Meg Whitman, Steve Poizner face off in NASCAR primary

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Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. Republican gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner may not be debating any time soon, but they will both be looking for votes in the all-important NASCAR primary this weekend.

Both candidates will serve as ‘honorary race officials’ at the Sprint Cup Series races in Fontana. Should be some interesting -- some might say awkward -- visuals as these mega-rich business folk mix it up with race car fans. (Michael Dukakis in a tank comes to mind.)

According to news releases from race officials, Whitman will wave the green flag to get the Saturday’s 150-lap, 300-mile Stater Bros. underway.

On Sunday, it’s Poizner’s turn. The insurance commissioner will ride in the official NASCAR pace car, which leads the field to the green flag.

Of course, both candidates will be taking a back seat to the real high-profile gig, that of honorary starter for Sunday’s main event. Those flag-waving honors will fall to wresting superstar ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.

-- Anthony York in Sacramento