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President Donald Trump connected Monday ended nan statement complete whether racecar drivers are athletes arsenic his management showcased nan powerfulness of IndyCar vehicles up of nan Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., adjacent month.
Trump participated successful nan Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase at nan White House on pinch IndyCar prima Álex Palou, racing squad proprietor Roger Penske and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
AMERICA'S 250TH CELEBRATION IN NATION'S CAPITAL BOOSTED BY ICONIC AUTOMAKER'S 2-WEEK TRIBUTE TO INNOVATION
President Donald Trump reacts aft receiving a helmet connected West Executive Drive astatine nan White House during a showcase for nan upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix car title connected Monday, July 13, 2026, successful Washington. Alex Brandon/AP (Alex Brandon/AP)
"Next period these exceptional sportsman drivers, athletes, they’re awesome athletes," Trump said. "Nothing cipher tin do. They’re calved pinch thing special. They’re calved pinch nan expertise to property that pedal each nan measurement down to nan ground. Most group can’t do that. Very fewer group can.
"They’re beautiful cars. They’re going to make state roar. This is going to beryllium a state that’s roaring for illustration ne'er before."
The showcase besides featured a unrecorded pit stop.
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. takes spot Aug. 22 and 23. The way layout features a 1.66-mile thrust and 7 turns.
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Alex Palou, nan reigning IndyCar champion, gives President Donald Trump a helmet connected West Executive Drive astatine nan White House during a showcase for nan upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix car title Monday, July 13, 2026, successful Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)
Trump’s declaration comes amid a hotly contested statement successful nan racing world complete whether master racecar driver are really athletes.
ESPN prima Stephen A. Smith waded into nan territory successful April erstwhile a caller connected his power show suggested that Richard Petty was 1 of nan top athletes of each time. He said driving a car doesn’t "count" arsenic being an athlete.
NASCAR greats Jeff Gordon and Kyle Larson pushed backmost connected Smith’s insinuations successful an question and reply pinch Fox News Digital successful May before nan Indy 500.
President Donald Trump speaks pinch Alex Palou, Bud Denker, David Malukas and Roger Penske connected West Executive Drive astatine nan White House during a showcase for nan upcoming Freedom 250 Grand Prix car title Monday, July 13, 2026, successful Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)
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Larson, nan reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, challenged Smith, aliases anyone for that matter, to spell 1 thigh successful a title car "without emotion for illustration they're going to die."
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
Ryan Gaydos is simply a elder editor for Fox News Digital.
