Get to know the Nationals fans auditioning to become Racing Presidents in 2018

Originally just a scoreboard animation, the Nationals introduced the Presidents Race in 2006, their second season in D.C., with four competitors: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. (The team has since added William H. Taft, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover to the race as well. Since then, the Racing Presidents have not just become staples of the Nationals organization, but icons of the nation's capital as well. 

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to witness the earliest stages of the mascots' 13th season when the Nationals held Racing Presidents tryouts at their Youth Baseball Academy. Despite the sub-20-degree temperatures, more than 50 Nats fans and prospective presidents showed up to the event to try their luck.
Tom Davis, the Nationals' entertainment director, has been overseeing the Presidents Race since its inception. We asked Tom about the event and the mystique of the Racing Presidents.

We also wanted to ask some of the candidates a few questions about their ambitions to become a Racing President, which Nationals player would be the best Racing President and more. Check out the video at the top of the page to hear more.