PHOTOS Vrooooooooooooooom.

[Jackeens]

Does the President get to keep the car? You know, like all those jerseys? :shrug:

1

2

3

4

5

President Barack Obama honors 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson on the South Lawn of the White House

6

Former NASCAR champion Richard Petty is pictured before President Barack Obama honors 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson

7

NASCAR legends Richard Petty (R) and Darrell Waltrip (L)

8

9

President Barack Obama poses for a photograph with NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and his wife Ingrid Vandebosch

10

11

12

13

14

Jimmie Johnson (2nd R) with fellow drivers Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle (2nd L) - NASCAR drivers Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. also attended the ceremony.

15

16

Secret Service agents keep watch as President Barack Obama returns to the Oval Office after an event honoring NASCAR 2008 Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson at the White House

www.daylife.com



NASCAR doesn’t rank at the top of Obama’s list of favorite sports, but the president hosted a string of the sport’s superstars Wednesday at the White House to honor 2008 Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson. With Johnson’s #48 Chevy parked next to him on the South Portico, Obama called NASCAR a "uniquely American sport” and said race car driving is "not about who's behind the wheel but who's got your back in the pit."

“You know, it is not every day that we have a championship stock car parked out on the South Lawn,” Obama joked. “Fortunately, we got Jimmie to agree not to do any burnouts or tear up my backyard.” Obama’s remarks were short but he stuck around for a bit afterward to shake hands and chat with guests in the audience. But first he posed for a photograph with the Sprint Cup.“I think I've got to take a shot next to the cup here,” he said, before standing next to it and smiling for the cameras.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0809/uniquely_american_sport_0f199fef-08e5-436a-a199-a757965f4f61.html

[Clio the Leo]

1. lol, poor thing should have at least been given a chance to drive it...

.... around the south lawn ..... poor man only gets to drive a golf cart anymore.

[Stephanie]

2. Bush actually did accept free cars

That big-ass white truck with the double cab that he used to drive around the "ranch"? Free. Donated. As were his widdle bicycles, those $4000 Treks - all free.

[Cha]

6. I thought that would be against some

sort of "gift law" for the Pres(sic)?

[NYC Liberal]

7. I believe gifts under a certain amount the president can keep after he leaves office

Over that amount, he has the option of buying them after he leaves office or else they go to the National Archives (and possibly to his library)

[Cha]

9. Okay, thanks! Why

is Bill Clinton so red in your sig pic?

[Arkana]

12. "It was a little cocker spaniel dog...and our little girl, Tricia, named it 'Checkers."

[Historic NY]

3. Wonder what dem good old boys are thinking now?

[Lancer]

4. The Zogby polls always ask, "do you consider yourself a NASCAR fan?"

The President seems to have a healthy, grown up attitude towards it, like he seems to about everything: "just because I don't find something interesting doesn't mean it's not interesting."

[Cha]

5. I absolutely knock out love it when

Pres Obama mixes it up with people who you don't even think of as supporters but they mingle with mutual respect on this national stage called The White House.

[butterfly77]

8. Petty was on hannity ...

slamming all of Obama's policies...

[alsame]

11. And yet he showed up for the photo ops. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Lots of empty chairs