"Snooki" to be NASCAR Honorary Starter at Richmond International Raceway

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Drama. Pressure. Anticipation.

NASCAR fans have come to expect great things at Richmond International Raceway since NASCAR announced a change in the points system. Drivers competing for a chance to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup will be laying it all on the line next month. It’s only appropriate that the honorary starter for the race would be none other than Jersey Shore star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi.

Yes, you read that right! Snooki will be waving the green flag for one of NASCAR's most important races of the season.

Thursday morning, Richmond International Racewy sent out a tweet relaying the Snooki news (in honesty it was to correct the rumor that she would be the grand marshal - could you imagine that one?).

Wonderful Pistachios is sponsoring the race, The Wonderful Pistachios 400, and Snooki is a "celebrity" spokeswoman for the company.

She will definitely get the celebrity treatment. She will be introduced in the driver's meeting and will shake the hands of the 43 drivers during the pre-race introductions.

Is this the best that “Wonderful Pistachios” could do? Why not chose a firefighter, police officer, or even a U.S. military service member? Just keep in mind, the race will be run one day before the 10-year anniversary of 9/11.

What do you think? Did "Wonderful Pistachios" make the right choice? Sound off in the comment box below.

*Opinions expressed are those of the author.