NRA 500

[sarisataka]

National Rifle Association sponsors NASCAR Sprint Cup race
Nate Ryan, USA TODAY Sports6:08p.m. EST March 4, 2013

The National Rifle Association will sponsor the April 13 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, track president Eddie Gossage announced Monday during the 1.5-mile oval's annual preseason media day Monday.

The race, shown live by Fox, will be renamed from the Texas 500 to the NRA 500. It will be the first Saturday prime-time event of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) is among the largest sporting venues in the United States, with seating capacity in excess of 190,000.

The race will happen just two months after Michael Waltrip drove a Toyota in the Daytona 500 with a paint scheme supporting a victims' relief fund for the December mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

"It's not about politics. It's about sports marketing," Gossage said of the one-year deal with the NRA that includes a renewal option

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/schedule/2013/03/04/national-rifle-association-sponsoring-nascar-sprint-cup-race/1962211/
PR genius or act of desperation?

[shenmue]

1. I really hope they don't go through with it (the name, that is)

The race is fine. The name, oh boy...

Why politicize it? Can't an auto race be for everyone?

I was just starting to like them, after not having had a favorite driver for 30 years. Then they have to politicize it.

Oh well, I'm sure they won't miss me.

[NightWatcher]

2. Arm the fans w/ guns and let the cars race

And since weapons are present, do not serve or allow alcohol into the speedway.

I bet the Goodyear Blimp would stay away from that game.

[tarheelsunc]

3. Jimmie Johnson's tires wouldn't even make it to the starting line. eom

[meow2u3]

4. Sideshow: Fans shooting at the drivers

It'll be tough to hit them since they're traveling at speeds up to 170mph.