Trump, Kendall and the Saudi American Race of Heroes

Donald Trump the businessman and reality TV star came close to driving the pace car to start the 2011 Indy 500 (pictured below), and in a bizarre scenario six years later, President Trump could be entertained later this week by a group of past and present IndyCar and sports car drivers in Saudi Arabia.

1996 CART IndyCar champion Jimmy Vasser, Indy 500 ace Townsend Bell, Californian open-wheel ace and 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours class winner Gustavo Menezes and driver-turned-commentator Tommy Kendall will take part in the Saudi American Race of Heroes at the request of the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority.

The Race of Champions-style exhibition with a Middle Eastern twist is set in the Riyadh University stadium. Hastily assembled to coincide with Mr. Trump's first visit to the region as president of the United States, the format has been simplified with four American and four Saudi drivers who will use the Camaro SS, Lotus Exige S, KTM X-Bow and Polaris Slingshot in the faceoff among allies. Those drivers are Prince Mohammed Bin Saud Bin Fahd, Falah Al-Jarba, Abdel Hadi A. Alqahtani and Abdullah Al Dosari.

The organizers of the event have been reluctant to confirm Mr. Trump's presence at the event, but Kendall would welcome to a chance to perform in front of the president.

"It's fascinating, for sure," the Trans-Am champion told RACER. We still don't know exactly what we're getting into. It came together very last minute. We're on the ground for less than 48 hours."

Asked if he anticipated having Mr. Trump in attendance, Kendall admitted "it would be an awfully big coincidence if it wasn't" created for the most powerful man in the world.

Kendall and other members of the American group that organized the event on behalf of the Saudi government spent Wednesday pursuing travel visas (pictured) before catching first-class flights to the kingdom.

"We flew into DC to go to the consulate; they streamlined the visa process for us; one guy had been there for three days," Kendall added before explaining what's in store when he lands.

"Each group of racers will compete against itself until the winning American and Saudi goes head to head. And it's supposed to be 109 degrees."

TK's life has produced one amazing story after another. He anticipates the Saudi American Race of Heroes will add another chapter to a wild career in the sport.

"I've been remarking on that more and more," he said. "I'm thinking about all the stuff that's happened to me and all the stories they might want to hear – Parnelli Jones stories, Paul Tracy stories, Danica Patrick stories...I'm like Forest Gump. This one is par for the course."