NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin: I want to race Cantor

The 32-year-old driver had some time to recruit the House Majority Leader to join him on the racetrack during a Thursday pit stop on Capitol Hill on behalf of the March of Dimes. The racing pro was being honored by the health agency at a Washington gala that evening for his efforts to raise awareness about the foundation’s annual spring fundraiser, March for Babies.

“We do all we can to make it so that the priority is to make sure that we are healthy and well going forward. And we do that by making sure the federal dollars can flow to medical research for kids,” Cantor said during his meeting with Hamlin.

Hamlin also chatted with Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) during his race through the halls of Congress.

Model Niki Taylor, wife of former NASCAR driver Burney Lamar, accompanied Hamlin as he met with lawmakers. She applauded the Senate’s passage of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act the night before, telling Cantor, “We would really love for that to pass in the House as well. I’m a mom of four kids, and not everybody gets to have a full-term pregnancy or a healthy baby.”

Photos: Greg Nash