HOLLYWOOD
02-25-2012, 06:30 PM
Santorum campaign must spend a lot of time reading all the NASCAR Ideas we wished the Campaign would of Done. Huge Visibility for Frothy
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2012-02-25/Rick-Santorum-campaign-to-be-Daytona-500-sponsor/53241258/1 (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2012-02-25/Rick-Santorum-campaign-to-be-Daytona-500-sponsor/53241258/1)
Rick Santorum campaign to sponsor Daytona 500 underdog
By Nate Ryan, USA TODAY
Updated 1h 18m ago
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Rick+Santorum) will sponsor a car in Sunday's Daytona 500 (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Daytona+500).
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2012/02/25/Santorum-to-sponsor-Daytona-500-entry-9I1241D1-x.jpg (http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2012/02/25/Santorum-to-sponsor-Daytona-500-entry-9I1241D1-x-large.jpg)
By Ross D. Franklin, AP
The campaign of GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, pictured, will advertise on the hood of Tony Raines' No. 26 car in Sunday's Daytona 500.
By Ross D. Franklin, AP
The campaign of GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, pictured, will advertise on the hood of Tony Raines' No. 26 car in Sunday's Daytona 500.
The "Made in the USA" campaign messaging from the former senator from Pennsylvania will adorn the hood and quarter panels of Tony Raines (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Tony+Raines)' No. 26 Ford Fusion (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Brands/Automotive/Ford+Fusion) in the season-opening race, which last year drew an average audience of 15 million on Fox and more than 30 million total viewers.
The move comes in advance of Tuesday's pivotal primary election in Michigan.
Danica Patrick on pole for Nationwide race (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2012-02-24/danica-patrick-wins-nationwide-pole/53236960/1)
Drivers to watch in Daytona 500 (http://mediagallery.usatoday.com/Drivers+to+Watch+in+the+Daytona+500/G3348)
"NASCAR (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Organizations/Sports+Leagues/NASCAR/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 in a release. "The race weekend is a wonderful tradition that we're excited to be a part of as we spread our message. 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 called Raines after the final Daytona 500 practice Saturday, and they chatted for 10 minutes.
"I told him I was following the last few debates, and he seems to be standing out," Raines, 47, said. "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."
Though he didn't characterize himself as "overly political," the LaPorte, Ind., native said he was a Republican and would consider voting for Santorum. "What little bit I learned from him, I was impressed, and that goes a long way," Raines said. "I told him if I won, I wanted an invite to Michigan.
"There's probably going to be some people who don't like it, but for us, it's all positive."
Raines wasn't guaranteed a spot in the Great American Race but put his Front Row Motorsports (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Front+Row+Motorsports) car in the race on speed in the Feb. 19 qualifying session.
"We're glad to partner with the Santorum campaign," said Bob Jenkins (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Bob+Jenkins), owner of the three-car team.
"We know there will be millions of eyes on these cars on Sunday, and we know we can help get their message out.
It's a pretty tight battle for the Republican nomination right now, and the former Senator is right in the thick of it. We hope we're in the thick of it come Sunday out on the racetrack, too."
Daytona often has been a popular place for presidential candidates on the stump. Several news media outlets have reported that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Politicians,+Government+Officials,+Strategists/Governors,+Mayors/Mitt+Romney) will stop by Sunday's race for the second consecutive year as a VIP guest (the Daytona Beach News-Journal (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Daytona+Beach+News-Journal) said it would be a "quick visit"). During his re-election campaign year, President George W. Bush (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/President+George+W.+Bush) attended the 2004 Daytona 500 and dropped the green flag.
Front Row Motorsports was uncertain if Santorum would attend the race.
There is a long history of politicians who have used stock cars to promote their campaigns.
Former Virginia governor Mark Warner (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Politicians,+Government+Officials,+Strategists/U.S.+Senators/Mark+Warner) was a backer of cars at Richmond International Raceway (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Richmond+International+Raceway) and Martinsville Speedway (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Martinsville+Speedway). In 2004, Bob Graham (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Politicians,+Government+Officials,+Strategists/U.S.+Senators/Bob+Graham) was on a Roush Racing (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Roush+Racing) truck with his 2004 Democratic presidential campaign.
Two years ago while running for a third term as governor of Texas, former Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Politicians,+Government+Officials,+Strategists/Governors,+Mayors/Rick+Perry) sponsored the car of Texas native Bobby Labonte in the April 2010 race at Texas Motor Speedway (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Texas+Motor+Speedway). The campaign spent $225,000 on the sponsorship and said it delivered a significant return through social media and a two-week tour of the state with a replica of Labonte's Chevrolet.
The first driver believed to carry political signage was Roy Tyner, who put a "John F. Kennedy (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Historical+Figures/John+F.+Kennedy) for President" sticker on his car in 1960.
NASCAR must approve any sponsor a team elects to put on its car during an event.
"NASCAR teams have had considerable interest from a wide range of sponsors this year, including several with political interests, but this is the first 2012 presidential candidate who has sponsored one of our teams," NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations Steve O'Donnell (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Steve+O'Donnell) said. "We carefully evaluate every proposal and ensure that they stay within our standards."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2012-02-25/Rick-Santorum-campaign-to-be-Daytona-500-sponsor/53241258/1 (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2012-02-25/Rick-Santorum-campaign-to-be-Daytona-500-sponsor/53241258/1)
Rick Santorum campaign to sponsor Daytona 500 underdog
By Nate Ryan, USA TODAY
Updated 1h 18m ago
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Rick+Santorum) will sponsor a car in Sunday's Daytona 500 (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Daytona+500).
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2012/02/25/Santorum-to-sponsor-Daytona-500-entry-9I1241D1-x.jpg (http://i.usatoday.net/sports/_photos/2012/02/25/Santorum-to-sponsor-Daytona-500-entry-9I1241D1-x-large.jpg)
By Ross D. Franklin, AP
The campaign of GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, pictured, will advertise on the hood of Tony Raines' No. 26 car in Sunday's Daytona 500.
By Ross D. Franklin, AP
The campaign of GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, pictured, will advertise on the hood of Tony Raines' No. 26 car in Sunday's Daytona 500.
The "Made in the USA" campaign messaging from the former senator from Pennsylvania will adorn the hood and quarter panels of Tony Raines (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Tony+Raines)' No. 26 Ford Fusion (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Brands/Automotive/Ford+Fusion) in the season-opening race, which last year drew an average audience of 15 million on Fox and more than 30 million total viewers.
The move comes in advance of Tuesday's pivotal primary election in Michigan.
Danica Patrick on pole for Nationwide race (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2012-02-24/danica-patrick-wins-nationwide-pole/53236960/1)
Drivers to watch in Daytona 500 (http://mediagallery.usatoday.com/Drivers+to+Watch+in+the+Daytona+500/G3348)
"NASCAR (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Organizations/Sports+Leagues/NASCAR/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 in a release. "The race weekend is a wonderful tradition that we're excited to be a part of as we spread our message. 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 called Raines after the final Daytona 500 practice Saturday, and they chatted for 10 minutes.
"I told him I was following the last few debates, and he seems to be standing out," Raines, 47, said. "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."
Though he didn't characterize himself as "overly political," the LaPorte, Ind., native said he was a Republican and would consider voting for Santorum. "What little bit I learned from him, I was impressed, and that goes a long way," Raines said. "I told him if I won, I wanted an invite to Michigan.
"There's probably going to be some people who don't like it, but for us, it's all positive."
Raines wasn't guaranteed a spot in the Great American Race but put his Front Row Motorsports (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Front+Row+Motorsports) car in the race on speed in the Feb. 19 qualifying session.
"We're glad to partner with the Santorum campaign," said Bob Jenkins (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Bob+Jenkins), owner of the three-car team.
"We know there will be millions of eyes on these cars on Sunday, and we know we can help get their message out.
It's a pretty tight battle for the Republican nomination right now, and the former Senator is right in the thick of it. We hope we're in the thick of it come Sunday out on the racetrack, too."
Daytona often has been a popular place for presidential candidates on the stump. Several news media outlets have reported that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Politicians,+Government+Officials,+Strategists/Governors,+Mayors/Mitt+Romney) will stop by Sunday's race for the second consecutive year as a VIP guest (the Daytona Beach News-Journal (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Daytona+Beach+News-Journal) said it would be a "quick visit"). During his re-election campaign year, President George W. Bush (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/President+George+W.+Bush) attended the 2004 Daytona 500 and dropped the green flag.
Front Row Motorsports was uncertain if Santorum would attend the race.
There is a long history of politicians who have used stock cars to promote their campaigns.
Former Virginia governor Mark Warner (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Politicians,+Government+Officials,+Strategists/U.S.+Senators/Mark+Warner) was a backer of cars at Richmond International Raceway (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Richmond+International+Raceway) and Martinsville Speedway (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Martinsville+Speedway). In 2004, Bob Graham (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Politicians,+Government+Officials,+Strategists/U.S.+Senators/Bob+Graham) was on a Roush Racing (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Roush+Racing) truck with his 2004 Democratic presidential campaign.
Two years ago while running for a third term as governor of Texas, former Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Politicians,+Government+Officials,+Strategists/Governors,+Mayors/Rick+Perry) sponsored the car of Texas native Bobby Labonte in the April 2010 race at Texas Motor Speedway (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Texas+Motor+Speedway). The campaign spent $225,000 on the sponsorship and said it delivered a significant return through social media and a two-week tour of the state with a replica of Labonte's Chevrolet.
The first driver believed to carry political signage was Roy Tyner, who put a "John F. Kennedy (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/People/Historical+Figures/John+F.+Kennedy) for President" sticker on his car in 1960.
NASCAR must approve any sponsor a team elects to put on its car during an event.
"NASCAR teams have had considerable interest from a wide range of sponsors this year, including several with political interests, but this is the first 2012 presidential candidate who has sponsored one of our teams," NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations Steve O'Donnell (http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Steve+O'Donnell) said. "We carefully evaluate every proposal and ensure that they stay within our standards."