The ongoing NASCAR Cup Series playoffs hit Charlotte on Sunday, where more than one race was at stake.
Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance and his running mate’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., made an unofficial campaign stop at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, where Kamala Harris is hoping to become the first Democrat to win the state since Barack Obama did so in 2008.
Vance and Trump not only got full pit-row access and a seat at the pre-race drivers’ meeting, but also got some face-to-face time with The King, Richard Petty, as seen in a photo on the NASCAR legend’s X page.
‘Never know who you’ll run into at the race track!’ read Petty’s caption.
In addition to Trump, Vance and the elder Petty, Richard’s son Kyle was also seen with his wife and one of their three children. And in another shot from pit row, the elder Petty is seen cracking up the Republican senator from Ohio, who late said he ‘had such a fun day.’
Kyle Petty (far right) and his father Richard (in the cowboy hat) met with Trump and Vance
Republican vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) looks on from the pit box of RCR team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Richard Childress on the grid
Petty, 87, is a NASCAR Hall of Famer and the co-owner and ambassador of the Legacy Motor Club Team.
Harris also spent Sunday in North Carolina, where she challenged her opponent to release his medical information to the public as she did on Saturday.
Polling website FiveThirtyEight.com currently has Trump holding a one-point lead over Harris in North Carolina – a state he won in both 2016 and 2020.
Kyle Larson raced to his Cup Series-high sixth victory of the season Sunday to easily advance to the third round of NASCAR’s playoffs, winning on The Roval – the hybrid road course/oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
‘I think after some of the comments he made after the Indy-Charlotte experience, he did put a lot of weight on his shoulders, almost feeling like he let his team and fanbase down,’ crew chief Cliff Daniels said. ‘I don’t necessarily think that was fair for him to put on his shoulders, but I know that he did. He’s putting in the work, the intensity, and the determination to be as strong as everybody.’
Vance laughs on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400
J.D. Vance (R-OH) (R) poses with Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 Lenovo Chevrolet, and his wife, Samantha Busch and RCR team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Richard Childress
Larson led a race-high 62 laps in the No. 5 Chevrolet to win in a runaway. He beat longtime rival and title contender Christopher Bell by 1.511 seconds.
‘It was good to have a little bit of a stress-free weekend,’ said Larson, who was taking his family to Cabo for a quick getaway before the third round of the playoffs begin next weekend in Las Vegas.
He noted he went to Paris in the middle of the season, Italy during the Olympic break, and typically wins a race before a vacation.
‘I think every vacation I’ve taken this year, I think I’ve won the race leading into it,’ Larson said. ‘So I should start taking vacation every week. I shouldn’t have to argue. I shouldn’t have to prove a point. It’s my life and we perform at a high level, so whatever.’
Vance and Trump attend the pre-race drivers’ meeting before the ROVAL 400
Donald Trump Jr., son of Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump (R) poses for a selfie with Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 Interstate Batteries Toyota
It was Larson’s second victory of the playoffs, but he’s the first championship-eligible driver to win in the round of 12. The elimination race cut the field from 12 drivers to eight, and among those knocked out of title contention was Hendrick driver Alex Bowman, who was disqualified for failing post race inspection.
Bowman’s disqualification was for not meeting minimum weight, NASCAR said. It knocked him out of the playoffs and moved Joey Logano back into title contention.
‘We are working to understand the decision Monday to about whether to submit an appeal,’ Hendrick Motorsports said.
Eliminated from title contention after the Bowman disqualification was Bowman, Team Penske driver Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez of Trackhouse Racing and Chase Briscoe of Stewart-Haas Racing.
Three of the four Hendrick drivers – Larson, William Byron, and Chase Elliott – have officially advanced into the round of eight.
