Riley Gaines, a college swimmer turned right-wing gadfly, gave a controversial prayer before a NASCAR race in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.Gaines, an anti-trans activist in athletics, stood by President Donald Trump recently as he signed an executive order barring trans women and girls from women’s sports. She shouted out to him during the invocation while hailing “unity” that “brings us together.”“Heavenly Father, bless President Donald J. Trump, his Cabinet and all of our leaders, that they may seek your guidance in all decisions,” she said. “If this is done, we will never be wrong and America will be made great again.”Many social media users said overtly partisan prayers like Gaines’ set back the sport.“This is my father’s NASCAR. And I don’t mean that in a good way,” one peeved fan wrote.Others urged NASCAR to put the brakes on such a “political stunt” that is “disgraceful.”“You do realize that your sport is not an excuse for each week to be a Trump Rally?” the Black NASCAR Fans account wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “At this point you might as well let them bring confederate flags back if you’re going to let @Riley_Gaines_ give a ‘prayer’ like that.”“Religion and politics can be present in sports, so long as it’s THEIR religion and politics,” another sniffed.One follower mentioned Trump’s recent appearance at the Daytona 500, where the president said NASCAR’s spirit “will fuel America’s Golden Age.”“It’s bad enough that Trump was welcomed with open arms,” the person wrote. “But, to allow Riley Gaines to do that political stunt during the opening prayer, is sickening.”NASCAR did not immediately respond to a HuffPost request for comment.Check out some other responses below: If Riley Gaines is who NASCAR wants after not listening to fans on anything or the backlash from the Trump visit then fuck them. I’m not supporting a sport that wants to bring new fans in…..but brings in hateful people that state the opposite.The fuck? https://t.co/uWoWoyLixy pic.twitter.com/L0SkhcSUHX— Nathan Platt (@nathanplatt) March 2, 2025A bit much, Riley! Can’t we just let sports be sports — and leave the damn politics OUT OF IT!!— kathryn harmon (@karebh777) March 2, 2025Go Ad-Free — And Protect The Free PressThe next four years will change America forever. But HuffPost won’t back down when it comes to providing free and impartial journalism.For the first time, we’re offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless newsroom. We hope you’ll join us.You’ve supported HuffPost before, and we’ll be honest — we could use your help again. We won’t back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. But we can’t do it without you.For the first time, we’re offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless journalism. We hope you’ll join us.You’ve supported HuffPost before, and we’ll be honest — we could use your help again. We won’t back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. But we can’t do it without you.For the first time, we’re offering an ad-free experience to qualifying contributors who support our fearless journalism. We hope you’ll join us.Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.25 for me, last year finished me off, about the time I miss NASCAR they pull this and remind me why im done— Nathan Platt (@nathanplatt) March 2, 2025 .