NASCAR settles lawsuit and updates drug testing policy

NASCAR announced Wednesday night that it has settled with former official Mauricia Grant in her racial and sexual discrimination lawsuit against the sanctioning body. Grant had sued NASCAR for $225 million. Terms were not disclosed.

Grant alleged in the lawsuit that she was referred to as "Nappy Headed Mo" and "Queen Sheba," by co-workers, was often told she worked on "colored people time" and was frightened by one official who routinely made references to the Ku Klux Klan.

Shortly after the lawsuit was issued, NASCAR Chairman Brian France said: "I can tell you not to jump to conclusions about what the lawsuit attempts to say.''

NASCAR did suspend two series officials a few days after the lawsuit became public.

In Wednesday's announcement by NASCAR, it states: "Neither NASCAR nor Ms. Grant admits liability or wrongdoing by way of the settlement.''

Believe Mauricia Grant's story or not, the fact is that the lawsuit again damaged NASCAR's repuation in the area of diversity. While there is more minority involvement in the sport than five or 10 years ago, the perception remains that NASCAR is an old-school sport that is not open to minorities.Thus, percption is reality for a lot of people.

What NASCAR must do from this point forward to make sure there are ways to address such situations before they turn into lawsuits. NASCAR claimed that Grant did not properly inform people of her issues after they happened. Grant claimed in her lawsuit some of those who worked above her created a hostile work environment. That's an area NASCAR must address whether to fix or to make sure this doesn't happen again.

If NASCAR wants to prove it has caught up with present times maybe it needs to be more active in such programs. There is a driver diversity program that NASCAR supports but doesn't run. NASCAR officials prefer not to be seen as leading that charge, in part, for fear they will be accused of helping minorities move through the sport's ladder to Cup while leaving other drivers just as worthy behind. It's a valid concern. Yet, maybe it's time to become more invovled in such projects or do more to further enhance their effectiveness.

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Also, NASCAR has come out with more on its drug testing policy. Crew members will be tested for specific banned substances. No similar guidelines exist for driver, as NASCAR reserves the right to test competitors for anything.

 "This is really bad,'' drug expert Charles Yeasalis told me in September about the lack of a list of banned substances. "If I were a driver and got caught, I'd hire me a real big-time lawyer and say make mince-meat of it.''

NASCAR expects to randomly test 12-14 individuals per series each weekend -- that's crew members, officials, drivers, etc. Crew members who must be tested before Jan. 16 include pit crew members who go over the wall, crew chief, car chief, team members responsible for tires, fuel and pit crew operation, spottesr, and race-day support personnel that includes engineers, engine tuners, shock specialists chassis specialists and tire specialists.

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