WACO, Texas -- President Bush called the widow of Dale Earnhardt on Sunday night to express his condolences after the race car driver was killed in a crash at the Daytona 500.

Bush spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the president's "prayers are with the Earnhardt family and the NASCAR community."

Bush has attended NASCAR events and considered Earnhardt and his wife, Teresa, to be friends.

In July, Bush visited Daytona Beach to serve as grand marshal of the Pepsi 400 and shook hands with NASCAR fans, racing crews and drivers.

After greeting fans during the July visit, Bush sat in on the pre-race driver's meeting, taking a seat in the front row next to Earnhardt.

Bush then watched the race in the private box of NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr.