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The Washington Nationals presidents race audition details have been announced for 2011.
In what has become an annual tradition, the Nats will be holding auditions on Presidents Day weekend for candidates who want to compete as racing presidents George, Tom, Abe, and Teddy at Nationals Park.
The tryouts will be held on Saturday, February 19th. In previous years, candidates have been asked to run a 40-yard dash, race on the field, dance, and show their celebration skills during the tryouts, which are held rain or shine. Last year, the auditions went forward in deep fresh snow, which made for a cold but hilarious afternoon.
Candidates must also:
• Be between 5’7″ and 6’6″ in height
• Be able to run approximately 200 yards in 40 seconds
• Be able to wear a costume weighing about 45 lbs for several hours
• Be available for at least 35 Nationals home games
Presidents race auditions are closed to the public. If you’d like to score an invitation, e-mail a cover letter, resume and recent photo to entertainment@nationals.com and include “2011 Racing Presidents” in the subject line. The team typically invites 50 to 60 finalists to the auditions.
Video from last year’s tryouts:
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Focus on the Curly W as the major identity of the team is a good move, but lost in most of the coverage is the elimination of the block “Nationals” that has adorned the team’s jersey’s since its inaugural season. 
No sooner had Nationals mascot Screech declared Lincoln the winner, when he joined the presidents in holding up signs of appreciation for Kasten, who announced last week that he would be leaving the team at the end of the season.
With a big assist from Mr. Kool-Aid, Thomas Jefferson lucked into his fifth straight presidents race victory Tuesday night, setting up an epic final race showdown for the 2010 presidents race title on Fan Appreciation Night, Wednesday at Nationals Park.
Just one month ago, it appeared that George would finally end Lincoln’s two year stretch of presidents racing dominance; then Abe won 9 of 11 to soar into first place with a dominant lead in the standings heading into the final month of the season.
On Sunday at Nationals Park, that gift was dangled in front of them as it appeared outgoing team president Stan Kasten was finally going to let Teddy win. Roosevelt pulled away from the pack and appeared un-catchable heading into the home stretch. 
When I respond that Nationals Park PA announcer Jerome Hruska really calls the game live and unscripted, some people find that hard to believe.
Nationals Park, to give Let Teddy Win readers an inside look at the calling of the GEICO presidents race.
Behind a soundproof door, Hruska reads a script introducing the presidents race video, but from that point forward, the script just reads “(RACE).”
Friday was Hispanic Heritage Night at Nationals Park, with the team honoring the contributions of the hispanic community to baseball and society throughout the evening.
The night that had it all started with an 
As if on queue, the Nationals racing presidents were prepared to match the drama step by step with a few oddities and milestones of their own. 
In the 12th inning, Teddy parked in centerfield section 101, posing for photos with fans. When he was still there at the top of the 13th, we knew trouble was in store.
When Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln burst out of the centerfield starting gate, Teddy was still hanging out with fans in the stands. He jumped up from his seat and raced around the concourse, but didn’t make it to the field in time to compete.
A five game losing streak is a pretty scary thing for Nationals fans, but on Friday night at Nationals Park, the Nats racing presidents upped the ante, emerging from the centerfield starting gate wearing “Jason” masks to honor Friday the 13th.
I am in Alaska this week, where needless to say we are unable to attend the rest of the Nationals homestand vs. the Braves and Phillies. As we did in previous summers, we are going to ask the loyal Let Teddy Win readers to take over! 
On a sunny Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park, Teddy Roosevelt took an early lead in the 4th-inning presidents race, but faded quickly as George Washington put on a burst of speed to take the lead; but George couldn’t maintain the pace, and Abraham Lincoln once again was well-positioned to finish strong and take his 16th presidents race of the 2010 season.
George Washington was teamed with Thomas Jefferson and Abe Lincoln was teamed with Teddy Roosevelt as the race began. 
For Sunday’s 4th-inning presidents race, George, Thomas, and Abe took to the hot and muggy outfield, but Teddy Roosevelt was in the stands on the first baseline, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sipping a cold beverage from the Beltway Bar behind section 132, while getting fanned by two members of the Nat Pack. 
