Black Former Racing Official Sues NASCAR for Harassment

Read the complaint on the smoking gun. Just horrible! I hope this woman gets every penny.

I am a (white) media member, and was invited behind the scenes to attend one of the races last year. I brought a gorgeous black friend as my guest for the day, and she wasn't openly harassed, but she was basically ignored. Then I was grabbed by one of the drivers, who thought it was totally funny until I threatened to report the incident to his sponsor and only then did I finally got an apology. Every NASCAR fan I told the story to afterward said "what do you expect...it's NASCAR?" Needless to say, I never accepted another race invite, and then I came across research about the 'sport's' horrible environmetal record, and I felt even more strongly about not supporting this organization. I cannot understand how anyone who is female, black, or who cares about the environment can support NASCAR, given their appalling record on all these issues. And the best way to get any change is to complain to the sponsors...obviously doing the right thing is not enough for NASCAR to change, but maybe hitting their bottom line will be a wake-up call.

NASCAR is not and never will welcome blacks into that so called waste of gas, 'sport.' The base 'fan' is a bigot, and, while that might sound harsh, lets keep the truth the truth, it will hurt some, but, life is filled with thr truth. When the Rebel Flag is your offical banner and allowed to fly at each race, I need not say more. And, hopefully she will get every coin she is suing for, hit the bigots in the pocketbook.

Well, this is certainly an interesting issue.

Playing devil's advocate, there are some problems with Grant's legal case. I have read her legal brief presented by her counsel several times. This brief is very poorly written, contains grammatical errors and misspellings. Sentence structure and choice of wording is adolescent and is constructed to emotionally inflame rather than make a viable legal case.

There is a problem of her legal counsel commenting Grant has perpetrated physical violence upon her once coworkers, is reprimanded for "street language" usage and is reprimanded for being late to work. This casts doubt upon the legitimacy of her claims.

An incident of a man exposing his penis to Grant at a business meeting attended by many, this is highly dubious, this is very difficult to believe. Indecent exposure very rarely is effected in front of a large audience.

Many of these alleged racial incidents either have nothing to do with Grant or have nothing to do with NASCAR. An example is alleged events which unfolded down in Mexico. Another is alleged events of fans at a racing event mistreating her. These are unrelated events employed to fan the fires of emotions.

Another incident is based upon a person "looking guilty" per facial expression. No actions, no words, simply a legal premise of a person looking guilty. This is quite ludicrous. Are we to convict people of wrongdoing simply based on a facial expression?

Some of the remaining incidents, a small handful, do appear to be racism perpetrated by a select few employees, but this is not a reflection on NASCAR proper. Holding NASCAR responsible for the actions of a few employees is like holding all of America responsible for the actions of George Bush.

Grant is asking a quarter of a billion dollars in compensation. This will have her laughed out of court. A judge and jury will read this as gold digging on the part of Grant and this will sow seeds of doubt about the sincerity of Grant.

All-in-all, this legal brief filed is laughable. Mine is not to discount Grant’s case but is to suggest she should fire her legal team for their childish incompetence. In fairness, NASCAR also needs to fire some employees and provide Grant with reasonable compensation, reasonable in a sense of holding both Grant accountable for her actions and holding employees accountable for their actions. Reads to me Grant is as guilty as some of the NASCAR employees.

I am disturbed by calls to shutdown NASCAR. There are hundreds of thousands of people and businesses which earn a living through NASCAR. This is a multi-billion dollar business which lends much to the health of our economy. NASCAR is also a long American tradition.

Are we to punish hundreds of thousands of people for the actions of a select few?

I have an idea. We should financially punish all Americans for the actions of George Bush. This would be justice, yes?

Okpulot Taha
Choctaw Nation

250 million,,, you people are crazy ,,,she will not make that in her life,,,,that is bull crap!!! go on ahead suck the system dry