Pro-Trump PAC To Sponsor NASCAR Team For Next Nine Races, Starting Sunday

The political action committee (PAC) called Patriots for America that supports the 2020 reelection of President Donald Trump will sponsor a NASCAR team for the next nine races, starting with this Sunday's event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

A public document filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) shows Patriots for America has paid $350,000 to Go Green Racing, Inc., and the car will be driven by Corey LaJoie.

The FEC document declares the federal candidate supported on the "moving display" is Donald J. Trump, who is seeking reelection as 45th President of the United States.

LaJoie will drive the No. 32 Ford with Go Fas Racing at the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records on Sunday. The race is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.

Go Fas owner Archie St. Hilaire said he's proud to endorse the president on the No. 32 car whose major sponsor is Keen Parts.

"I am honored to be part of the President's re-election campaign through the Patriots of America PAC. As a Trump 2020 supporter, this team will do everything possible to secure victory on and off the track electing President Donald Trump to a second term. Let us bring this country back and Keep America Great!"

Jeff Whaley, who represents Patriots of America, said the PAC's mission is to get voters registered for the upcoming November election, and thought NASCAR was one of the best avenues to relay that message.

"Our mission is to get voters registered and to the polls in November," Whaley said on NBC Sports. "We are excited about our sponsorship with Go Fas Racing No. 32 and Corey LaJoie. We feel this partnership is the best way to help us communicate this message to the NASCAR community and encourage all Americans to do their part by heading to the polls."

Trump attended NASCAR's first race of the season at the Daytona 500. Trump and first lady Melania Trump stood on the track for the national anthem, and the president later yelled out, "Gentlemen, start your engines" to kick off the race. Trump and the first lady then led the pace lap in the presidential limousine.

Prior to his arrival at the track that day in February, Air Force One made a fly by at the superspeedway in South Florida.

NASCAR, like many sports, went into postponement mode after the sudden spread of COVID-19. But NASCAR became a pioneer of many sorts in making a comeback. It held races without fans and required teams to wear protective masks.

Recently, after protests and riots following the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, NASCAR said it would no longer require its teams and drivers to stand for the national anthem.

As that happened, Bubba Wallace—the only Black driver on NASCAR's top racing circuit—asked to have the Confederate flag banned from all races. NASCAR went on to prohibit the Confederate flag from its properties and events.

After this Sunday's race at Indianapolis, NASCAR will then hold races in Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Kansas this month.

Newsweek reached out to Trump's campaign team for comment. This story will be updated with any new information.