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President Donald Trump to award Roger Penske the Presidential Medal of Freedom

By Asher Fair

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 10: U.S. President Donald Trump stands with Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud (C) and Team Penske owner, Roger Penske (L) during a ceremony to honor the driver at the White House on June 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. Pagenaud is the first French driver to win the Indy 500 in more than a century. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 10: U.S. President Donald Trump stands with Indianapolis 500 winner Simon Pagenaud (C) and Team Penske owner, Roger Penske (L) during a ceremony to honor the driver at the White House on June 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. Pagenaud is the first French driver to win the Indy 500 in more than a century. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) /
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President Donald Trump has announced plans to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to IndyCar and NASCAR team owner Roger Penske.

IndyCar and NASCAR team owner Roger Penske has already been honored twice by President Donald Trump at the White House this year, once for his success as a team owner in IndyCar and once for his success as a team owner in NASCAR.

Penske, Joey Logano and the #22 Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series team were honored at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. in late April for winning the 2018 Cup Series championship last November.

This championship was Team Penske’s second Cup Series championship, as Brad Keselowski won the title for the team in the 2012 season.

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Then Penske, Simon Pagenaud and the #22 Team Penske IndyCar team were honored at the same location earlier this month for winning the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in late May.

This Indy 500 victory was Team Penske’s 18th Indy 500 victory, which is an all-time record by a whopping 12 wins.

Prior to Pagenaud’s victory, Team Penske’s most recent Indy 500 victory came just last year when Will Power won the 102nd running of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.

Now Penske is set to be honored even further by President Trump, as the president has announced plans to award the legendary team owner the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “the foremost U.S. civilian decoration” that is awarded to individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors”.

Here is what President Trump had to say about honoring Penske with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, according to Fox News.

"“He’s very deserving. He’s a great gentleman. I’ve known him a long time, and a very brilliant guy.”"

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No date for Roger Penske’s Presidential Medal of Freedom award ceremony has been set, but when it does take place, he is set to be the first person involved in motorsports to be awarded this medal since legendary NASCAR Cup Series driver Richard Petty was honored with it 27 years ago back in 1992. Petty was the first motorsports figure to receive this award.