A Texas man used a gun to take his own life Saturday in the infield of the Texas Motor Speedway in Forth Worth during a race sponsored by the National Rifle Association.

Motor homes fill the infield during the NRA 500 on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT via Getty Images)
Motor homes fill the infield during the NRA 500 on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT via Getty Images)
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42-year-old Kirk Franklin of Saginaw, Texas was involved in a verbal altercation with other race fans earlier that day. His body was discovered in the backseat of a truck after he shot himself around 10:30 PM. The incident occurred during the NRA 500 Sprint Cup race, and alcohol is believed to have been a factor. The race had already been a subject of controversy after Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy (D) wrote a letter last week to Rupert Murdoch, head of FOX, asking him not to allow his network to air the NRA-sponsored race. Murphy felt the NRA’s sponsorship was inappropriate at a time when gun control legislation is being debated in Congress.

The NRA sponsorship was low-key, however. The organization was offered the standard advertisement package that would include commercial air time, sponsor mentions and graphics alongside the name of the race. The NRA declined that package, so the race was presented with no sponsor graphics and brief mentions of sponsorship once an hour.

Firearms are prohibited by state law from being brought into Texas Motor Speedway by spectators.

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