You read it right, the first lady of the USA will preside over the last race of the 2011 NASCAR season at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20. Michelle Obama will be joined by Dr. Jill Biden in support of the Joining Forces initiative to help military families.
The Ford 400 is the championship race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, which is currently being lead by Carl Edwards (we think). Along with uttering a few of the most famous words in motorsports ("Gentleman start your engines", but you already knew that) Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will take a ride in the pace car as part of their Grand Marshall Duties.
According to the official White House press release
"As part of the season-ending NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship race, NASCAR will rally its millions of fans at the speedway and online to serve military families through the holiday season by asking them to visit www.NASCAR.com/Unites and JoiningForces.gov to find service opportunities and ideas to give back to those who serve our country."
Although the First Lady is far from the first political figure you would associate with NASCAR and their fanbase, as ABC's Jake Tapper points out, winning over a few voters in Florida certainly wouldn't hurt her husband's 2012 bid for re-election.
Hat tip to teampenske3!
[ABC News]