Look at this article from the July 8, 2008 USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/spo rts/motor/nascar/2008-07-08 -johnson-pressclub_N.htm

Two-time Cup champion Johnson says he's for McCain

WASHINGTON — Two-time defending NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson knew he couldn't come to the nation's capital without being asked about his choice for president.

"I'd have to pick (John) McCain," said Johnson, speaking at the National Press Club on Tuesday. "I think our core fan base, being Republicans like they are, that will be their first choice.

"There's a lot of respect going to come in his direction. I think what hurts Barack (Obama) is his lack of experience right now. But he's certainly a charismatic guy, and I look forward to learning a lot about him."

 It's pretty wild that USA Today put "Johnson says he's for McCain" in the title considering this much more balanced article from US News & World report -- also dated July 8, 2008:

 http://www.usnews.com /blogs/washington-whispers/ 2008/7/8/jimmie-johnson-say s-nascar-fans-arent-alike-b ut-will-choose-mccain.html

Jimmie Johnson Says NASCAR Fans Aren't Alike but Will Choose McCain

It's not a normal stop on the NASCAR circuit, but No. 48 Jimmie Johnson, the reigning two-time Sprint Cup champion, touched down in Washington today, where he met with fans and the media, including a few political types like us here at Whispers who couldn't resist a political question or two. Like: Has he chosen a presidential candidate to back? "I have not, and yes I will, I absolutely will," said the Lowe's driver. OK, then, toward whom does he lean? "I like the experience [Sen. John] McCain has. There's something about his experience and how much time he's been serving our country, the history he has serving our country," he told me at a reception before addressing the National Press Club. But he said since the election is just heating up, he's only now starting to pay attention. And like many Americans, he finds the attacks from campaigns harsh and sometimes confusing. "It's so tough in today's world to sort out what is fact and what is something that is edited creatively to make people look bad," he said.

Normally, NASCAR stars try to steer away from controversy, and politics is certainly one of those topics. But the soft-spoken yet intense Johnson, accompanied by his wife Chandra, had no trouble talking politics. For example, he talked twice about the political leanings of the NASCAR fan base, a group Republicans like to think they own. While he figures McCain will win the group, he also noted that many of his neighbors in New York City are big-time NASCAR fans and Democrats. "Our sport touches a lot of people," he told me. "My wife and I have an apartment in New York City, and there are plenty of Democrats running around the city who are junkies for NASCAR. It's a big sport, it really is."

Still, he thinks the core fan base will back McCain over Sen. Barack Obama. "I have to think McCain. I think our core fan base being strong Republicans like they are, that's going to be the first choice. I also think his credits in history and what he's done for our country, certainly for our country, a lot of those things will be fully noticed by our fan base," says Johnson.

---Hmm, very interesting.  It has the same quotes as the McCain-slanted USA Today article.  But US News & World Report added in pro-Democratic quotes, and most importantly, told us that that JJ hasn't chosen whom to support.  That kind of controverts the "Two-time Cup champion Johnson says he's for McCain" USA Today headline.  Jimmie was talking about whom he thinks NASCAR fans would support, not himself.  That's kind of a huge part of the story to leave out, right?

The following came from an article on the USA Today sports page on election day 11/4/08
http://www.usatoday.com/pri ntedition/sports/20081104/c 2break04.art.htm

The NASCAR circuit has weighed in from both sides of the track as two driving legends used a similar metaphor to describe their choice.
Jimmie Johnson told bluenc.com that Obama "has the kind of steady hand that we need on the wheel in times like these."
Meantime, Richard Petty sided with McCain: "What we need right now in these uncertain times is a steady hand on the wheel."