “They have a lot of guts, as they would say.
Trump was expected to stay through the first stage of the 200-lap race, but had to depart early due to the extended rain delay.
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The race will have to make it half-way to be considered official. If it doesn’t look like the weather will allow that to happen, NASCAR will need to move the completion until Monday, which currently has a clear forecast.
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