NASCAR Cup Series

Palin plays politician around Daytona 500

Published Feb. 14, 2010 12:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

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 raced around the Daytona 500 on Sunday, shaking hands and taking photos 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 a chance to energize her base in one of the most critical regions of the largest swing state.

Palin took two questions before the only two reporters around her entourage were cutoff. That didn't stop her from doing what she does best: getting out in the crowds and mingling with supporters.