2023 is going to be a special year for NASCAR as the sport and the organization complete 75 years. In its history, NASCAR has had some very special moments – one of which came in 1984 through the hands of then-President Ronald Reagan.

NASCAR had been around for 35 years and 15 days until July 4, 1984. If that doesn’t seem enormous, that translates into 12,799 days! The Cup Series had witnessed 1,421 races, yet no American President had attended one of them. This was despite the sport being a rage in the Southern USA.

A firecracker of a race at Daytona

President Ronald Reagan broke that duck. His appearance at the Firecracker 400 in Daytona Beach became the first race that a sitting POTUS had attended. Reagan, who was the 40th President, gave his iconic “Gentlemen, start your engines” command from 38,000 feet in the air using a special phone and video feed.

But it wasn’t until the race was halfway over that President Reagan and his entourage arrived in their Air Force One. The security measures didn’t allow Reagan to attend the race from the grandstands. As a result, they gave him a seat in a special suite overlooking the Daytona track.

Sitting alongside the Frances and some selected VIPs, Reagan witnessed a thrilling affair as Richard Petty beat Harry Gant and Cale Yarborough to the checkered flag in the 160-lapper.

Hendrick Motorsports Star Chase Elliott’s Father Became the First NASCAR Driver to Achieve This Feat: The Making of Million Dollar Bill

Interest might have been a big reason behind Reagan’s visit to Daytona, but no action is bereft of political capital. There was a motive behind this visit as well.

What made Reagan grace the NASCAR race?

Trending

NASCAR Fans Sarcastically Mourn the Loss of Kyle Larson as Talladega Takes a Hilarious Dig at Taylor Swift’s ‘Leaked’ Album

April 19, 2024 04:46 AM EDT

Uncertain “Political Environment” Cause Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing to Take a Major Sponsorship Hit

April 18, 2024 05:43 AM EDT

Dale Jr Unmasks Teresa Earnhardt’s Refusal to Sell Him His Late Father’s Prized Possession That Forced Relocation Move

April 17, 2024 12:29 PM EDT

‘Selfish’ Kyle Larson Drops a 5-word Bomb on NASCAR’s Practice Debacle

April 21, 2024 08:10 AM EDT

“They’re a Bunch of Morons”: Dale Earnhardt Jr Baffled by His Employees’ Texas Hypocrisy Post Their “Entertaining” Verdict

April 19, 2024 05:14 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NASCAR stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

People had elected Reagan to the White House in 1980, having beaten Jimmy Carter’s re-election bid. With George Bush Sr. on his side, Reagan and the Republicans were looking for a second term in the Oval Office.

Battling against Walter Mondale and his running mate, Geraldine Ferraro, the pair were looking to cover their bases. It was an attempt to woo Floridians and the Republican-leaning Conservative base of NASCAR. They believed a move like this would be beneficial.

And it did end up turning out like that. Reagan witnessed Petty win his final Cup Series race and celebrated with a post-race picnic of KFC and Pepsi-Cola products. He also did radio and chat shows with the Frances, the Petty family, and Bobby Allison.

At the end of it all, it was 12 hours spent fruitfully.

Watch This Story: Dale Earnhardt Jr Wins Over the Internet With Heartwarming Pictures Celebrating Christmas From Childhood

There have been other sitting Presidents who attended Daytona races since then, but none were as successful as Reagan. A masterful move!