CONCORD, N.C. – NASCAR fans have been criticized for a number of things over the years, ranging from perpetuating a redneck stereotype to still showing pride in the Rebel Flag.

Now, as one Mississippi congressman would have you believe, NASCAR fans are also a threat to national security and the nation's health.

Yes, you, Bubba. You, too, Bobbie Sue. Y'all got the cooties.

That's what Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, would have you believe

The seven-term Congressman recently instructed committee aides who visited Talladega Superspeedway last weekend and are also at this weekend's Nextel Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway to be immunized against a variety of diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and influenza.

Officially, the action was supposedly part of a broader review of federal response to massive emergencies at a large, crowded venue like Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Unofficially, Thompson unquestionably must think of NASCAR fans as a bunch of sickos – and not in a good way.

By Thompson's standards, you've not only got it bad – but you're also a walking, talking, fire-breathing, beer-drinking, tobacco-spittin', cussin' and cheerin' sumbitch who is carrying enough pestilence and pathos to bring the good, old U.S. of A to its knees.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=jb-inoculation...&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Yeah I actually consider this a bit much.

I really don't know what to say to this. The only thing I could possibly see is the tetanus vaccination in case, you know, they encountered a board with rusty nails in the Talladega infield.