Todd Palin, the "first dude" of Alaska, toured the garage area at Martinsville Speedway, met several drivers and was introduced to fans before the race.
"It's just a thrill for us to be down here and I'll leave my telephone number with any NASCAR racer if they want to come up and go run with us," Palin said during a brief session with the media.
A commercial fisherman and avid hunter, Palin said his top responsibility is taking care of the family at home in Alaska. Campaigning, he said, isn't his forte.
Palin added that he's spent the last few days talking about his family's love of hunting and fishing. He welcomed his time with the NASCAR drivers and "being part of an American tradition, racing." He wished he could take a few laps in a Sprint Cup car.
"Oh, I'd love to," he said. "I'd love to swap keys any day."
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