Earnhardt regrets decision not to enter race

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Though his year in NASCAR got off to a hot start with a win at the Budweiser Shootout, the story after Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s season-opening victory was more about a race he chose not to enter – the Republican primary. “I thought long and hard about it last year, and I decided not to throw my hat in the ring,” Earnhardt said when asked about the Presidency. “Primary season fit right into my schedule, but obviously the campaign for the general election would have run right through this NASCAR season. I really didn’t want to be distracted by a presidential race during my first season with Hendrick Motorsports.” Recently, though, NASCAR’s prodigal son has been having second thoughts about that decision. The relative ease with which John McCain seems to be winning the Republican nomination has made Earnhardt regret not taking a run at it. “In retrospect, I really think I could have done it, and I wish I would have entered,” Earnhardt told SSNN. “Look at McCain running away with this thing – I mean, the primary would have been a cinch. And once I won the nomination, I think I could have campaigned for the presidency pretty well from the winner’s circle, you know?”

It’s going to be tough for this sport to sweep any nations, but it’s still pretty frickin’ cool!