NASCAR donation to GOP draws notice AND: NASCAR gave $15,000 to the state Republican Party just one day after a judge upheld the constitutionality of a law passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature that bars access to autopsy photographs, including those of racing legend Dale Earnhardt. Campaign records show the Republican party reported the check on June 14, a day after Circuit Judge Joseph Will refused to release Earnhardt’s autopsy photos, according to a Gannett News Service story published by the Pensacola News Journal, The News-Press in Fort Myers, and Florida Today in Melbourne. NASCAR and GOP officials denied any connection between the state political gift and the Legislature’s swift passage of a bill blocking public access to autopsy photos. See full AP story at That’s Racin’: NASCAR gave $15,000 to GOP day after autopsy photos sealed(9-10-2001) AND from CNN/SI – Questions remain – Ethicists debate independence of Earnhardt report(9-11-2001) (9-10-2001)
