A few days back when the NASCAR world was buzzing with President Donald Trump’s possible attendance at Daytona, Bubba Wallace wasn’t losing sleep. The 30-year-old NASCAR driver had brushed off the rumors and said, “Couldn’t care less.” His comments reflected the bitterness of his past feud with Trump.

Notably, in 2020, a noose was found in Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway, sparking nationwide controversy. When an FBI investigation determined that it was not a targeted hate crime, Trump accused Wallace of pushing a “hoax.” He even demanded an apology from Wallace. However, Wallace received widespread support from fans and NASCAR. He never backed down and said that love should always overcome hate.

Fast forward to 2025, Trump is back in the Oval Office and has returned to the Daytona 500. His presence has reignited old tensions, but this time, the crowd seems to be overwhelmingly on his side. Many NASCAR fans, once divided on the issue, have embraced Trump’s involvement in the sport. As soon as Trump entered the arena, a huge cheer from the crowd thrilled the atmosphere.

The U.S. president arrived in his presidential limousine, “The Beast,” and once again paced the field before the green flag. Soon the video of Trump’s lap around Daytona went viral on social media, attracting a lot of cheers. One fan summed up the excitement perfectly, posting, “POTUS is the GOATUS!” This overwhelming support for Trump at Daytona stands in stark contrast to his experience with NASCAR fans. Just a few years ago, the two were on opposite ends of a heated controversy.

In 2020, NASCAR and Bubba Wallace found themselves at the center of a huge controversy. After the discovery of Noose, NASCAR drivers, fans, and officials stood behind Wallace and supported him throughout the controversy. Even when the FBI brushed off hate crime allegations, fans supported Wallace. Despite that, Trump, then president, didn’t hold back and asked Wallace to apologize for creating a hoax.

“Has @BubbaWallace apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX?” Trump tweeted. Wallace fired back with a message of unity, stating, “Love should come naturally as people are TAUGHT to hate. Even when it’s HATE from the POTUS.”

Despite Trump’s criticism, Wallace remained outspoken against social issues. He was a vocal advocate for banning the Confederate flag at NASCAR events. However, soon Trump was out of office and Wallace continued to focus on racing, but his name became tied to politics. Now, with Trump back in office and back at Daytona, the tables have turned. While Wallace shrugs off the spectacle, the crowd’s response suggests that NASCAR fans have shifted their loyalty.

Fans rally behind Donald Trump

Social media exploded with tons of reactions and messages following Trump’s lap around the track. Many praised his involvement in the event, calling him the “coolest president ever.” Others admitted that they don’t usually watch NASCAR but tuned in just because of Trump’s presence. Notably, in 2020, when Trump had joined the event, NASCAR’s rating was up by 25%.

One fan tweeted, “The president is actually involved with the people! I love it!” US President’s visiting NASCAR races is a rare phenomenon. The first time it happened was back in 1978 when Ronald Reagan attended the fall race at Daytona and it looks like Trump is continuing on that legacy after his first appearance.

Even those who were not particularly sold on the idea of NASCAR racing tuned in just to catch a glimpse of their president. Well, NASCAR is striving for more eyeballs and exposure and it looks like President Trump has got them covered at their biggest stage. The excitement was noticeable from this fan’s comment, “I’m tuning in bc of this lol. I don’t watch racing, but I do admire this guy.” It wasn’t just the viewers on TV screens who were thrilled to see Donald Trump back for a NASCAR race. This supporter shared the on-ground experience of how electrifying the atmosphere was at Daytona because of Trump’s presence. “Can you imagine how wild the crowd sounds with Trump on the raceway? Incredible.”

Donald Trump’s return to the track wasn’t just a political moment—it was an entertainment spectacle, something that has become part of Trump’s brand. Trump even praised NASCAR drivers before the green flag at Daytona. While speaking with Fox Sports he praised their courage and said, “I say they have a lot of courage doing this. It’s I see it and I’ve been here and they have a lot of they have a lot of guts as they would say.” However, the fan reaction highlights the divide in NASCAR fandom. While Wallace represents a progressive shift in the sport, Trump embodies the traditional NASCAR base.