Donald Trump flies over the Coca-Cola 600 with former US President set to attend NASCAR race in North Carolina
Donald Trump is in town for the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 after driving fans wild by flying his private plane over the track in North Carolina.
The annual 600-mile NASCAR Cup Series points race takes place on Sunday evening, with Charlotte Motor Speedway as usual the showpiece event over Memorial Day weekend.
And before taking off at 6pm ET, Trump’s private plane was seen flying over the course as he made his grand arrival.
Fans went crazy when the former US president’s plane – known as ‘Trump Force One’ – flew overhead just before Sunday’s event.
Trump, who is running to run for president again in 2024, was repeatedly booed during a speech at the Libertarian Party National Convention on Saturday evening.
Donald Trump is in town for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motorway Speedway
When he took the stage, many cheered while some supporters dressed in “Make America Great” hats and T-shirts cheered, chanting “USA!” UNITED STATES!’
It was a rare moment when Trump came face to face with open opponents, highly unusual for someone used to hosting rallies for an ever-adoring crowd.
Libertarians, who prioritize small government and individual freedoms, are often skeptical of the 77-year-old, and his invitation to address the convention has divided the party.
Trump tried to make light of that by referencing the four charges against him and joking, “If I wasn’t a libertarian before, I’m certainly a libertarian now.”
Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 follows the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco and Indy500, which got off to a nightmarish start when several cars collided in the very first corner.
It all started when rookie Tom Blomqvist of Great Britain in the No. 66 Meyer Shank machine lost control of his car on the grass apron on the inside of the first turn and spun away.
Trump is attending the 600-mile NASCAR race after flying his plane over the track
The former US president’s personal plane is called ‘Trump Force One’
He was jeered by crowd members at a libertarian convention on Saturday evening
However, a delay to the Indianapolis event due to a thunderstorm ended Larson’s hopes of completing the historic feat.
“It looks like this will be the window where we might be able to get it dry for racing today,” Larson said earlier in the day. ‘But that obviously has consequences for the 600. It’s still the weather. You don’t know exactly how that will go.
‘But the worst-case scenario occurs and that is a shame. We’re going out on something today.’
He spun straight into 2022 Indy 500 winner and former Formula 1 driver Marcus Ericsson in the No. 28 Andretti, who had no time to avoid the wreck and was immediately out of the race.
Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, attempted to become just the fifth driver in history to attempt the Indianapolis-Charlotte double by racing in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.