Political, religious uproar stirred

Duck Commander comments in Texas spur controversy.

Here are three things that rarely go well together: politics, religion and sports. NASCAR managed to stir all three into that combustible pot during the Duck Commander 500 in Texas last weekend.

“All right, Texas, we got here via Bibles and guns. I’m fixin’ to pray to the One who made that possible,” Duck Commander patriarch Phil Robertson beseeched in his invocation before the race. “I pray, Father, that we put a Jesus man in the White House. Help us do that and help us all to repent, to do what is right, to love you more and to love each other.”

Robertson managed to pull off the volatile trifecta, drawing outrage from those with more diverse viewpoints and, of course, rally cries of “amen” from supporters.

Just what NASCAR needs. Another food fight in the culture wars.

Death of ‘The King’

Ronnie “The King” Davis died last week from injuries sustained in a crash during a drag racing event at Rockingham (N.C.) Dragway

The track said that the 66-year-old Davis, from Suwanee, was a five-time IHRA season champion. Early in his career, he was almost unbeatable at Atlanta Speed Shop Dragway, where he earned his nickname by dominating a competition called “King of the Hill.”

He owned Davis Golf Carts in Suwanee.

Stewart on hold

Tony Stewart’s last run continues to be on pause, waiting for the first lap.

A broken back in a dunebuggy accident in the South- west earlier this year cut short his season before it started, and he remains in rehab mode. He awaits a scan later this month to determine when he can return.

“I don’t (know my return) — not until they do the next set of scans,” Stewart said when he was honored for raising $1.5 million for the Texas chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. “The first thing they did were X-rays (in early March) just to make sure the rods and screws were in place. When we do the scans at the end of the month, then they’ll be able to have an idea exactly when it’s going to happen.”

Strong in practice

Seeking his third straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, Kyle Busch made a statement during Saturday’s first practice at Bristol.

Not only did Busch run the fastest lap in the session (126.370 mph), covering the .533-mile distance in 15.184 seconds. He also posted the best 10-lap average speed, 125.569 mph, indicating he’ll likely be a contender for the win in Sunday’s Food City 500.

Pole winner Carl Edwards was second in 10-lap average at 124.762 mph. Busch was fifth on the speed chart in behind Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Martin Tuex Jr. and Edwards.

Phil Robertson gives the invocation at the race last week.