President Donald Trump is rumored to be attending this year's Daytona 500 on February 16th. If he appears, he will be there to see a driver who has a spotty history.
Baba Wallace drives McDonald's car He engaged in a public feud with Trump in 2020 for Michael Jordan's NASCAR Team 23XI Racing.
In July 2020, in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and the aftermath of George Floyd's riots, Wallace created multiple posts on X, known at the time as Twitter.
Trump himself attacked Wallace on social media over a driver seeking a ban on Confederate flags in the race, claiming that the investigation into the rope found in his garage was a “horror.” An FBI investigation found that Noos had been on garage stalls since October 2019 and no crime had been committed.
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#43, Baba Wallace said, “I Can't Breathe, Black Life Matter” shirt before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, June 7, 2020 in Hampton, Georgia. I'm wearing it. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Later that year, Wallace allegedly responded to Trump's accusations that he was told to “take politics into NASCAR.” But in 2024, Wallace didn't say any political posts. Wallace previously told Fox News Digital why.
“Investing my time in it seems like a waste of time,” Wallace said at the time. “I was definitely more vocal because our sport desperately needed change.”
Now, with Trump potentially attending the Daytona 500, Wallace feels as indifferent as he has done in the elections over the past year. On Wednesday's Daytona 500 Media Day, Wallace said he “don't care much” whether Trump appeared or not.
“We're here for the race, not for the show,” Wallace added.
The response is consistent with Wallace's recent approach to politics. Unlike in 2020, he no longer posts political social media. His X feed is now merely a curated mix of racing photos, promotional posts and family photos.
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Bubba Wallace will discuss with Kyle Larson after the two crashed in the NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Las Vegas on Sunday, October 16, 2022. (AP Photo/John Rochell)
One of the biggest reasons Wallace has abandoned habits since 2020 is due to the cultural changes in social media during that time. Wallace said there is overwhelming “negativeness” in the platform he uses to send out the message of his beliefs.
“Social media these days is just a way for people to hide behind the screen and express their opinions on things they really don't know,” Wallace told Fox News Digital.
“Too much negativity will take years or years to get rid of, and we don't have time for that,” Wallace said of the current culture of social media. “I'm now my dad and I'm trying to be the best I can be here for my race team and my team, so that's because it's investing my energy. , that's really everything you can really ask for.”
For Wallace, the impact of becoming a father was such a transformational experience for him in such a short time. Since his son was born, Wallace has had two top-10 finishes in three races he competed in. He also sees life through a lens he had not seen before.
“You have your kids at home and you have the whole family you provide for now, so it's crazy to go through it all,” Wallace said.
Meanwhile, if Trump appears, it will be the president's appearance in two major sporting events within a week.
Last Sunday, Trump became the first president in US history to attend the Super Bowl to travel to the Super Dome of the Super Bowl to watch the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs of the Super Bowl Ricks.
Trump previously served as an adult former member 2020 Daytona 500 The driver gave the command to start the engine. He also took parade laps around the 2 1/2 mile speedway of his armored limousine, leading the 40 fields in front of the green flag. The president's car stayed in the apron in the corner, rather than going for the bank's turn.
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President Donald Trump, accompanied by Ivanka Trump, speaks before launching the “Global Development and Prosperity for Women” initiative before signing the President of National Security Memorandum. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Thousands of people cheered, and the band played patriotic music as the Air Force flew through the famous tracks. Trump's presence has energised fans and caused a major headache due to logistical issues at the entrance.
Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump, spoke to the crowd before the race, calling it the Daytona 500. year. ”
A notification from the Federal Aviation Administration posted Monday showed Trump was expected to attend the race, but NASCAR said on Wednesday there was no confirmation.
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