Trump, who made his second visit to the Daytona 500 following a 2020 stop, spoke to the drivers as he led them through several ceremonial laps. “This is your favorite president. I’m a big fan.

Last year’s rain-delayed Daytona 500 averaged 5.96 million viewers — the second-least-watched edition of the race ever, ahead of just the 2021 rain-delayed race.

Daytona 500 event merchandise was up 12% over 2023. NASCAR compared this year’s numbers to 2023 because 2024’s race was postponed until Monday, giving fans an extra day to purchase goods.