NASCAR Accused Of Harassment And Racism

By Anonymous

A former racing official is suing NASCAR for $250 million, alleging racial and sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Mauricia Grant, a Black woman, worked as a technical inspector responsible for certifying cars in NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series from January 2005 until she was fired last October.

Grant alleged 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.

The lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, lists multiple instances of alleged sexual harassment and racial discrimination.

In the suit, Grant said she complained numerous times to her supervisors about the way she was treated, to no avail. On one occasion, Grant said Nationwide Series director Joe Balash, her immediate supervisor, was dismissive of her complaints, explaining her co-workers were "former military guys" with a rough sense of humor.

NASCAR chairman Brian France denied that Grant complained to her supervisors about racial and sexual discrimination, claims she alleged led to her firing. He said the detailed filing was the first NASCAR learned of her claims.

"The disappointing thing is she makes a lot of claims, none of them reported," said France.

-Associated Press

Copyright Johnson Publishing Company Jun 30, 2008

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