I mentioned Barack Obama’s plans to troll for NASCAR votes last week. SI.com has the details of how the campaign will execute the pander. Guess he’ll be leaving the kids home for this one:

SI.com has learned that for the first time in history, a major presidential candidate may sponsor a race car in NASCAR’s premier series. According to sources, Barack Obama’s campaign is in talks to become the primary sponsor of BAM Racing’s No. 49 Sprint Cup car for the Pocono race on August 3. Details of the agreement are expected to be worked out over the coming days.

A BAM spokesperson has revealed the team will hold a press conference July 23 in Miami to reveal the partnership, currently a proposed one-race deal with an option to continue. Obama will be at the briefing, which will be tied to the “Get Out The Vote” campaign message he spread throughout the 2008 primary season…

…While George Bush was prominently featured on Kirk Shelmerdine’s No. 72 car in 2004, this is the first time a national presidential campaign has actually given its own money to make itself a primary sponsor of a race car. The sport has typically shown itself to be a Republican stronghold, and in recent weeks two-time champ Jimmie Johnson is among the growing list of well-known NASCAR stars who have come out in favor of Obama’s opponent, John McCain.

Like I said before: Watch out for those NASCAR cooties!

Commenter MikeOk: “So does this mean that John McCain will be a sponsor at Burning Man this year?”

Snort. Don’t give them any ideas!