Lesson learned: All 12 drivers show up at White House

After seeing NASCAR take a PR hit when four of its drivers skipped a White House ceremony in September, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday "everybody learned a good lesson to be here this year." By Carolyn Kaster, AP President Obama, right, talks with 2011 Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart Tuesday at the White House. Stewart was one of four NASCAR drivers to decline the previous invitation from the president. Enlarge By Carolyn Kaster, AP President Obama, right, talks with 2011 Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart Tuesday at the White House. Stewart was one of four NASCAR drivers to decline the previous invitation from the president. Sponsored Links The last time the 12 Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers were invited to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., four stars —Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart — declined, citing scheduling conflicts. Athletes declining a White House visit had recently become bigger news than those athletes who do attend. In January, Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas was the only member of the team to not visit the White House, where President Obama honored the 2011 Stanley Cup winners. Thomas skipped due to his political beliefs.  2011 champion Tony Stewart in focus Tuesday, as Obama spoke on the South Lawn to reigning Cup Series champion Stewart and the 11 other Chase drivers of 2011 who donned suits and ties, there was no such flap. Obama honored Stewart for his third championship run, in which he won five of the 10 Chase races after going winless in the first 26 races of 2011. Stewart edged Edwards for the title in the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. "Tony himself acknowledged he didn't see it coming; nobody saw it coming," Obama said. "We've all heard about athletes who say they're going to do what it takes to win it all. But back in August, with the season winding down, Tony predicted he wouldn't be able to pull it off. In fact, he said that if he did end up winning the championship — this is a quote — 'I'll declare I'm a total bumbling idiot.' " The small congregation of NASCAR friends and family and the media laughed as the sun beamed down on the drivers and gave the Cup trophy a shine. Obama continued: "Here's your chance, Tony." The president glanced back at Stewart. The driver grinned, then shrugged. Obama also congratulated Edwards on a finish that was "down to the wire and came about as close as you can get without actually winning." "Everybody who saw Carl after the race — it was a great lesson in how you handle disappointment with grace and with class," Obama said. "He's a outstanding representative for all of NASCAR." In addition to Stewart and Edwards, other drivers in attendance were: Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch. Earnhardt Jr. also missed the trip to the White House last year. That's because NASCAR's most popular driver wasn't in the Chase in 2010 (he finished seventh last year). "I was just glad to have an opportunity to shake his hand and get my picture made," Earnhardt said of Obama. "I'm appreciative to be here, to have the opportunity to do. He seems like a busy man. "I hope that every time we come back and the president gets to know more of us better that he becomes a fan, a bigger fan. It's an important connection for us to have with the government as much as we support and work with our military." Two Cup cars graced the South Lawn, and to Obama's disappointment, he wasn't able to take a lap in one. Besides Stewart's championship cars and the Cup trophy, the typical NASCAR atmosphere was left at the racetrack. No logos donned Earnhardt's black suit. The boldest color in his ensemble was his gold tie. "Oh, this suit," Earnhardt said, glancing down. "It's not as comfortable. It's appropriate, I guess, for this occasion. I don't wear a suit or tie a tie too often, so I'm not too good at it. I spent all day trying to get this one tied and finally got it right before we got here." He wore one because he saw it as an important event. It was an invitation "you never turn down." "This year I brought my girlfriend (Amy Reimann)," Earnhardt said. "If I get the opportunity to come back, I'll probably bring my mother."

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