O'REILLY: In THE FACTOR "follow-Up" segment tonight, the NASCAR industry is the second most watched sporting concern behind the National Football League. A few weeks ago, we reported that NASCAR has donated at least $250,000 to Jesse Jackson's nonprofit organizations.

We thought that curious, so we asked NASCAR officials to come on THE FACTOR and tell us why. They wouldn't. We thought that was even more curious. Why would you not want to talk about a charitable contribution?

Joining us from Chicago is Dennis Michelsen, reporter for frontstretch.com, a Web site which covers NASCAR. So, why wouldn't you want to come on and say, hey, we're generous guys, we're giving the money here, we want to do this. Why would
you not do this?

DENNIS MICHELSEN, REPORTER, FRONTSTRETCH.COM: Well, I think that NASCAR hates any implication at all that something that they did might have had an ulterior motive. And this certainly has the appearance of quieting down Jesse Jackson and his organization, and I've tried to ask the same questions of NASCAR with no response, as well.

O'REILLY: All right. So, when you say quieting down, meaning what? You define it.

MICHELSEN: Well, just a couple of years ago, for instance, with the Dale Earnhardt tragedy at Daytona, a lot was said about safety in NASCAR, and NASCAR wanted that all to go away as quick as possible, and they actually did make some changes. And, in this case, I think they are just hoping to outlast the problem and hoping that the...

O'REILLY: What is the problem?

MICHELSEN: Well, the problem is that the fans are in a little bit of an uproar. There was some question based on anti-war statements that Jesse Jackson had made. I think that's crazy. I think we are all about free speech in this country. He should have the right to say that.

O'REILLY: All right, but then the initial problem is that NASCAR seeks out Jesse Jackson to give him a load of dough, all right. They could seek out the American Cancer Society. They could seek out your frontstretch.com. You guys do organ donations, OK? They could seek out a lot of places, but they seek out Jackson. Why?

MICHELSEN: Well, I think that they had a big television contract that was just starting up back in 1999 when Jesse Jackson first approached them.

Now Jesse Jackson's PUSH sports operation did fund back in 2001 a young gentleman by the name of Morty Buckles, who is a late-model stock driver out of Philadelphia, and they've also made other donations to help diversity in the sport.

However, the Operation PUSH organization really hasn't done much in the last couple of years, and I just asked NASCAR that same question. If the money was supposed to be helping diversity in the sport, what has it gone to, and they're
reluctant to answer.

O'REILLY: Yes, it hasn't gone to anything, and so they basically bought him off to shut up because he was saying there aren't enough black drivers, and -- here's the $250,000, don't say that anymore, Mr. Jackson. I understand there is actually a minority concern of some type that trains black NASCAR driver, correct?

MICHELSEN: Well, there's a group in Philadelphia called the Urban Youth Racing School, and, just like the little leagues for baseball, they're kind of the starting ground for some young drivers.

O'REILLY: And do you know how much NASCAR gave them?

MICHELSEN: I have been unable to get that...

O'REILLY: Ten thousand dollars. So they give Jackson $250,000. They give the minor leagues to train minority drivers $10,000, and Jackson gives the Urban Youth Racing nothing as far as we can tell. We may be wrong on that...

MICHELSEN: No, that is...

O'REILLY: ... because we don't have his latest -- the tax returns. But I don't think he's giving them anything. At least they say he hasn't.

MICHELSEN: That is -- that is true, Bill. They have not given any donations.

O'REILLY: All right. So this is scam! This is scam. This is like shut up, here's some money -- some quiet money. Now I understand on the Internet sites, NASCAR fans are outraged. Is that true?

MICHELSEN: They are. On NASCAR online, which is considered the official NASCAR online media, there were over 1,300 messages that were still remaining on the message boards from outraged fans. And, on our Web site, we also had quite a
bit in the way of disgruntled fans about this.

O'REILLY: Yes.

MICHELSEN: On our site, though, I'm proud to say we've had as much good debate about the racing issues as well as the politics.

O'REILLY: All right. I should have this in front of me, and I don't, and I don't know why. But who's the head of NASCAR? Who's the guy that we should be complaining about?

MICHELSEN: Well, Mike -- Mike Helton is the man in charge. Jim Conner (ph)
is...

O'REILLY: Mike Helton?

MICHELSEN: Mike Helton.

O'REILLY: All right. So he's the guy, and he won't come on. Something's wrong.

Mr. Michelsen, thanks very much. We appreciate it. When we come back, another strange, strange move by Scott Peterson. Wait until you hear who he's hired to try to save his life. In a moment.