Mitt Romney dropped in on Daytona, Florida, yesterday to burnish his cred with the NASCAR crowd.

Two days away from a critical primary in Michigan, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney detoured to Daytona International Speedway on Sunday.

Romney visited the track for a few hours before the scheduled start of the Daytona 500. He spoke briefly at the pre-race drivers’ meeting and spent time walking around the garage and pit areas, shaking hands and taking photographs with fans.

[…]

“This combines a couple of things I like best, cars and sports,” Romney told the group. “I appreciate the spirit of the men and women that are driving today. This is a chance to really look at some of the determination and great qualities of the human spirit. This is quintessentially American. I love what you’re doing, happy to be here today, wish you all the very best and God bless this great nation of ours.”

I’m not sure I’d use the words “quintessentially American” in a setting where the most patriotic expression is usually “America! Fuck yeah!” but hey, Mr. Romney and his campaign know everything about staging and crowd imagery, right? Besides, when you’ve got friends who are NASCAR team owners, why, it’s good to get out and hang out with the hoi polloi as long as you don’t get corn-dog grease on your Topsiders.

The car gods smiled on him, though, and brought enough rain that the race had to be postponed until today.