France: NASCAR Official Did Not Report Discrimination Claims

The AP is reporting that NASCAR chairman Brian France addressed the lawsuit by Mauricia Grant for the first time on Wednesday.

France said:

The disappointing thing is she makes a lot of claims, none of them reported. The fact that it went on as she stated, for many months, but never bothered to tell anyone at management what was going on – which is what our policy says – is very disappointing.

For her part, Grant says that she followed the chain of command but did not go to human resources when her direct supervisor Joe Balash dismissed her claims.

Mike Wilford, a former NASCAR official named in the suit, said:

Graphic and lewd jokes? She participated in them. She laughed, she would never say it was inappropriate. She asked to be called the only two names she was ever called. She called herself Mo Money all the time.

Grant’s lawyer, Benedict P. Morelli, said:

She understands the normal response is to say, ‘The person is crazy, a bad worker, crazy and lazy and fired for cause. She was always bad and we don’t discriminate, we never did discriminate.’ We fully expect them to find out she once threw sand in the sandbox in an attempt to smear her.

In an email sent to all NASCAR employees, France reiterated the organization’s zero-tolerance policy.

 

Petty Re-Signs Labonte, Announces New Partner

As expected Kyle Petty announced that Boston Ventures is partnering with Petty Enterprises to take the company forward in a press conference.

Petty also announced that Bobby Labonte has signed a four-year contract extension with Petty Enterprises.

Kyle Petty said:

Let’s just say that Bobby [Labonte] will end his career here.

Kyle Petty also announced that he is taking a step back as CEO of Petty Enterprises. David Zucker will take over as CEO so Kyle can focus on Victory Junction Gang Camp, particularly building the new camp in Kansas City.

Labonte said:

I feel great that the choice I made is the right one for a lot of reasons.

Petty Enterprises hopes to eventually add a third car.

Cheerios/Betty Crocker will sponsor the No. 43 in 2009.

The deal also brings Petty Enterprises and the Richard Petty Driving Experience are also being brought together under the same umbrella. Before, they were separate entities. Now, they will be a part of the same company.

Former Official Sues NASCAR For $225M

The AP is reporting that a former NASCAR official is suing NASCAR for $250 million for racial and sexual discrimination, and sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

Mauricia Grant worked as a technical inspector responsible for certifying cars on the Nationwide circuit.

In her suit, Grant claims that she was referred to as “Nappy Headed Mo” and “Queen Sheba” by coworkers. She also alleges that one official made references to the Ku Klux Klan.

The lawsuit includes 23 incidents of sexual harassment and 34 incidents of racial and gender discrimination from January 2005 to October 2007. She also claims that two coworkers exposed themselves to her.

When she complained to NASCAR, she alleges that they were dismissive. She also said that her direct supervisor, to whom she complained, participated in the harassment.

Grant was fired last year. NASCAR cited a poor work performance.

Grant said:

I loved it. It was a great, exciting, adrenaline-filled job where I worked with fast cars and the best drivers in the world. But there was an ongoing daily pattern [of harassment]. It was the nature of the people I worked with, the people who ran it, it trickled down from the top. It’s just the way things are in the garage.

NASCAR has not yet reviewed the suit, according to spokesman Ramsey Poston.

He said:

As an equal opportunity employer, NASCAR is fully committed to the spirit and letter of affirmative action law.

There are some conflicting reports over the amount listed in the suit. The AP is reporting in some articles that the amount is $225 million, while in others it lists the amount as $250 million.