Texas and the NRA 500…

A late race caution allowed Kyle Busch to make a run for the win following a quick pit. Martin Truex, Jr. was on the lead before that caution and ran to the 2nd spot. NASCAR inspections may cause a later issue for Truex as it was determined the nose of the #56 was a tad low.

That wasn’t the only inspection issue. NASCAR officials had issues with the #2 and #22 of Keselowski and Logano. The rear-end housings of the two Fords were pulled for inspection and Logano was put at the back of the field as the #22 wasn’t ready ready for the grid quick enough. Keselowski was outspoken and upset about all sorts of “issues” in the garage but his team was able to re-assemble the #2 and have it out in time.

Logano was still able to cross the finish in 5th despite the issues and the rear of the field start. Keselowski was in 9th.

Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle filled out the top 5 in thr 3rd and 4th slots. Jimmie Johnson held his points lead with a 6th place finish. Aric Almirola was 7th. Brian Vickers, driving Denny Hamlin’s #11 Toyota, put in at 8th and Ryan Newman rounded out the top 10.

The race, even before it started, generated some attention from the political spectrum. It seems there were some folks upset over the NRA sponsoring the event.

Now, the NRA was in discussion as a possible title sponsor long before the “week of” yet the criticism only really surfaced following the official announcement back in March. The loudest voice was Senator (D-Connecticut) Chris Murphy who had written the FOX network asking that the race not be broadcast. Connecticut, and the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, are on the top of current discussions concerning gun control legislation going through Washington, DC.

To be clear, the NRA and NASCAR are not strangers. The NRA has been involved with sponsorships, donations and other support for a long time. The Speedway Children’s Charities has long been a beneficiary of donations and support. The NASCAR fan base shares many of the principles and values put forth by the NRA.

It should also be noted that the firearms organization could have gone further yet declined promotion packages which would have had the NRA logo and mentions imbedded into the race broadcast. Their sponsorship remained only with Texas Motor Speedway and was not part of the FOX promotion as is often done with other race sponsors. This was a decision of the NRA folks well before the issue was brought forth by Senator Murphy. FOX had no real obligation with the NRA and was only broadcasting, as contracted with NASCAR, the race event.

Firearms are a part of the racing at Texas Motor Speedway and this predates the NRA sponsorship. The race winner gets to fire “six-shooters”. The pole winner gets a rifle.

Also, to be fair, the scene of the horror at Sandy Hook and the state of Connecticut as represented by Senator Murphy put certain sensibilities at the forefront. The Senator is well within his rights to express displeasure over the sponsorship of the race.

However, do those rights extend so far as making an official request to stop a broadcast of a scheduled event? Does the Senator’s request cross the same line of “politicizing” the issue that he was accusing the NRA and NASCAR of in the first place? Is the Senator’s 1st Amendment right to make the request any more important than the same 1st Amendment as applied for the peoples’ voices of the NRA, Texas Motor Speedway, NASCAR or FOX?

These questions aside, there was also a sadly ironic tragedy at the Texas Motor Speedway over this race weekend. In the infield, a 42 year old man allegedly committed suicide. The investigation is ongoing but the most recent information is that he died of a self-inflicted gun shot to the head. There are reports alcohol and an argument with other campers preceded the shooting.

It is sad. It is tragic. This man’s family and friends are going through real emotion and loss.

It is ironic. In the middle of a national debate on “gun control” and an event with the NRA sponsorship a man shoots himself with a firearm. The NRA stands on a platform of responsible and safe firearms ownership. The national debate centers on accessibility and misuse of firearms.

This incident also demonstrates completely the impasse that prevents sensible progress on the issue of firearms in the United States. On the one hand, people who may fall on the side with Senator Murphy could say that more legislation is needed so firearms are strictly controlled and limited to a very narrow scope with the view that these tragic deaths could be avoided. On the other, folks who stand with the NRA and similar sensibilities, could point out that NASCAR, the Texas Motor Speedway, the State of Texas and the United States have laws and rules currently in place that prohibit firearms in these venues of entertainment. These laws do little or nothing to prevent those intent on breaking the law. There is current law in place and this man is still dead.

There you have the wall. The arguments continue to make the wall higher rather than find ways to get around it.

NASCAR is reviewing rules concerning sponsorships for their sanctioned events.

The NRA is continuing to press on with citizens’ rights concerning the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution.

The Senator in Connecticut and others are continuing to press for their vision of gun ownership in this Country.

Drivers and teams are on their way to Kansas.

This race did not change much. The national debate on guns is still on. Jimmie Johnson is still the Sprint Cup points leader.

The biggest change is not felt by most of us as the family and friends of a man are going to a funeral.

The question remains…

Which law, current or proposed, would have prevented this funeral?

If we can be honest with that answer perhaps we’ll get somewhere.