NASCAR Descrimination Lawsuit: The Addendum
I’ve already noted and commented on my first impressions of the current lawsuit filed on behalf of an allegedly “wrongfully terminated” NASCAR official.
Let me preface this by saying I have little doubt within NASCAR there are a few knuckle-dragging Neanderthals inhabiting the place that could stoop as low as the lawsuit claims. Anything is possible, and likely.
However, unless there’s some Utopian Universe I’m not aware of where it doesn’t happen these backward Ape-like creatures are in every part of Earth’s social and economic fabric and to deny it is insulting everyone’s intellect.
That said, I’ve since had opportunity to read the actual court papers as filed Tuesday with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The damn thing reads like an indictment of the KKK not NASCAR. Again, it’s possible, but it just smells of a grand pile-on of epic proportions.
The first 19 items listed are the run-of-the-mill things seen in most law papers but the choice of venue caught me eye. NY was chosen because NASCAR sanctions events at Watkins Glen so legally speaking it gives that court jurisdiction. But for those wary of the tricks shysters play I’m also thinking NY was at the top of their preferred places to find an anti-NASCAR jury. Know what I mean Eugene?!
Now on to some of the meat and potatoes and items 22-23 contained in the suit:
22. Throughout her employment at Defendant NASCAR, Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT was treated differently than Whites and men similarly employed by Defendant NASCAR because she is Black and a woman.23. This disparate treatment included Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT’s subjection to virulently racist harassment, a racially hostile work environment, and insidious and pervasive race discrimination reflective of a former, uglier era in our nation’s history when Blacks were denied the most fundamental civil rights, including equal protection under the law. Such conduct should have been eradicated from the workplace long ago. Instead, the directors, officers, supervisors, managers, officials, employees and/or agents of Defendant NASCAR perpetuated, condoned and actively participated in calculated acts of ugly racist bigotry designed to humiliate and degrade its lone Black female Official.
She, or rather her shysters claim she was treated differently yet later the claim is made her job performance - and quoting court papers - “was rated by NASCAR Busch Series Director Joe Balash a 3.5 out of 5 (5 being the highest score), or “above average.” (None of the Officials received a “5.”)”
Again quoting the filing: “Plaintiff was one of the few female Officials who was Pit-Road Certified (i.e., qualified to go over the wall into the pit and monitor the racing crews to ensure that during the course of the approximately 14-second pit stops, their race cars and crews complied with all of the NASCAR rules.)”
On the face of it that doesn’t appear to be discriminatory, in fact she’s been rated only one half of one point below her peers AND given a job few others of her gender has ever be handed.
But lets continue with items 25 and 26 where names are named:
25. From approximately January 2005 through her unlawful termination on or about October 27, 2007, Jim Cassidy, Joe Balash, Scott French, Mike Dolan, Star George, Jay Altizer, Craig Anderson, Jason Brownlow, Jason Covel, Jonathon Dickerson, Dennis Dillon, David Duke, Mike Dumas, Dan Fenwrick, Shaun Johnson, Tim Knox, Rick Noble, Alan Shepard, Walt Sova, Mike Weddle, Bill Whelan, Dennis Wodzewoda, Mike Wilford and/or other NASCAR Directors, Supervisors, Managers and Officials subjected Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT to an ongoing pattern of racial and sexual harassment and discrimination because she is a Black woman.26. This disparate treatment further included different standards of conduct, unequal work assignments, unequal opportunities, unequal promotion, and unequal disciplinary measures directed toward Plaintiff and other African-American and/or female employees as opposed to Caucasian and/or male employees similarly employed by and situated at Defendant NASCAR. This disparate treatment culminated in Plaintiff’s wrongful termination.
“Disparate treatment” except for the indisputable fact she was rated at or just a tick under her peers in job performance.
That’s some list of names isn’t it? As I said it reads like an indictment of the KKK or some other white supremest group than an organization that has been making every attempt at courting and promoting minorities.
I find it very hard, bordering on impossible, to believe all the people named are remotely culpable in this indictment. One or two maybe, I’ll even concede a half a dozen or so but not a laundry list of 24 plus other unnamed “other NASCAR Directors, Supervisors, Managers and Officials.”
Sorry, it doesn’t just smell of BS, it smells of BS wrapped in a fine patina of horse dung and tossed into the court system by the plaintiff’s co-conspirators shysters hoping something sticks.
Will something stick?
Probably, NASCAR doesn’t operate within the aforementioned Utopian Universe and there has to a knuckle dragger or two within its employ but to think all those named not only actively participated but looked the other way when one or more complaints were made is absurd.
And finally I’d be remiss in not noting the quotes issued by the one individual named in the suit that has spoken out.
Mike Wilford, a former NASCAR official who’s named in the suit and has since left NASCAR has spoken to the Associated Press saying he was present for many of the incidents Grant lists in her suit, said she was a willing participant in much of the behavior and had “twisted” the versions to her benefit.
“Graphic and lewd jokes? She participated in them. She laughed, she would never say it was inappropriate,” Wilford said. “She asked to be called the only two names she was ever called. She called herself Mo Money all the time.”
He’s named in Grant’s suit for an incident in March 2006 at Atlanta Motor Speedway when Wilford allegedly showed Grant some loose diamonds and rubies and offered them to Grant if she’d be his mistress.
“That’s just one the many incidents she’s twisted into her favor in the suit,” Wilford said. “Yes, I made the joke, but it was a joke because Mo used to go around telling everyone she wanted to marry a rich man and be a kept woman, and that was all she was after. She told everyone that, and now she’s twisting behavior she both initiated in and participated in.”
How not so shocking and something I’m oh, so… privy to during my time in the Navy and as an official military bailiff in 15-18 such discrimination trials under the UCMJ. In all but 2 cases they were tossed out because of what Wilford is describing or something similar.
Again, let me restate for the record, she may have a case but not as filed where she’s accused the entire Nationwide chain-of-command of active participation or complacency in the matter. That’s just flat-out bullshit.
Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Mauricia Grant, Nationwide Series, Full Throttle
“FLAT-OUT BULLSHIT” is absolutely correct. This money grubber is looking for a payday from some very deep pockets and her money grubbing lawyers are looking for the same. You are right on about picking NY as the site for the trial.
Are you guys really that naïve about what goes on behind the scenes? I am a 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.
Lynn - Are you really that naive to think any of us with the slightest bit of common sense would equate what you have, (a black friend that was “ignored”) to the charges leveled in this suit?
Being ignored is not racism, or anything like it. Every NASCAR fan agreed with you huh?!
Lynn, believe me when I say I think you speak the truth. The truth about being a member of the media. And it’s the part of the media that allows nutjobs like Dan Rather to make shit up from whole cloth and pray at the altar of Chris Matthews and the Olberfool on MSNBC. You’re part of the media that is so agenda driven that it has allowed to you wade right past my first two paras that state racists are most likely in NASCAR just as they are anywhere else.
You want to debate me on NASCAR’s enviro record? Bring it on, but you better pack a weeks worth of lunches you’ll need it.
And a crying towel for use after the fact.
And BTW, Lynn if you do come back at least have the guts to use a valid email address. What are you afraid of, that some evil race baiting earth killing NASCAR fan will track you down…. and “ignore” your black friends while dumping their garbage on the front lawn.
Go away little girl, your far out of your league.
My, what a nasty response from you, Marc. However, it’s all too obvious how you feel about women from the photo of the four “babes” on what I guess is your website. (Just click on his name, Lynn!)
You are indeed a perfect example of what the problem is with Nascar. Oh, by the way, it’s “you’re” (you are) not “your”.
And you lie when you said that email addresses will not be published! No wonder Lynn gave out a fake one. I can’t wait for the hate mail to arrive! Thanks, dude!
“Figures” yes indeed that is my site you reach when you “click” my name, along with the one linked in this post and the one you are commenting on as well.
Was my response to Lynn “nasty” No snarky, dripping with sarcasm? Most definitely.
Whether it be Lynn or anyone else who wants to wade in here and make a totally absurd comparison between some alleged “black friend” being IGNORED at a race and what this lawsuit alleges that’s exactly what you will receive in return. Sorry, it is an idiotic and misguided leap in logic.
And BTW “figures” do YOU see yours or Lynn’s email address published? (do ya see dead people too?) They are not visible and never were. Here…., here’s is a slight clue for you.
As editor I, as in ME and ME ALONE, have access to her email address and the Hotmail address you left. (get a blog you’d know that)
Now if you really want to see any “hate mail” I’d be more than obliged to publish it.
Until then I suggest you see your optometrist, you are seeing things that are not there.
In addition an eye check-up may cure you of the belief there is anything wrong with the image you refer to. It is no different than what you see at most major race tracks of the world, at NFL games, NBA games and any beach inhabited by families across the USA. But than when you take so little time researching what this and my other two blogs are about you hand out the expected.
Total BS.
Now, scurry back to your friend “Lynn” and tell her about the EVIL Mr. Marc.
P.S. And tell her to buy a frickin’ clue.
P.P.S. I “hate” Kristin, Erin and twin females as well.
I mean really, I just “hate” it when they do so well and I “have” to write about them and have done so for so many years as they fight their way into NASCAR upper tier series. Come on “figures,” can’t you just feel thye “hate?”
You were right not to put your email on there, Lynn! I realized I had jumped in on this topic without reading this blogger’s site and it also appeared that my email address was visible after I posted. I sent a private email APOLOGIZING and asked him to not post it and in return got two nasty emails calling me a NITWIT and that I am delusional and seeing things! At least I know how to spell: it’s DISCRIMINATION, Johnny Friendly! (That’s from “On the Waterfront”, if you didn’t know, ‘Johnny’!
Beware any of you women out there who might think it’s safe to disagree with this guy. He really resonates “thye hate”, very well. I feel sorry for his wife—if he has one.
No nitwit, better check when you sent not one, not two but four frickin’ emails and they were all sent prior to your posting this last comment AND WHILE I was posting comment number sixth so don’t make it look like you “apologized” and I then jumped your ass.
Just slowly back away from the computer (or turn it over to a grade schooler who knows more than you), put down that mouse and never touch them again.
And BTW, I don’t have a wife, I killed her for being as dim-witted as you appear to be.
Well, NITWIT, keep on proving the case that you are a indeed an ill-tempered, rude and unpleasant man(?) What a way to show your superiority! And what does it matter how many emails I sent? I had told you that I realized I shouldn’t have said you lied and that I had jumped in on the topic prior to investigating what you had written about other female drivers, etc., and that I was sorry. I wouldn’t have posted again on your blog if you hadn’t been so rude and nasty in your private emails.
I’m prior service too, pal, and I’ve seen your type. I’m through giving you something to vent your frustrations on. There is no arguing with an idiot, and YOU are the idiot, Johnny Friendly! For those of you who don’t know, that was a mob character who bullied every one in his path who crossed him. By bye, Johnny!
Well…..I have to admit that I have enjoyed reading the previous posts but I would like to comment on the NASCAR Descrimination Lawsuit: I am related by marriage to one of the officials listed in this lawsuit, Dan Fenwrick is one of the nicest most caring persons I have ever met. I have been to many races and been there in the garage with the officials and have witnessed nothing but good camaraderie between all. When Dan introduced my wife and I to Mauricia Grant, he spoke highly of her. Dan said that he was proud of her at what she had accomplished in school and in becoming an official. What I gathered from Dan is that he considered her as a good friend. I am sure there are a few bad apples in the bunch but lets not be quick to judge them all by actions of a few.
this woman is a money gruber. black people says those comments to black people all the time but when a white man says it becomes racist . this is saying that if a white man went to a black school he wouldnt getting dicrimated agaist. it have nothing to do with racism or sexual dicrimination this woman is full of it.
Jeff, your spelling ability matches your ability to reasonably judge this case.
Which is to say it’s near zero.