Santorum to Daytona Driver: Race Like Me

Is Rick Santorum the role model for winning the Daytona 500? That's what he told NASCAR driver Tony Raines before tonight's race: Use the "Santorum strategy," the Republican presidential candidate said today on Fox News. "Hang back and let the other cars in front get in wrecks ... or drop out of the race and then move up at the end." That's sort of how Santorum has fared against front-runner Mitt Romney, surging from behind to make it a two-man Republican race, USA Today reports.

Mitt Romney visited Daytona yesterday, in part because his campaign is sponsoring Raines' No. 26 Ford Fusion—a "pretty spiffy" car, said Romney. Asked about his love for racing, Romney said he doesn't follow it "as closely as some of the most ardent fans. But I have some great friends that are NASCAR team owners." They're donors too, it turns out: The Public Campaign Action Fund has identified NASCAR executives and owners who donate to Romney's campaign. The rain-delayed race is scheduled for 7 p.m. (More Rick Santorum 2012 stories.)