Celebrities abound at NASCAR's biggest event

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- If the magnitude of a sporting event is judged by the number of stars who attend it, then it's safe to say the Daytona 500 is among the biggest.

	Ben Affleck and Whoopi Goldberg share a moment before the green flag. Credit: AP

Ben Affleck, Whoopi Goldberg, and LeAnn Rimes. Greg Norman, Evander Holyfield and Miss America.

President Bush, too.

At the pre-race driver's meeting Sunday, NASCAR president Mike Helton needed several minutes to introduce all the celebrities present for the Great American Race.

"I think that speaks," Helton said. "It's a compliment to the Daytona 500 and to NASCAR as to just how special an event this is."

Affleck served as the grand marshal -- even though some of his duties were given to President Bush -- Goldberg was an honorary starter, and Rimes sang the national anthem and was the featured performer in the pre-race "Tribute to America" show.

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Lee Greenwood and the reigning Miss America, Ericka Dunlap, also sang.

Norman and Holyfield highlighted one of Daytona's longest list of sports stars. Boston Red Sox teammates Tim Wakefield and Derek Lowe, Florida Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell, former NFL linebacker Carl Banks and New Jersey Nets forward Rodney Rogers were on hand.

	President George W. Bush gave the command to start engines. Credit: AP

"You should feel honored that all these people are here to watch you," Helton told the drivers.

Affleck got the loudest ovation, but he also got some bad news.

"They told me I was going to be bumped, and I was like 'bumped? What are you talking about bumped? Who's bumping me?"' said Affleck, who drove the pace car. "'The President of the United States. OK, terrific. Guess I'm bumped then."'

Actor James Caviezel, who plays Jesus in Mel Gibson's epic "The Passion of the Christ," spent the race in the pit of Bobby Labonte.

The movie already has drawn lavish praise from conservative clergy -- including the Rev. Billy Graham -- but angry denouncements from Jewish groups fearing it will stir up anti-Semitism. On the hood of Labonte's car was a plug for the new movie.

"Just consider it as a life insurance policy," Caviezel said.

	LeAnn Rimes sang the national anthem. Credit: AP

Bush is the first president to visit the track since 1992, when his father came for the race. George W. Bush has been here before, in 1992, when he was governor of Texas and running for president. The first presidential visit was in 1984, when Ronald Reagan attended the Firecracker 400 in July, and Richard Petty won his 200th race.

Bush's appearance provided him with an opportunity to reach out to this election year's coveted "NASCAR dad" constituency -- stereotyped as mostly white, male and Southern even though the sport's reach is much broader.

Although Helton gave extensive praise to NASCAR crews for dealing with the heightened security measures because of Bush's visit, he also downplayed the impact.

"When you look at the interest and the type of people that come to NASCAR events now, this is really not that big of a disruption," Helton said. "We have to deal with a lot of security issues because of the magnitude of people who come to these events."