"I'd like to thank my sponsor Barack Obama ...''

Those words soon could be uttered by Ken Schrader, as the Barack Obama Presidential campaign is set to sponsor Schrader's No. 49 BAM Racing car next month at Pocono.

It is believed to be the first time a Presidential candidate has sponsored a car. Kirk Shelmerdine had decals for George Bush on his car in 2004 but he did that since he had no other sponsorship. Albert Harris Jr., who brokered the deal for BAM said that the deal is for one race only and that the Obama campaign will  pay six figures.

The car also will be a fundraiser with up to 8,000 signatures being put on the car with a $100 donation giving someone the chance to have their name on the Obama car. There also will be a push for voter registration that also will be promoted by the Association for Diversity in Motorsports, a Greensboro-based group where its founder, Wayne Clapp, will be among those escorting Obama campaign staffers Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway.

Why sponsor BAM Racing, a team that hasn't competed in a points race this season since Martinsville in March? Who else are you going to get?

The garage is mostly Republican. Car owners Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress, Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi, Michael Waltrip, Richard Petty and Jeff Moorad (Hall of Fame Racing) have all contributed to Republican candidates since last year. Hendrick did give to a Democratic candidate. George Gillett of Gillett Evernham Motorsports has contributed only to Democractic candidates. So, there aren't many owners that would be a fit. Then, you had to consider that the sponsors might not want to be affiliated with a car with any kind of a political message.

So, the Obama campaign will have to go with a team that is not guaranteed a starting spot at Pocono. 

Why Pocono? Pennsylvania could be a key battleground state in the Presidential election, plus Obama lost to Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary there in April.

The car is to be unveiled July 23 in South Beach. Obama is not expected there. He's also not expected to be at Pocono for the race at this time. 

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