Spectator commits suicide with gun at NRA sponsored NASCAR race

A 42-year-old spectator committed suicide at a controversial NRA sponsored NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday night.

Kirk Franklin, of Saginaw, died of a "self-inflicted injury" following a heated argument in the infield of the Texas Sprint Cup race, police said, according to dailymail.com.  

He was pronounced dead of a gunshot wound at 10:48 p.m.

Police spokeswoman Cpl. Tracey Knight said the man was involved a verbal altercation. Alcohol may have been a factor in the incident, which occurred late in the Sprint Cup race, according to Knight.

Knight said authorities weren't sure of Franklin's relationship with others involved in the argument. Several people witnessed the incident, but nobody was in danger, police said. Knight did not elaborate further on the cause of death but said there were no suspects. Emergency vehicles were called to the scene.

The death occurred "in or around a pickup truck" in part of the infield near the middle of the backstretch, track spokesman Mike Zizzo said.

Police blocked off the area around the incident, and investigators could be seen looking into a truck. Franklin died towards the end of the NRA 500, which kicked off at the Fort Worth speedway at 7:30 p.m.

Opponents of the NRA sponsoring the race said it would be inappropriate for the gun lobbyists to be involved in a NASCAR event in the wake of the Newtown school shooting in December.

Kyle Busch led the final 19 laps to win the race event and complete a weekend sweep.