Is NASCAR a source of infectious disease? Sure, with 200,000 — 300,000 people hanging out in the same area for the weekend.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Democrats who advised aides studying public health preparedness at mass gatherings to get immunized for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and influenza before going to the UAW-Ford 500 in Talladega last weekend and the Bank of America 500 this weekend northeast of Charlotte, N.C. are now being taunted by Republicans.

Linda Daves, the chairwoman of the North Carolina Republican Party, said,

"Democrats should know that there is no preventive measure yet designed to ward off the blue-collar values and patriotism that NASCAR fans represent. If they aren’t careful, they just might catch some of it."

Republican Rep. Tim Walberg, whose district includes the Michigan International Speedway, said Democrats must not understand the term "rubbin’ is racing," adding,

"To suggest that vaccines are needed to attend NASCAR races is insulting to millions of hardworking Americans who love their country and the smell of burnt rubber."

Shake-N-Bake.