Daytona 500 a speedway for politics

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 25:

/ Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Updated 1:55 p.m. ET

Ahead of Tuesday's primary in Michigan, the birthplace of the American auto industry, leading Republican presidential candidates will have a strong presence at the largest motorsports event of the year. Rick Santorum's logo will be speeding around the track and the airspace above it will be a visual protest of Mitt Romney.

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum is sponsoring the #26 Front Row Motorsports Ford car at NASCAR's Daytona 500. Santorum's logo covers the hood and his "Made in America" logo is painted on the Ford Fusion driven by Tony Raines.

In an interview with USA Today, Raines said the presidential candidate and his campaign reached out and suggested the idea. "I think it's cool they take notice of us and have a presence in the race. Our fans are the backbone of America. I enjoyed talking to him. It was cool he wanted to touch base."

The race - also known as the "Great American Race," held at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida - is prime advertisement placement for Santorum as it's a sustained two-hour long TV draw with an average viewership of 15 million people.

"NASCAR and the Daytona 500 are about as American as you can get - and it's great to have my campaign represented by one of these incredible machines," Santorum said.

Santorum added: "I like how Tony Raines turned some heads last weekend with his qualifying run and we'd like to keep turning heads too. I think we're both looking for a win in the end."

Santorum will not be in attendance and instead campaigning in Michigan, but his closest challenger, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, is expected to be there, gaining some publicity as well. The United Auto Workers union is flying a banner attached to an airplane for an hour before the race about his opposition to the auto bailout.

According to the Detroit News, the banner will read "Mitt Romney: Let Detroit Go Bankrupt," which is an op-ed Romney wrote in 2008 in the New York Times arguing against government financial intervention in the flailing American auto companies.

[sandiegopete]

Basically, NASCAR is a right wing organization for right wing fans. It has little interest in having fans other than the right wing. That is why it has a declining popularity. NASCAR relies on political positions instead of building a broad fan base. Let's face it, NASCAR does not want non-Republican fans. Besides, Daytona is just and upgraded demolition derby.

[skeezix06]

So now we have politics invading sports preventing any escape from the nastiness? I would call that reason to not watch Daytona 500.

[Bealeman]

RON PAUL has TWO cars in the race. Just thought the MSM needed to know that! Cars #40 and #67. GO RON PAUL. Box Frothy in at the pit!

[cherinoel]

I just PRAY that Santorum's words on Meet the Press this morning don't come back to bite him. He almost made it through without a gaffe but, in an attempt to lighten the mood at the very end, David Gregory asked him about the car he has in the Daytona 500 and he said....and you can't make this stuff up....(closely paraphrased) "I told my driver to just hang back and let the other cars CRASH & BURN before you make your move"....what a HORRIBLE choice of words...If something does happen tonight you can bet that quote will be played over and over (and deservedly so!)

[Ed_G_Hughes100]

Santorum gets his foot in mouth again. This is almost as bad as when he admitted to being a 'team player'... with the old 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine' mindset.. trading favors with Arlen Specter. All the Romney fans should booooo every time the Rick car goes by.

[catmomtx]

Perhaps he should learn how to use and read the teleprompter.

[andrewjsacks]

Perfect place for moron Repubs--with beer-drinking, flagwaving idiots.

[Lindag10]

Sounds familiar, the pastor of my cousins' church claims that sports are a "core family value", along with your country/community, work relationships and family relationships. So now its mixing politics, religion AND sports. How frothy can you get?

[Jhihmoac]

I liked the old days when sponsors were mainly tobacco, beer, and automotive products...

[Lindag10]

I liked the Viagra car and they made the driver (Mark Martin) do ads for Viagra. LOL

[royalstar05]

This election is over already. Obama will win easily so it doesnt matter what ANY of them do.

[andrewjsacks]

Right. We will work hard again. Anyway, four years were not enough to drag us out of the mess Bush left--espec. with united moronic Repub opposition to reason.

[RulesofEngagement]

jgg00010, Sweet Jesus man, why are the GOP so obsessed with anything they can stick up their buttocks. You are as sick as Santorum.

[alaskanpoet]

So much for the dignity and purity of sport
At Daytona political forces will the voters exhort
There is no safe haven to escape the campaign's hectic pace
The UAW will have an anti Mitt banner flying before and after the race
Santorum throws the dice and sponsors car number 22
What happens if it throws a rod early and is through?
God certainly listens to men and gives them what they need
But prayers from a race car He will not heed
Romney will be there as a spectator without banners or cars
Thank God with the engine noise any words will not go far
We can not escape this campaign and the general will be worse
Too much money a by-product of the Super-Pac curse.
A democracy to prosper, to endure must elect the very best
Integrity, intelligence, leadership not money should be the test!!!!

[My_Opinion_7]

I will boycott watching this event in protest. I hope the car crashes on the first lap.

[andrewjsacks]

Good comment.