Maybe we should call him Racin' Rudy.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is popular with some high-profile members of NASCAR, according to campaign finance reports filed today with the Federal Election Commission.

NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears all contributed $2,300 to Giuliani's Republican presidential campaign during the most recent quarter.

But they may have just been taking orders from the pit. Gordon, Johnson and Mears all drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Rick Hendrick, the head of Hendrick Motorsports, also contributed to Giuliani.

It may be Speed Week, but legislators took some time off to honor the real thing.

With just 34 hours left until the crossover deadline for bills to stay alive this session, the House and the Senate stopped work for an hour this afternoon.

Their purpose? To honor Jimmie Johnson, the 2006 Nextel Cup champion racecar driver.

Nascar CEO Brian France, President Mike Helton, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick and of course, the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet himself, Jimmie Johnson.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand noted that there are 28,000 jobs in racing in North Carolina, not to mention a new Nascar Hall of Fame in Charlotte.

He also noted that it was Jimmie Johnson's Monte Carlo that Gov. Mike Easley crashed in 2005.

"That's the ultimate sacrifice for racing, I reckon, let the governor tear your car up," he said.