NRA Sponor First NASCAR Race In April After NASCAR Recently Helped Raise Funds For Sandy Hook Victims

The NRA, who has recently helped to raise money and awarness for Sandy Hook victims is going to sponsor its first NASCAR race this April in Texas,

The National Rifle Association announced today that it was going to sponsor its first Sprint Cup race on April 13 at the Texas Motor Speedway. The race is going to be called The NRA 500.

Last season, the NRA sponsored a Nationwide Series, but this will be the first NASCAR event ever for the NRA to sponsor.

"The NRA 500 is the latest announcement in the long history of a growing partnership between the NRA, Speedway Motorsports and the NASCAR community," NRA executive vice president and CEO Wayne LaPierre told Sports Business Journal. "NRA members and NASCAR fans love their country and everything that is good and right about America. We salute our flag ... volunteer in our churches and communities ... cherish our families ... and we love racing! On April 13, we'll all come together at Texas Motor Speedway."

Cup sponsorship typically sells for over $700,000, meaning the NRA presumably put down roughly that around that much money to sponsor the NRA 500.

According to Eddie Gossage, President of Texas Motor Speedway, it's a one-year deal, with an option for a second year.

"It's an organization we've enjoyed a long-standing relationship within the industry, including Speedway Motorsports [Inc.] and Speedway Charities," Gossage said during the announcement at the track.

NASCAR made an announcement last month that it has made efforts to raise funds and awareness for the 26 people who lost their lives in Newtown, Conn. at Sandy Hook Elementary.

NASCAR partnered with Swan Racing to put a Sandy Hook School Support Fund paint scheme on the No. 26 car driven by Michael Waltrip in the Daytona 500.

The NRA has advocated for gun control and has taking much criticism over the years. Some of the criticism comes from what other gun control groups perceive the NRA to do little in compromising with legislation to restrict access to firearms.

"I understand the sensitivity with some of the things that have gone on the last two or three years," Ed Clark, the president of Atlanta Motor Speedway, told SBJ. "But [the NRA does] a lot more things than just protect your rights to bear arms. They do a lot of education programs, too. People really need to be objective and look at all the positive things they do across the board,"