Former official sues NASCAR, claims harassment

Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

A former NASCAR official is suing the sanctioning body for $225 million for alleged racial and sexual harassment.

Mauricia Grant, who worked for the NASCAR Busch Series from 2005 through much of 2007, alleges she was fired two months after complaining of race and gender discrimination and harassment by series officials, including series director Joe Balash.

"(Grant's) firing was because she was a black woman subjected to a different performance standard than her white male co-workers, and because she had complained of race and gender discrimination and harassment," states the federal lawsuit, a copy of which was provided by Grant's attorney.

Grant details several instances of alleged racial and sexual harassment in her complaint. Among those were that she was nicknamed "Nappy Headed Mo" by one official, was asked by Balash if her exercise program included "an urban obstacle course with a flat-screen TV on your back" and that other officials used racial slurs around her.

MORE....