Wednesday, NASCAR Chairman Brian France addressed the harrassment suit where former series official Mauricia Grant alleged numerous racial and sexual discrimination incidents against her by fellow offcials.
What's interesting is that NASCAR, rarely, if ever comments on pending litigiation but with the such incidences documented and the sport's image taking a hit by this suit, France, no doubt, felt he had to respond.
Here's what France said:
"The disappointing thing is, she makes a lot of claims,'' France said. "None of them are reported. It's inconsistent with anything of our policies and how how we operate the company and the sport and so the fact that it went on as she stated ... for many months I guess but never botherd to tell anyone in management what was going on, which is what our policy says, is very disappointing because we would like, if those type of things were in fact going on, we would have loved to have been able to do an investigation and review of such an allegation and we'll still do that because now that she has made these claims, we'll do like what we always do which is a very clear review. She didn't do that and that's what every employee at NASCAR is instructed to do if they think they're in a situation of discrimination or harassment or whatever it might be. She just didn't do that. Then in fact has filed a lawsuit as a remedy to this problem. We'll deal with that as well. That's really where we are.''
Q: Did you have any indication that this was coming?
"No. I knew about it this week when the suit was file. Again, our policy is such that it's very clear. We talk to employes all the time making sure that their work environment is a good one. If it's not, if there's any problems, they have a very clear path to get it solved. It's just inconsistent wtih anything that we would tolerate at NASCAR.''
The lawsuit alleges that during Grant's employment with NASCAR (from Jan. 2005 to Oct. 27, 2007), she was given such nicknames as "Nappy Headed Mo'' "Queen Sheba" "Black Sisters Revenge'' and such. The lawsuit alleges that if Grant or another black official arrived later than white official, "the whites routinely commented: "She's on Colored People Time.''
The lawsuit alleges that among those who used that term was Nationwide Series director Joe Balash. Other officials are named in the suit. The lawsuit alleges at least one "repeatedly made references to the White supremacist hate group, the Ku Klux Klan. Plaintiff Maurica Grant felt frightened and disgusted.'The lawsuit lists more such instances.
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