Palin plays politician around Daytona 500

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Sarah Palin took a break from the snow and played politician on stock car racing’s biggest stage.

Pretty important place on the political landscape too.

The former vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor sped around Daytona International Speedway in Florida on Sunday, shaking hands and taking photos with drivers and fans alike before what she called the “all-Americana event.”

Palin said she was “having fun and not thinking about the politics of this,” but she didn’t miss the chance to energize her base in one of the most crucial regions of the largest swing state.

“This is awesome,” she said. “It’s the all-Americana event. Good, patriotic, wonderful event that’s bringing a whole lot of people together. I think this is good for our country.”

Sporting a black coat, blue jeans and heels, the self-described “hockey mom” got the full experience in her first visit to the Daytona 500.

She sat through the pre-race driver meeting, muscled her way through the pit road, took to the stage on the infield and wished drivers a safe race. She drew roars from throngs of racing fans, many shouting, “We love you, Sarah!”

Palin wasn’t with her husband, Todd, on Valentine’s Day. She told the crowd he was back in Alaska preparing for the Iron Dog snowmobile race.

“Whether it’s racing cars, dogs, snow machines, it’s an event like this that brings all Americans together,” she said.

Palin took just two questions from the only two reporters around her entourage, consisting of about a dozen security personnel and managers. That didn’t stop her from getting out in the crowds and mingling with supporters.

“I’m thinking about this good, active, speed-loving event that a lot of Alaskans too are really in to,” said Palin, adding that some elements at Daytona were similar — minus the snow — to the Iditarod sled dog race.

“We’ve got our snow-machine races up there. This is, of course, on a much greater scale,” she said. “Same type of sport, though, same type of risk-taking, speed-loving all-American event that we participate up north. We love it. You bet.”

Even some of the biggest names in NASCAR and entertainment couldn’t resist her.

Seven-time Daytona 500 winner Richard Petty posed for a photo, singers Tim McGraw and Harry Connick Jr. greeted her and others -- including Marines, autograph-seeking fans and children in wheelchairs -- got hugs and handshakes.

Crew members on pit road even took a break from changing tires, some stunned to see Palin walking through their familiar domain before the race.

“If you run [for president] in 2012, you’ve got my vote,” one told Palin, shaking her hand.

-- Associated Press