Posted on 12/06/2003 11:18:23 AM PST by NormsRevenge
I don't like admitting this. Not one bit. But quite honestly, there are few things that get me truly geeked up anymore. Used to be celebrity sightings were mesmerizing. Now it's more like, "Britney's waving the flag? Cool."
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| Marty Smith | ||
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I know what you're thinking: "How dare you" and "I'd give my left arm" and "(Insert expletive-laden phrase here) you cynical, jaded ass."
I hear you. But I can't help it. As NASCAR continues its penetration into mainstream American entertainment, celebrities from every imaginable genre pop up at the racetrack on a weekly basis.
And believe it or not, to most garage regulars they're just another Hot Pass.
No lie.
But we're talking singers and actors and athletes, here. Not a gentleman with the collective weight of entire nations on his shoulders. Might just be me, but that's a bit more impressive than selling a million copies.
So when President George W. Bush emerged from the White House on Tuesday afternoon and strolled comfortably onto the sun-drenched South Lawn, easing up to a podium between Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson to address a who's who crowd of governmental and NASCAR personalities, the air was buzzing.
Geeked up? Try schoolgirl-meets-Justin Timberlake giddy.
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And not just me, either. Richard Childress didn't stop smiling. Ray Evernham must have taken 100 snapshots. Rusty Wallace appeared to be on the verge of wetting himself, he so badly wanted a picture with W.
And then there are the nine individuals that were actually on the stage with him.
"Truthfully, I was wondering if I accidentally tripped him as he walked by, if they'd just shoot me right then and there," laughed Jimmie Johnson, whom the President personally acknowledged for his fundraising work with the Red Cross following Hurricane Isabelle and the California wildfires.
"Seriously, though, all kidding aside, I'm standing there behind him as he addressed the crowd and I'm thinking, 'Man, this is the President. This is the MAN.' I couldn't believe how fortunate I was to be up there, right beside him."
And the boys on Capitol Hill? Believe me, the excitement was reciprocated. They thought they'd died and gone to Bristol.
"This the most excited I've been since I moved here," said Ellis Fisher, a correspondent with the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. "And they have people here every single day."
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Nick Dietzen, a legislative assistant from the House of Representatives, said, "Combining the White House and motorsports made for one hell of a day. I think our next step needs to be getting ol' G.W. to a race."
I say 10-4, boss. Bush's nine-minute speech -- which, by the way, was a brilliant political move to help sway the millions of voters among the NASCAR fan base -- was an ode to Kenseth's 2003 championship, as well as NASCAR's ever-increasing popularity.
Bush was well prepped. He spouted statistics on everything from fan viewership to NASCAR's storied history and imminent future change, to Kenseth's rise through the stock car ranks. The only noticeable mistakes came when he introduced Betty Jane France -- he accidentally referred to her as "Betty Jean" -- and "Kevin Harwick."
You all know who that is.
"If he's going to campaign us that hard, he needs to learn how to say all our names right first," joked Harvick, who vowed payback during a television appearance on ABC's Live with Regis & Kelly later this week.
Speaking of joking, the President did his share Tuesday. He poked fun at the members of his administration in attendance, calling them "Bubbas." I'm sure NASCAR loved that.
Among the "Bubbas" were Senator John Kyl (Ariz.) and Congressman Bart Gordon (Tenn.). Then there was Congressman Mac Collins. He's from Georgia, and apparently is a rabid NASCAR fan. Imagine that.
Wonder which driver he supports?
Bush also commented on the drivers' dapper attire and his amazement that they cleaned up so nicely, then lamented about his affection for the Busch Series. "I kind of like the name of that series," he quipped.
As the speech neared completion, Bush thanked several drivers for their work with charity organizations and thanked the entire NASCAR community for their continuing support of our troops overseas.
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| President Bush jokes with Tony Stewart. Credit: AP | ||
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"I also appreciate the strong support that NASCAR's drivers and crew members and executives continue to give to our Armed Forces," Bush said. "By reminding your millions of fans that America's heroes are the men and women who defend our nation, you're reminding us all about the importance of serving a cause greater than ourself."
Once the speech concluded, Kenseth presented a team leather jacket to the President that included the championship logo on the back. Bush then went down the line, individually congratulating each driver who finished in the top 10 in points.
He asked the Labonte brothers if the folks down in Corpus Christi, Tex., still claimed them. Bobby and Terry both nodded confidently. Bush then made his way down the line to Tony Stewart, who visited the White House after winning the 2002 Winston Cup title.
The two shared a brief conversation privately, following which the President turned to the crowd, grinned widely and said, "He said he's been good this year."
Hysterical.
Then, in an impromptu greeting, the President invited the NASCAR Top 10 and various Roush Racing and NASCAR executives into the Oval Office for a tour and individual pictures.
Much to my chagrin, that portion did not include me. But it's OK, I was plenty geeked up already.
Marty Smith is a senior writer for NASCAR.com. His column appears weekly.
The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.
Check 'em out. Thanks.
A Day in the Life of President Bush (photos): 12/2/03
or
White House Visit/Reception Today by Winston Cup Champ & Top 10 Leaders
or
***NASCAR 2003 Winston Cup Awards Banquet Thread FRom Friday night, 12/5***
The Few Many, the Proud Loud, the Bubbas
Us motorheads get knocked for always turning left and going in circles. That sounds like the new platform of the demRats, if ya ask me. :-)
God Bless America and God Bless Our Troops and President Bush.
Amazing. I can hardly imagine it. Then again, the last time I watched NASCAR was during the Petty/Pearson/Yarborough/Allison era.
Considering the President's track record such as carrier landings and visits to Iraq right under the terrorists noses on Thanksgiving, I would think he would at least be in the pace car. Daytona comes to mind here, since it's the big one, most watched and the start of the season.
Papa Bush could always parachute in too. :)
About 33 cars. Every one of them with orange fenders.
geeked up... GEEKED UP... GEEKED UP! This guy talks like an old man...
Unless I'm mistaken "ol' G.W." has already been there done that, though I'm not sure he has since becoming President. I think he was the honorary starter for the FIRECRACKER 400 in July of 2000 during the campaign. And I'm not sure that he hasn't attended another race since then.
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