TALLADEGA — Country music superstar Aaron Tippin sounded more politician than musician when asked who he was rooting for in this weekend’s race.

“I’ve got plenty of friends [involved],” he said. “I don’t want to make them mad.”

Tippin headlined the induction event for this year’s Davy Allison Walk of Fame Saturday. The platinum-selling artist performed many of his hits from his 20-year career at the free show.

Tippin, an avid race fan, said he was glad to be part of the weekend’s festivities.

“I’m a Carolina boy,” Tippin said. “Two most important things in a Carolina boy’s life are the two ‘R’s: Rasslin’ and Racin.’”

He also got to experience some of Talladega’s racing history for the first time at Davy Allison Memorial Park.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “I didn’t really know anything about the park. I didn’t realize you guys had this downtown. We are excited to be a part of this, it’s pretty neat.”

Tippin described his sound as “blue collar.” He said he looks to write and sing about things that are meaningful to people, like morals, character and feeding the family.

“I think me and Merle Haggard are the only two that have ‘Working Man’ songs,” he said.

The singer/songwriter also showcases some of his other talents at concerts. Tippin put together a bicycle for Toys for Tots while performing, showcasing his welding skills.

Some of his other endeavors include piloting, winemaking and competitive bodybuilding.

Tippin said if he was not singing for a living, he would be flying.

“My dad was a professional pilot and I grew up around airplanes,” he said. “I’d probably song-write secondly if I wasn’t entertaining. If that didn’t work out I’d go back to welding, if that didn’t work out I’d go to truck driving, or running heavy equipment, flipping burgers, I believe there’s no such thing as being without a job.”

Tippin said he tries to keep his fans updated using all the tools of the digital age. Upcoming events and more are on his Web site, www.aarontippin.com. He also has an account with Myspace, Twitter and Facebook.

“My Facebook is full now so nobody else can join up,” he said. “We’re still trying to figure out the remedy to that. Once you get to 5,000, it closes your door.”

But the live experience is where it’s at for the fans and for Tippin. Adding homemade props and different “bells and whistles,” the performer said every show brings something new.

“I love country music and I love to have fun with it,” Tippin said. “You can’t tell what kind of rabbits I’m going to pull out of the hat. I don’t stand there, tap my toe and sing. It’s just fun.”

Tippin has played for crowds big and small, mostly big, over his career. But he said there was nothing better than to play to an audience like the one in Talladega.

“Really, it’s a lot more fun,” he said. “We played for the crowds all last summer, 100,000 (people), and that’s all good and fine. But there is nothing like being able to stare right in their faces here. That makes a big difference.”