Todd Palin Headed to Martinsville Speedway, Continues Republican NASCAR Swing

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's ~~first man~~ husband will take his turn on the GOP's swing of NASCAR races with less than three weeks remaining in the presidential election.

The Alaskan governor's husband, Todd Palin, will serve as an "honorary race official" for Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va.

Now I doubt hubby Todd will find himself checking for missing lugnuts or counting the number of crew members over the wall during a pit stop, but I'll imagine he'll get the same treatment GOP presidential candidate John McCain's wife Cindy got a week ago at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Cindy McCain served as the "honorary race director" and her duties consisted of shaking hands and addressing the crowd briefly in a non-partisan manner before the race. Nope, Mrs. McCain wasn't responsible for any debris cautions last Saturday night, and that's a good thing unless she wants to be treated like her husband's running mate.

Regardless, it seems pretty apparent that both the Republican party and both tracks are utilizing the event to garner more voters and fill some empty seats by pandering to race fans who traditionally swing on the side of the political red.

Of course, that's not a 100 percent lock based on my non-scientific observation of a sizable portion of fans throwing boos toward Cindy McCain a week ago at LMS -- though it wasn't a majority.

The press release from the track definitely was on the uppity-up about Mr. Palin, boasting about his current line of work in Alaska:

As an honorary race official, Palin will be introduced in the drivers meeting early in the day, visit with drivers and other race officials in the pits and appear in prerace activities. While new to stock car racing, Palin is a world champion snow machine racer who is a lifelong Alaskan. He is a commercial fisherman, a production operator on Alaska's North Slope, and a member of the United Steelworkers Union. He and Governor Palin, who have five children, recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.

Tack on to that "future Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan" and "tired of the me-first attitude of Kyle Busch" and both the track and the GOP will be looking at a sure-fire NASCAR voter jackpot.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

10-16-2008 @ 11:33PM

Susan said...

Both sides pander. The only difference is what group they pander to. Obama has daytime women covered with the View, Oprah and Ellen. He has the main stream media covered. They've investigated Joe the plumber more than they have Obama or any of his pals. Celebrities support him and he seems to be the king of Entertainment Tonight and the other celebrity shows. The late night comedians tell 7 jokes at John McCain's expense for every 1 at Obama's. Obama even goes to Berlin to give a speech to 200,000 non-Americans BEFORE he's elected President. If he can talk to 200,000 non-citizens with no voting rights then why can't he make an appearance at a Nascar race anyway. I think that Nascar fans are typically a decent group of people.

I wouldn't get too excited about Todd Palin or Cindy McCain going to a Nascar race. Mark Warner (Democrat) sponsored a car in 2001. Newsweek reported in early July that Obama was going to sponsor a BAM Racing car at Pocono. They changed their mind.

I have tickets to see Sarah Palin tomorrow and I am looking forward to it. She'll be speaking to a group that's across from my childs school and the students are all very excited.

JMO

10-17-2008 @ 3:37AM

Don Emerson said...

Ahhhh.....election year, when all the candidates love Nascar and it's fans. Works for me........

10-18-2008 @ 6:51AM

annaseitter said...

OSAMA BIN BARRACK KNOWS THAT MOST OF NASCAR FAN
are republican country and that's why his campaign changed it's mind about sponsoring an OSAMA CAR.
TODD PALIN can visit whatever he chooses but no mamy are going to pay miuch or any attention to his storyes.
SARA WOULD GOT MUCH MORE ATTENTION, i mean that as a sex symbol instead of a candidate.Mans are steading at her body much more than what comes out of her mouth.
CYNDI MC CAIN would be much better of and getmore attention
going around to the senior cityzen centers to calm down the waters about the financial distress today's days and the worryes about the oldies loosing their pensions and SS.
Many senior will vote the OSAMA LEFT next election because the country needs an healthcare system that cover everybody
not just whoever can afford the high cost rip off health insurance. The country needs to stop sending billions averseas and spend them in us to ensure the safety annd god health of it's citizens. EARMARKS SPENDING NEEDS TO BE
ELIMINATED IN CONGRESS AND VETO by a pres. which vetoes all pork spending and not just the one non of convenience like has been happening with bush lately. VETO POWER IS VETO POWER . USE IT FIRMLY. THE WAR IN IRAQ IS 5 YEARS ON GOING AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE STOPPED UNTIL TOTAL VICTORY, SO SCREW OSAMA BIN BARRACK ON THAT.The education sistem needs to be reformed and improved. What the hush bimbaus and the sean insanityes AND the neil porks of the right in congress and in the dept of education have done about that? nothing-nada-niente.T HE BRIDGES AND MANY HIGHWAYS IN THIS COUNTRY NEED TO BE REMODELED OR REBUILT. Nothing done about the so called conservatives. NADA.
Shall i go on, on and on and on ?. THE COUNTRY NEEDS A CHANGE AND WILL HAPPEN. SORRY MCCAIN BUT OSAMA
although an incompetent has gotten JOE BIDEN behind with top expertize. only another swift both last minute story will prevent a connected terrorist which grew up in the religious madrass of infancy controlling of the mind operating in pakistan by foundamentalist muslims.
SOME EPISODES OF THE FOX SHOW 24 ON TV MAY BECAME A REALITY IN THE NEAR FUTURE UNLESS A STRAY ONE HITS OSAMA. but than, the all story could be another republican plan to SCARE THE HELL OUT OF THE VOTERS AND THATS BEEN IN THE WORKS EVERY SINCE GEORGE BUSH SENIOR CRAP about the NEW WORL ORDER
controlled by skull and bones and the illuminatis multimilionaires. ENOUGH POLITICS HASTA LA VISTA.

10-18-2008 @ 7:04AM

oops is too early morning to type without errors;
2nd paragraph, not toomamy are going to pay miuch;
mamy = many --- miuch = much
and spend in US to ensure the safety annd god healthof it's citizen;annd=and---god =good
only another swift both story= swift BOAT story

politics does not work for me anymore.... oops they never did.

10-18-2008 @ 8:04AM

DEBRA said...

SARAH PALIN IS GREAT AND I LOVE HER BULLDOG ATTITUDE. AND TODD PALIN IS HOT IN THAT DALE JR KIND OF WAY.SARAH IS THE TYPE OF LADY THAT TONY STEWART NEEDS. SHE'D KEEP HIM IN LINE. AND EVERYBODY PLEASE GO VOTE! AND UNLESS YOU WANT TO "SPREAD YOUR WEALTH" TO PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T EARN IT ,VOTE CAREFULLY.I WONDER HOW MUCH OF THAT BAILOUT MONEY "ACORN" WOULD HAVE GOT IF 'BOMB YA MAMA' WAS PRESIDENT?

10-18-2008 @ 9:29AM

Kim said...

First, Geoffrey.....I am so disappointed that you wrote this article in the first place. I am so sick of having politicians shoved down my throat each day, all day, everywhere, that the last place I want to see them is on my favorite blogging page. That being said.....I am not going to give any hints as to who I am voting for or not voting for, but I am going to give an opinion about politicians getting involved in sporting events when they are running for office....DON'T! It sucks! I have to read, hear, and see you everywhere else, leave my sporting events ALONE!

If I wanted to blog about politics, I would go do so on the numerous web sites offering it all day, every day!

Kim

10-18-2008 @ 5:34PM

Jack Hall said...

Sarah Palin??? My vote was going to McCain until he brought that ***** on board. Why can't I get this picture out of my mind of Palin when asked if she would accept McCain's offer to be VP Saying (while jumping up and down) "YES YES YES YES YES OH YES. I ACCEPT! WHAT DOES A VP DO ANYWAY?"

10-18-2008 @ 6:33PM

KIM, TGIF USED TO DO THE SAME THING ABOUT POLITICS.
Remember the uproar caused by the immunization of nascar fans last year posted by TGIF?
iT'S ELECTION DAYS SOON and politics are getting tossed around all over .
Anyway above this post of mine my perception sees 2 conservative votes and 2 liberal once. No names need to be mentioned. results are even. Am i wrong?

10-18-2008 @ 6:34PM

HEY JACK ALL ,NO MEAN TO GET DIRTY MINDED HERE BUT MAYBE SARAH was jumping up and down feeling something else in her mind and body. That's why she kept screaming yes, yes ,yes......... Do you think?

10-18-2008 @ 6:54PM

Stewart Fan said...

Sarah Palin is a governor with an 80% approval rating. She was a 2 term mayor, the commissioner of an oil and energy commission.

I am much more concerned with a presidential candidate that wants to 'SPREAD THE WEALTH" than "YES YES YES YES YES OH YES. I ACCEPT! WHAT DOES A VP DO ANYWAY?"

I am interested in what ***** is supposed to stand for?

10-18-2008 @ 7:25PM

I am proud to be a conservative. I liked TGOM's postings.

The government officials were the people receiving the shots. They needed immunized from the fans. Was she wrong about the shots?

10-18-2008 @ 11:27PM

Being a conservative doesn't suprise me at all what you believe. It's a well known phenomenon. Whats wrong with spreading the wealth around? Why do you think it's wrong for a Presidential candidate to want that for everyone? Are you wealthy?

Palin was found guilty of abusing her powers. She didn't break any laws per se but it says a lot about her character.
Haven't you learned anything from the past eight years about that same exact thing?
No one ever heard of Palin before two months ago and you're willing to have her in the oval office with her finger on the nuke button? Thats scary! Sorry but I have to go along with the L.A. Times a conservative newspaper who has never supported a democrat until now. paraphrasing...McCain's choosing Palin as a running mate was irresponsible. L.A. Times

10-19-2008 @ 1:30AM

Why did you choose to not answer the question about what word that you bleeped out when discussing your opinion about Palin?

What's wrong with being wealthy? Is it now a sin to be wealthy? I want everyone to be wealthy. Is it a sin to want the American dream. If you work hard in this country then you should be able to achieve the American dream. Obama's words are 'spread the wealth around'. That doesn't mean work hard and you'll achieve the American dream. That sounds like work hard, make money and we the government will decide who we the government wants to give your money to.

You are questioning Palin's character. I know the MSM doesn't cover any issues. But to name a few, Ayers, Rezko, Father Flegger, Farrakhan, Wright, paying Acorn $ 800,000 + in the primaries, training Acorn employees (in his past), representing Acorn, telling ACORN in late 2007 that they would be involved heavily in setting his agenda starting on Election Day, Biden funneling 2 million campaign dollars to his family, questionable house purchases from both Biden and Obama, Biden's son being indicted.

I had heard about Palin for the past year. The MSM never thought that McCain would choose her. She's a woman, she's not a Washington insider and she isn't loved by some Republican insiders because she has taken on the establishment in many ways.

I would be stunned by any newspaper that endorses McCain. It's a cult like mob atmosphere right now and no one dares speak out due to the inevitable backlash. Obama is more inexperienced than any of the four candidates. McCain or Obama will be in the seat. I trust McCain hands down over Obama.

I haven't read of a single economist that thinks raising taxes at this time is a good idea. I've only heard that it would be disastrous.

JMO

10-19-2008 @ 4:35AM

LOL,LOL,LOL,LOL, SEE WHAT YOU STARTED MR MILLER?
TGOW started a much heated argument last year about the imunization shiet ,i do not remember correctly( i should go check it out, but i think the shots were for either nazcar fans or nazcar officials.iF ANYBODY REMEMBERS CORRECTLY SPEAK UP PLEASE.
NOW, i think i'd be better of staying out of this political new debate but allow me to say something that will resolve at least 1
dispute among the disputers.
THE EXPERTS CANDIDATE ON BOTH SIDES ARE :
MAC CAIN FOR THE GOP
BIDEN FOR THE DEMS.
THE NON EXPERT CANDIDATES ON BOTH SIDES ARE:
PALIN FOR THE GOP
OSAMA FOR THE DEMS.
I believe we shall all agree on that statement and there should be no dispute whatsoever on both sides of the isle.
hope that may help if not where is the bridge builder?
lol,lol,lol,works for me.

10-19-2008 @ 4:43AM

oh SUSAN HIGH, I SEE YA WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE WORD ***** meant. OK, about bitch? seems pretty obvious to me.
ALSO: you ask if tgif was wrong about the nazcar shots ..... whoever they were designed for , may not matter.
the uproar was caused because the imunization shots had singled out only nazcar fans and none of the other sports.
nazcar is mostly a southern sport started and managed by
what many call them REDNECKS, and so is considered a redneck sport. TGIF posted the file speaking about nazcar fans only and no one else had posted it in other sports, so she started the arguments on these pages,ok, but i do not think she was the person that had targeted nascar fans or officials ,
whatever.ALL NAZCAR FANS FELT SINGLED OUT CAUSE THE WAY WAS SAYED SEEMED LIKE ONLY THE NAZCAR REDNECKS FANS COULD SPREAD DESEASES. THAT'S WHAT REALLY CAUSED THE FEUD. Hope i explained it clear enough to the best of my recollection. Take care.

10-19-2008 @ 9:01AM

I'M NOT WEALTHY AT ALL , BUT I DON'T THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOULD HAVE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SIT ON THEIR A$$ AND GET THEIR HANDOUTS.EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE.I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH A GUY WHO MADE IT TO THE NFL AND HE WAS DIRT POOR AND FROM THE BAD SIDE OF TOWN. HE WAS NOT HELD BACK IN ANY WAY. IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU COME FROM, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO .SHOULD THIS PERSON SHARE HIS WEALTH WITH OTHERS WHO HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES?LET'S JUST FORGET FOR A MOMENT THAT PALIN AND OBAMA ARE BOTH INEXPERIENCED AND THINK OF THE OTHER ISSUES AT HAND. YOU SAT RIGHT THERE AND HEARD THE "REV" WRIGHT TALKING HIS RACIST CRAP. THEN AYERS, THEN ACORN. NOT TO MENTION MICHELLE OBAMA'S REMARKS.BUT WHAT I WANT TO KNOW FROM MCCAIN AND OBAMA IS WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT ALL THE ILLEGALS. FOR EVERY AMERICAN OUT OF A JOB ,THERE'S AN ILLEGAL WITH A JOB.AND THAT REALLY TICKS ME OFF.AT LEAST MCCAIN HAS MENTIONED "THE AMERICAN WORKERS". OBAMA HAS NOT. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU SEE ALL THESE "LATINOS FOR OBAMA " SIGNS AT HIS RALLY'S? I'LL TAKE MY CHANCES WITH SARAH PALIN ,THANK YOU VERY MUCH

10-19-2008 @ 9:50AM

Well hell, now I have to jump back in again! The idea of "share the wealth" is not for the rich to give to the poor who some of you are saying "sit on their asses all day." As a family with three children who are middle income, I am sick and tired of busting my ass each and every day and never getting anywhere! I am tired of living pay check to pay check! I have been working my ass off for the "American Dream" my entire adult life. Now in my early thirties, still haven't achieved it.

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the few things I do have. My husband and I went to college as adults with three small children to get a better education to hopefully make more money and achieve more goals for ourselves and our family. What have we achieved thus far you ask.....more education and more bills to pay! We are driving cars that are 10 and 13 years old. We live in a small mobile home. All we would like is to have newer cars that don't break down once a week and a "real home" for our children!

I pay my taxes! I don't sit on my ass. I work two jobs! My husband works 15 hour shifts at night so that I can work two jobs during the day! We have never nor will we ever live off our government. Do I think the rich should be held more accountable and pay higher taxes and quit getting so many tax breaks that I myself don't get????? You're damn right I do!

As for Palin.....Have to agree with Jack on this one! If she looks at me through my televevison one more time and refers to me as her fellow hockey Mom while winking, I think I might have to puke! I am a fellow "hockey Mom." I spend at least three nights a week running various kids to various sporting events and Boy Scouts. Do Sarah Palin and I have anything in common? Not a damn thing! I am not a Democrat nor am I a Republican. Do I want another Republican in office after the one we have had for eight years has done such a bang up job (being sarcastic here), HELL NO!!!!

Kim

10-19-2008 @ 10:08AM

No anna it wasn't "bitch" it was more in line with "bimbo" and bimbos don't belong in the whitehouse. I believe her popularity is mostly because of her gender rather than her gray matter and when it comes down to gray matter she's no Hillary Clinton by any stretch of the imagination. There's a good reason they keep her away from the press and from interviews. They can ill afford to have her think and speak on her own and blow this last ditch gimmick effort to win the Whitehouse.

10-19-2008 @ 2:46PM

LET ME CLARIFY WHO I MEANT WHEN I SAID "SITTING ON THEIR ASSES". I WAS IN NO WAY REFERRING TO ANY HARDWORKING HONEST PERSON.KIM, WHEN YOU DESCRIBED YOURSELF YOU DESCRIBED ME AND PROBABLY HALF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE READING THIS. THE PEOPLE I'M REFERRING TO ARE THE ONES WHO ,INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING WITH THEIR LIVES,CHOOSE TO LAY AROUND HAVING ONE BABY AFTER ANOTHER WITH EACH ONE HAVING A DIFFERENT DADDY.THEY SIT ON THEIR ASS ALL DAY IN THEIR GOVERNMENT APARTMENTS WAITING ON THEIR HANDOUT- FOODSTAMPS AND WELFARE CHECKS. NOW I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST A WOMAN OR FAMILY WHO HAVE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES DOING THIS. THAT'S WHAT IT IS THERE FOR. BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT A WAY OF LIFE AND YOU AND I ARE FOOTING THE BILL. WHY SHOULD WE? THERE ARE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THESE PEOPLE, IT'S FREE AND THEY CHOOSE NOT TO TAKE IT.I KNOW -I'VE BEEN IN THAT SITUATION WHEN MY ABUSIVE ALCOHOLIC HUSBAND LEFT ME PREGNANT AND WITH A SMALL CHILD. I GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED THESE BENEFITS TILL I COULD GET ON MY FEET. BUT I CHOSE NOT TO MAKE IT MY LIFESTYLE. MAYBE WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH TAXES IF THE SYSTEM WORKED THE WAY IT SHOULD. AND LET'S FACE IT, IT'S NOT YOU AND I WHO ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS SPREAD THE WEALTH DEAL. IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME OLD PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS BENEFIT.MAYBE I JUST DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR GOVERNMENT ANYMORE AND I DECIDED TO CHOOSE THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS, SO TO SPEAK.I THINK ONE JUST SAYS WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR AND THE OTHER ONE JUST HEARS WHAT HE WANTSTO HEAR. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT ? WE WON'T BE ANY WORSE OFF THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW, WILL WE?