August 19, 2009 5:48 PM

Obama Honors NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson

By
Mark Knoller
Topics
White House
(CBS/Mark Knoller)
Talk about getting a great parking space.

Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson's #48 Chevy was parked just outside the South Portico of the White House.

"You know, it is not every day that we have a championship stock car parked out on the South Lawn," said President Obama with both pride and envy.

"In exchange for free parking," the president said to Johnson, "he should let me take the 48 out for a few laps."

But before Johnson could help the commander-in-chief into his helmet, Mr. Obama said the Secret Service didn't think it was a good idea.

As the owner of a Ford Escape Hybrid, Mr. Obama can only imagine what it would feel like to push the pedal to the metal of a car than can go upwards of 200 miles-per-hour.

(AP)
It was not the "Cash-for-Clunkers" program that brought #48 to the White House. Mr. Obama was hosting an event to salute Jimmie Johnson and his team as winners of the 2008 Sprint Cup, Johnson's 3rd consecutive win.

"It's fitting that you've all come here to the White House – the American people's house – because NASCAR is a uniquely American sport," said the president.

He spoke of racings' "humble beginnings, when moonshiners raced on the sands of Daytona Beach during prohibition."

Since that time, said Mr. Obama, racing has "grown into a sport with tens of millions of fans here in America and around the world."

That's the reason why this president and previous ones have gone out of their way to reach out to NASCAR fans.

No matter what party controls the White House, they recognize the appeal of motorsports and want to be seen as fans and friends – if for no other reason that it's very good politics, especially for a president who expects to seek a second term.

(CBS)
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.


Add a Comment
by NinthSt78 August 22, 2009 11:23 AM EDT
Nice, but sometimes the backseat of a "rocket V-8" is more comfortable...
Reply to this comment
by endurorob August 20, 2009 7:58 AM EDT
I didn't read the story here but it seams odd to me that this is on the front page of the political section yet the Axelrod story is already buried.
Reply to this comment
by ROBACA August 20, 2009 1:32 AM EDT
Obama will do anything for "good publicity". First he entertained black artists of yesteryear and then gave Stevie Wonder an award most of us have never heard of. Had a beer with the professor and policeman at the White House. What's next?? And do the American taxpayers pay for all his entertaining?
Reply to this comment
by underdogus09 August 19, 2009 9:23 PM EDT
Six American troops were killed in Afghanistan today....who cares,right Obama?
Reply to this comment
by naj1953 August 19, 2009 11:32 PM EDT
I agree.....
by jt92202 August 19, 2009 7:46 PM EDT
Mr Obama, please put some sugar into the tank of the car, we need something to even out the field. With his luck it will make him faster!!! GO SMOKE!!!!
Reply to this comment
by gomzee69 August 19, 2009 6:53 PM EDT
Congrats to Jimmie, and kudos to you Mr. President.

Now go get #4 Jimmie!

(and Mr. President, go tell the Repigs to suck an egg and get the public option passed).
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