Donald Trump Couldn’t Name 5 Drivers Starting the Daytona 500 — Awkward Moment Caught on Camera

Donald Trump Couldn’t Name 5 Drivers Starting the Daytona 500 — Awkward Moment Caught on Camera!

In a surprising and awkward moment, former President Donald Trump appeared to struggle when asked to name five drivers starting the 2025 Daytona 500. The exchange took place at a pre-race event for the highly anticipated race, with cameras capturing Trump’s inability to recall the names of some of the most prominent drivers in NASCAR.

The Daytona 500, one of the biggest sporting events in the United States, attracts millions of viewers each year, and this year’s race was no different. As the crowd gathered, Trump, who has long been a supporter of NASCAR, was asked by a reporter to name just five of the drivers in the lineup. But what followed was a moment that many didn’t expect.

With a microphone in hand, Trump began his response by confidently stating a few names, but as the pressure mounted, it became clear he was struggling to recall even basic details. “Uh, you know, there’s, uh, I know… there’s, uh, the, uh, Talladega guy,” he said, visibly stumbling. He was then silent for several awkward seconds as he searched for the names of any other drivers.

The moment quickly turned uncomfortable as Trump tried to recover, saying, “Well, you know, I know there’s, uh, so many great drivers, but it’s, uh, hard to keep up with all of them.” His attempt to deflect the question further added to the tension, with onlookers unsure whether he was being genuinely forgetful or simply not fully invested in the sport’s current stars.

Trump’s history with NASCAR is well-documented, as he has been seen attending races, making promotional appearances, and even receiving praise from some members of the racing community. However, his inability to name a handful of drivers left many questioning whether his connection to the sport had become more about image than genuine fandom.

Fans of NASCAR were quick to react, with many taking to social media to express their amusement at the awkward exchange. Some jokingly suggested that Trump might need to brush up on his racing knowledge, while others criticized him for not being more familiar with the sport’s current stars.

The drivers he struggled to name, including the likes of Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and William Byron, are among the most recognizable names in NASCAR today. Each has had significant success in recent years, and their absence from Trump’s recollection only added to the awkwardness of the moment.

Despite the uncomfortable moment, Trump seemed to recover and continued his public appearances around the Daytona 500 event. He took part in the ceremonial activities and even met with a few of the drivers after the race. However, the memory of the awkward moment lingers, and many have raised questions about his level of engagement with NASCAR.

As for the race itself, the Daytona 500 went on without further incident, delivering the high-speed thrills fans expect from one of the biggest events in motorsport. The winner of the race will surely be remembered, but for now, it’s Trump’s inability to name the drivers that seems to have taken center stage. Fans and commentators alike will likely continue to talk about this cringe-worthy moment in the lead-up to future races.