An effort to bring a hint of diversity to the world of NASCAR has allegedly been ignored and turned aside by NASCAR, the International Speedway Corporation and multiple race teams.
A lawsuit filed by Terrance Cox III of Georgia claims no effort has been made by these organizations to help coordinate corporate sponsorships for an African-American race team, and that NASCAR instead directed corporate sponsors elsewhere.
Cox claims the lack of effort in helping to arrange corporate sponsorships for his team—which is supported by Steve Harvey, according to TMZ—is an “almost insurmountable obstacle to the integration of NASCAR.” Considering how NASCAR is driven by corporate sponsors plastered all over cars, that would appear to make some sense. What’s particularly alarming is the accusation the lawsuit makes that NASCAR encouraged sponsors to work more with already-popular stars of racing like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart. As ESPN’s Bob Pockrass writes:
According to the complaint, Cox’s potential sponsors were encouraged by NASCAR to not work with him but instead associate themselves with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart.
It also refused to promote various programs Cox created to help make NASCAR more diverse, the lawsuit stated, and that his efforts to work with the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program were ignored.
Cox claims that NASCAR and its teams have “engaged in unlawful intentional racial discrimination by refusing to sanction African-American owned racing teams… and by refusing to hire African-American drivers for its racing teams.”
NASCAR, as you might suspect, has defended their stance and the integrity of its Drive for Diversity program (which has been in place since 2004).
“NASCAR embraces all individuals interested and involved in our sport, whether as partners, fans, competitors or employees, and there is no merit to this lawsuit,” the statement said. “NASCAR has a long-standing history of investing in diversity efforts including the NASCAR Drive for Diversity, NASCAR Diversity Internship and NASCAR Diversity Pit Crew Development programs. … We stand behind our actions, and will not let a publicity-seeking legal action deter us from our mission.”
NASCAR said they will fight the lawsuit, and said they will “be asserting our own claims against Mr. Cox for his defamatory actions.”
To date, there is one African-American NASCAR driver, Darrell Wallace Jr.
[ESPN]
