Santorum, Romney presidential campaigns clash at Daytona 500

• 
  By Terry Renna, AP
  Mitt Romney makes his way through the crowd Sunday morning before the Daytona 500. He attended the prerace drivers meeting.

By Terry Renna, AP

Mitt Romney makes his way through the crowd Sunday morning before the Daytona 500. He attended the prerace drivers meeting.

Conservative, of course. Just check his hood.
On a Sunday in which Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made the rounds shaking hands at Daytona International Speedway, Raines' No. 26 was sporting a "Rick 2012" logo fashioned as a campaign button.

STORY: Danica Patrick ready for Cup debut
PHOTOS: Drivers to watch in the Daytona 500
MORE: Defending champion Bayne aims for stability
The Ford was sponsored by candidate Rick Santorum, whose name also adorned the quarter-panels and rear bumper for the season-opening race. The Daytona presence of Romney and Santorum came in advance of Tuesday's pivotal primary election in Michigan.

The Detroit News reported the United Auto Workers union would fly a banner over the race reminding of Romney's opposition to the U.S. auto bailout.
"This combines a couple of things I like best," the former Massachusetts governor said, addressing drivers, crew chiefs, team owners and many CEOs and executives from Sprint Cup sponsors in a prerace meeting. "Cars and sport. I appreciate the spirit of the men and women driving. This is a chance to look at the great qualities of the American spirit, it's quintessentially American. I love what you're doing and wish you the best."
Santorum wasn't expected to attend the race, but the former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania called Raines after Saturday's final practice for a 10-minute chat.

"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 notices 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 entry in the 41st starting spot by qualifying on speed. He ran nine laps in the first qualifying race Thursday before parking to save his car, but Raines told Santorum that he still thought he had a chance at a victory Sunday.

"I told him we'd run on defense until it gets down to the end, then we'd make a run for it," Raines said. "He said, 'That sounds like my campaign.' It was a good comparison and a cool deal."
Raines had two teammates (David Gilliland and David Ragan) to help push in the draft and protect him from the mayhem that has enveloped the weekend's warmup races at Daytona. Winners emerged through fluky circumstances and attrition in the Camping World Truck Series (John King) and Nationwide (James Buescher) races, which gave Raines hope of earning a victory in his 163 start in NASCAR's premier series.

"That's Plan B, though," Raines said. "Plan A is to be conservative until the end so we can finish."
In a release, Santorum said he was attracted to NASCAR as a campaign vehicle because of the audience for its biggest race. Fox said last year's telecast drew an average of 15 million viewers and more 30 than 30 million total viewers.

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