The Nation: Can NASCAR Be Saved From Itself?

[marmar]

Can NASCAR Be Saved From Itself?
By Dave Zirin

July 9, 2008




For the last decade, NASCAR has tried to shed its legacy as a sport indelibly linked to the confederate flag. Motorsports execs understand that if their sport is ever to go global, burning rubber can't be associated with burning crosses. However, despite NASCAR's efforts to improve their image, it's still a sport where racism thrives below the surface and sexism in the form of bikini-clad NASCAR eye candy is proudly paraded around the speedway, as much a part of the scenery as the stars and bars. NASCAR is in danger of being marginalized by this contradiction. They're attempting to reach an international audience while displaying the worst kind of backward provincialism.

NASCAR execs' preoccupation with having their cake and eating it too has long been a recipe for disaster. Now there is an ingredient that could ruin their entire corporate feast: Mauricia Grant. In 2005, Grant became the first black, female inspection official in the sport's history. Two years later she was fired. Now Grant has filed a $225 million harassment lawsuit against NASCAR alleging "racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination."

"I loved it. It was a great, exciting, adrenaline-filled job where I worked with fast cars and the best drivers in the world," Grant told The Associated Press. "But there was an ongoing daily pattern . It was the nature of the people I worked with, the people who ran it, it trickled down from the top."

The lawsuit details twenty-three specific incidents of sexual harassment and thirty-four specific incidents of alleged racial and gender discrimination over a two-year span. It is a fairly mindnumbing recitation of similar stories that go well beyond anyone's notion of political correctness.

Grant has accused two NASCAR officials, Tim Knox and Bud Moore, of exposing themselves to her as well. They are now on "indefinite administrative paid leave" although NASCAR suspiciously says it has nothing to do with the lawsuit. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080721/zirin2

[tularetom]

1. Interesting article - thanks for posting it

I'e always thought that the funniest thing that could happen to nascar would be for a couple of wealthy african americans to sponsor teams with black drivers, black crews, black everything - and start winning. Black fans would be encouraged to come to the events - soul food would be sold in the stands - rap music would blare out from the loudspeakers. The whole atmosphere would become distinctly "ethnic". Pretty soon nascar would look just like the nba.

And its neck fan base would have to find something else to do on weekends.

[colonel odis]

5. randy moss just bought half of a nascar team.

if nascar ever began looking like the nba, as a fan i would hope it never acts like the nba.

how many nascar drivers are one notch above street thugs? (that's not a swipe at all nba players. but it certainly is at some of them.)

if your kid asks a nascar driver for an autograph, he'll probably get it. if your kid asks many nba players for an autograph, he'll probably be told to fuck off.

nascar's an easy target for the more erudite and effete because, you know, all of us who like it are ignorant racist southerners.

[tularetom]

6. For someone who takes umbrage at stereotypes you seem to use them quite freely

Personally I don't give a rats ass about the nba or nascar. Both may take skill, but I think they both are boring. And Mr Moss whom I do admire as a receiver, isn't someone I'd hold up as a role model for my grandkids.

And incidentally, just so you don't think I'm overly "erudite or effete", I'm sort of your neighbor. I spent the first ten years of my life in Tennessee, living on my grandparents farm while both parents served in WWII. And with my parents when they returned. In a county adjacent to the one you're in as a matter of fact. I still have two first cousins and a whole shitload of second cousins living there and I visit every couple of years.


:hi:

[colonel odis]

9. interesting. maybe you could help me understand a little better which

stereotypes i used and what defines "freely."

[norepubsin08]

2. Every NASCAR Fan I've ever known

Had their head stuck back in pre-1860 mode!

[tomreedtoon]

3. So this is all about...MARKETING???

Making NASCAR a worldwide brand? Like the Mickey Mouse of redneck assholiness?

Not about the race meaning anything beyond beer, blood and boobs? Just "redefining the brand" and other business doubletalk like that?

Let NASCAR go back to its roots; the good ol' boys delivering moonshine past the Revenooers and driving to meetings of the Klan.

[boomerbust]

4. To me

Nascar died when No. 3 died.

[Doctor_J]

7. this won't even get as far as O'Reilly's suit

Ms. Grant will be paid off, enough so that none of her descendants will ever have to work again, and it will disappear like a Limpballs fart in a Cape Gerrardo tornado.

[Tutonic]

8. Can NASCAR change it's image? I think so. Well for instance

look at what the KKK did to become respectable. They put on $99.00 suits and became legitimate members of the Republican Party. David Duke never looked more acceptable. And the Ayrian Brotherhood? When they wanted some love they grew their hair out and became Southern Baptists. So I think that there is still time for the racist two left thumbed NASCAR redneck methheads can become promising Supreme Court candidates like Roberts, Scalia an Alito.

[L0oniX]

10. NASCAR ...DIE !