Trump takes shot at NFL while honoring racing champ: NASCAR fans 'stand for...the national anthem

President Donald Trump seemed to take a shot at the National Football League during a White House event honoring NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr.'s 2017 championship season, Fox News Insider said.

Trump never mentioned the NFL or its players — some of whom he blasted last season for controversial kneeling during "The Star-Spangled Banner" in protest of police brutality.

However, the president's intent appeared clear during his speech Monday as he pointed out the patriotism of NASCAR and its legion of racing fans.

What did Trump say?

"At every NASCAR race, you will see thousands of patriotic Americans from the grandstands to the pit stalls proudly waving our flag and roaring with joy at the words, ‘Start your engines,'” Trump said.

Trump added that Truex and NASCAR CEO Brian France should be proud of something else, Fox News Insider said.

“And I will tell you, one thing I know about NASCAR, they do indeed, Brian, stand for the playing of the national anthem, right?" Trump remarked. "They do indeed."

The president added that there was concern about him mentioning the latter, but per usual he was unfazed by what feathers it may ruffle.

“Somebody said, ‘Maybe you shouldn’t say that. That'll be controversial,'" Trump noted. "I said, ‘That’s okay. NASCAR's not going to mind it at all.’ Right, fellas?"

France publicly endorsed Trump in 2016, Fox News Insider reported.