Is Trump coming to the 2026 Daytona 500? What to know
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season opened this week in Daytona Beach, and one of the weekend's biggest questions remains unanswered: will former President Donald Trump attend the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15? Organizers and fans are weighing logistics, travel restrictions and weather as the build-up continues. The field includes marquee names such as Bubba Wallace and other top Cup drivers, but whether the race will include a high-profile presidential appearance is not yet known.
Where things stand on a presidential appearance
As of Feb. 11 ET, there is no confirmation that Trump will be at the 68th running of the Great American Race, scheduled to start at 2: 30 p. m. ET on Sunday. A temporary flight restriction has been posted for West Palm Beach from Feb. 13–17, the area where Mar-a-Lago is located, which is a common security measure tied to presidential travel. There is no temporary flight restriction in place for the Daytona Beach area, and that absence does not automatically rule in or out any travel plans.
Trump has attended the Daytona 500 before: he was in the grandstands in 2020 and again in 2025 while serving as president, and he made regular appearances in the late 1990s and early 2000s before his political career. Any return this weekend would mark another high-profile moment for the sport and would draw considerable attention to the event and its participants, including drivers like Bubba Wallace.
Schedule, logistics and weather to watch
On-track activity began early in the week with Cup Series practice, afternoon media day events and qualifying held at 8: 15 p. m. ET. Thursday will bring the two 150-mile Duel qualifying races that finalize the Daytona 500 starting lineup. Friday and Saturday shift focus to support series, including the Truck Series, ARCA and regional divisions, each opening their 2026 campaigns. The Daytona 500 itself is set for 2: 30 p. m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Planning for a potential presidential visit often alters security, travel and broadcast arrangements; meanwhile, weather has the potential to affect both race operations and travel. Forecasts for the Daytona area show mostly cloudy to mostly sunny conditions earlier in the week with highs around the low- to mid-70s. There is a growing chance of showers late in the weekend: Friday and Saturday carry a roughly 20% chance of showers after 1 p. m., while Sunday's outlook rises to about a 50% chance of showers with a high near 77 degrees and south winds gusting as high as 25 mph. Those gusty winds and higher rain chances could complicate on-track strategies and spectator plans alike.
For teams and drivers, such as Bubba Wallace and the rest of the Cup field, weather and track conditions will be immediate concerns for setup and pit strategy. For fans and media, the timing and logistics of any VIP travel affect where and how crowds gather, and whether additional security measures are visible throughout the speedway and surrounding areas.
With practice, qualifying and the Duels already underway, clarity on a high-profile attendee may come at any moment. Race organizers, security officials and teams will continue preparations regardless of whether a presidential presence is confirmed; for many, the focus remains on the competition and crowning the winner of the 68th Daytona 500.
