佛罗里达州西棕榈滩-佛罗里达州西棕榈滩(美联社)唐纳德·特朗普参加周日的代托纳500他说，这场比赛是一个团结的事件，其精神将“推动美国的黄金时代”
特朗普在飞往佛罗里达州代托纳海滩的总统致辞中说，纳斯卡系列赛的开幕活动将各行各业的人们聚集在一起，分享对速度、肾上腺素和比赛快感的激情。
特朗普说:“从赛道上发动机的轰鸣声到看台上回荡的‘星条旗’的回声，戴托纳500是对速度、力量和不屈精神的永恒致敬，正是这些让美国变得伟大。”“这种精神将推动美国的黄金时代，如果我们驾驭它，未来将真正属于我们。”
特朗普在1月20日的就职演说中说，“美国的黄金时代从现在开始。”
空军一号在中午过后不久离开了棕榈滩国际机场，总统和几位客人一起前往代托纳海滩，包括他的儿子埃里克，孙子卢克，交通部长肖恩·达菲和内政部长道格·伯根和他的妻子凯瑟琳，白宫说。几位国会议员也与特朗普同行。
飞机在嗡嗡作响的代托纳国际高速公路后不到一个小时就着陆了。特朗普是第二次以总统身份出现在竞选中。他的车队随后行驶在部分赛道上。
特朗普在2020年的比赛同时竞选第二个任期。他被授予纳斯卡年度最大、最负盛名的赛事的大元帅的荣誉，并向车手发出启动引擎的命令。特朗普在乘坐总统豪华轿车进入代托纳国际赛车场之前，还在看台上用空军一号天桥激动了纳斯卡粉丝。
当被问及他最喜欢纳斯卡的什么时，川普在2020年接受福克斯新闻频道采访时表示，这是车手追求“纯粹的美国荣耀”的勇敢和勇气
他将Daytona 500描述为“轰鸣的发动机、高昂的精神以及我们多年来一直听到的美国技术、速度和力量的传奇展示。成千上万的爱国者今天来到这里，是为了赛车和世界级的赛车运动。但纳斯卡迷永远不会忘记，无论谁赢得比赛，最重要的是上帝、家庭和国家。''
这项运动的粉丝被视为倾向保守。
2018年，特朗普在白宫表彰了纳斯卡杯系列赛冠军马丁·特鲁克斯(Martin Truex Jr .)和家具行赛车。
一名纳斯卡车手说，周日有总统在身边，“我们一年中最重要的一天是特别的。”
“这无疑给我们在这里为这场比赛所做的事情带来了许多目光和不同的视角，”蔡斯·埃利奥特说。
特朗普是个体育迷。他是一个狂热的高尔夫球爱好者，参加大学橄榄球比赛和UFC比赛。
上周末，共和党创造了历史首位出席超级碗的在任总统.
Trump attends Daytona 500, says spirit of NASCAR will 'fuel America's Golden Age'
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. --WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) —Donald Trumpis attending Sunday'sDaytona 500, a race that he said is a unifying event with a spirit that will “fuel America's Golden Age.”
In a presidential message released as he flew to Daytona Beach, Florida, Trump said the opening event of the NASCAR series brings together people from all walks of life in 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,” Trump said. “That spirit is what will fuel America’s Golden Age, and if we harness it, the future is truly ours.”
Trump said in his Jan. 20 inaugural address that “the golden age of America begins right now."
Air Force One left Palm Beach International Airport shortly after noon and the president was traveling to Daytona Beach with several guests, including his son Eric, grandson Luke, Transportation SecretarySean Duffyand Interior SecretaryDoug Burgumand his wife, Kathryn, the White House said. Several members of Congress are also traveling with Trump.
The plane landed less than an hour later after buzzing the Daytona International Speedway. Trump was making his second appearance at the race as president. His motorcade then rode on a portion of the track.
Trump was atthe race in 2020while running for a second term. He was given the honor of being grand marshal of NASCAR's biggest and most prestigious event of the year and delivered the command for drivers to start their engines. Trump also thrilled NASCAR fans in the stands with an Air Force One flyover before he rode in the presidential limousine onto the Daytona International Speedway.
Asked what he enjoyed most about NASCAR, Trump said during a 2020 interview with Fox News that it was the bravery and courage of the drivers pursuing “pure American glory."
He described the Daytona 500 as 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. The tens of thousands of patriots here today have come for the fast cars and the world-class motorsports. But NASCAR fans never forget that no matter who wins the race, what matters most is God, family and country.’’
The sport's fans are seen as leaning conservative.
Trump honored NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. and Furniture Row Racing at the White House in 2018.
One NASCAR driver said having a president on hand Sunday for “one of our biggest days of the year is special.”
“It certainly brings a lot of eyes and a different perspective to what we do down here for this race," said Chase Elliott.
Trump is a sports fan. He is an avid golfer and attends college football games and UFC matches.
Last weekend, the Republican made history as thefirst sitting president to attend the Super Bowl.
