And so NASCAR’s most controversial race week is upon us.
Welcome to the NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday night. Critics claim this event will celebrate the snap, crackle and pop of guns during an inappropriate time — the ongoing national debate involving gun control in Washington.
TMS president Eddie Gossage said the race is not about a political agenda.
Fair enough. But it’s hard to make the disconnect with guns and politics while our nation’s leaders are caught in their own contentious crossfire over gun-control.
In another twist, the paint scheme on Clint Bowyer’s car, sponsored by Gander Mountain, will include the words “With Rights Comes Responsibility; Secure Your Firearms.”
“We know there’s a lot of debate around firearms ownership and it’s very significant right now in our country,” Steve Uline, executive vice president of marketing for Gander Mountain, said last week. “But the one thing that we feel very strongly is that it’s the personal responsibility of everyone who owns a firearm or is thinking about owning a firearm. That responsibility is paramount, and it’s not something that’s optional.”
Race tradition will continue, as the winner will fire pistols leaded with blanks on Victory Lane.
Hamlin odd man out: The worst spectator spot during the race in Martinsville belonged to Denny Hamlin.
He had to watch while Mark Martin drove Hamlin’s car to a 10th-place finish as Hamlin recovers from a compression fracture in his back.
“It was tough for me,” Hamlin said after the race. “It was easy for (winner) Jimmie (Johnson). I told him he got a layup this time. It ain’t going to be that easy when we come back in the fall. But I’m proud of Mark Martin’s effort. He is a guy who been around longer than any driver in our sport but he wants to be treated like a rookie. He wants constant information all the time, and I just tried to do the best I could to give him the information when he needed it.”
Unfortunately for Hamlin, he has about a month to go before he is cleared to race again.
Blood brothers? Everybody has a take on the feud between Hamlin and Joey Logano, former teammates who now have starring roles in the most intense rivalry in NASCAR.
Your turn, Brad Keselowski:
“It’s typical old guard (vs.) new guard thing,” Keselowski, now Logano’s teammate at Penske Racing, said last week. “Joey is trying to establish himself as an elite driver in this sport and trying to join that rank, whether that’s the top-12 that make the Chase or those capable of contending for race victories year-in and year-out.
“Certainly, there’s going to be resistance to that, and he’s going to have to fight through that. It’s a real test of character for him.”
