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By MIKE HARRIS, AP Motorsports Writer

WASHINGTON - NASCAR (news - web sites) champion Matt Kenseth and a large group of current and former Winston Cup stars were honored Tuesday at the White House by President Bush (news - web sites).

AP Photo

With seven brightly colored Winston Cup cars arrayed behind him on the south lawn, and nine of the 2003 top 10 drivers standing alongside, the President joked, "I see a lot of the Bubbas who work in my administration have shown up."

On a cold, wind-swept afternoon, Bush, a self-proclaimed longtime stock car fan, praised Kenseth, saying, "Like all champions, he has succeeded because of his dedication and hard work."

On the stage with the president and Kenseth were Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt (news - web sites) Jr., Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Bill Elliott, and brothers Terry and Bobby Labonte. The only top 10 driver not on hand was Jeff Gordon, who had a previous commitment.

Bush also introduced several drivers in the audience, including Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Rusty Wallace, as well as former champions Darrell Waltrip and Ned Jarrett and several NASCAR officials.

Bush had particular praise for retired NASCAR chairman and CEO Bill France Jr., who was in the audience.

"There's no doubt NASCAR is where it is today because of the great entrepreneur, a person who understands the consumer, the customer, and built this sport up to what is, and that is Bill France Jr.," the president said.

He also introduced Brian France, who took over the leadership of NASCAR from his father in September.

"You know, there's nothing wrong, Brian, with following your father's footsteps," Bush said, drawing laughter.

Kenseth presented Bush with a leather racing jacket and later got to visit the president in the oval office.

"I've never been through anything quite like this before," said Kenseth, who will be in New York City the rest of the week for a variety of events leading to Friday night's awards ceremony, where he will collect more than $9 million in season winnings and contingency money.

"It's fantastic that NASCAR has grown to something so big that I can be here and stand up there on the stage with the president of the United States and see the oval office," he said. "It's just really neat.

"I can't wait for the rest of the week. I've really been looking forward to this."

Bush Reaches Out to Key Bloc: NASCAR Fans

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Snazzy-looking stock cars were parked on the White House driveway on Tuesday and a top NASCAR (news - web sites) driver was featured on the White House Web site -- clear signs that President Bush (news - web sites) was reaching out to a potent political base.

Reuters Photo

Bush sounded like he was relishing the possibilities of attracting the NASCAR fan base as he addressed the professional drivers and their crews on the South Lawn, their stock cars parked nearby.

"NASCAR is one of the fastest growing sports in America today -- 75 million Americans now count themselves as fans," he said.

Of those NASCAR fans in his government, Bush said: "I see a lot of the Bubbas who work in my administration who have shown up."

NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth, the 2003 Winston Cup champion, was featured on the White House Web site, taking questions from online readers in the "Ask the White House" section, which typically features senior Bush administration officials.

"There are lots of groups that are important and NASCAR is definitely one of them," said Jim Dyke, spokesman for the Republican National Committee (news - web sites).

Political experts say NASCAR fans, sometimes dubbed NASCAR dads by pundits, tend to be white males who are generally conservative and patriotic -- just the kind of people Bush wants to support his re-election in next year's campaign.

"NASCAR fans are part of President Bush's base vote," said Republican pollster Whit Ayres. "We used to call them southern white males before NASCAR got popular nationally."

Democrats see the power of the NASCAR voter as well.

Florida Democratic Sen. Bob Graham, before dropping out of the presidential race, sponsored a truck in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Under fire from his rivals, Democratic presidential candidate Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (news - web sites) last month said he regretted pain that he may have caused by saying Democrats should court "guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks." Despite the flag's racist legacy, he said the party must still reach out to poor white southerners if its candidate is to win the 2004 election.