A Suicide Takes Place During NRA-Sponsored NASCAR Race, Which Comes In The Midst Of Heated Debate Over Gun Laws

A man shot and killed himself, committing suicide during Saturday's NRA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup night race in Fort Worth, Texas.

Fort Worth police have said Kirk Franlkin, 42 of Saginaw, Texas died after shooting himself around  10:30 p.m. during the race at Texas Motor Speedway. He was camping in the infield when he died of a "self-inflicted injury" after getting into an argument with other campers, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Police spokeswoman Cpl. Tracey Knight has said alcohol may have been a factor. Knight said several people witnessed the incident, but nobody was in danger.

Track spokesman Mike Zizzo told reporters that the death occurred "in or around a pickup truck" in part of the infield near the middle of the backstretch.

This suicide happened to take place at an NRA-sponsored race. The National Rifle Association is in the midst of gun-control laws that have been heavily debated since the Newtown, Conn. shooting in December.

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy has been on the forefront against NASCAR's decision to allow the NRA to sponsor this race for the first time. He doesn't like the timing and also urged Fox not to broadcast the race.

"I urge you to not broadcast this race on April 13th. Inserting Fox Sports in this debate at this critical time will give credence to an extreme organization that is opposed to reasonable policies to stem gun violence," Murphy wrote.

Another issue is the tradition at the race is giving a rifle and six-shooters for the winning drivers to shoot - though the weapons fire blanks. "This celebration of guns is inappropriate in the immediate wake of the Newtown massacre," Murphy wrote.

Kyle Bush won the race, which marked his second victory of the short season thus far. Busch led the final 17 laps to record his second win of the season and 26th of his career. Busch, who won the O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 on Friday evening, landed his the seventh Sprint Cup/Nationwide career sweep, a NASCAR record. Busch also became the first driver to win in all three top-tier NASCAR series (Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Truck Series) at Texas Motor Speedway.