NASCAR settles $225 million suit with ex-official

By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR has settled a $225 million lawsuit filed by a former official who said she was subjected to racial discrimination and sexual harassment during her two-plus years working for the stock-car organization. The suit was settled during a Dec. 3 mediation held in New York between Mauricia Grant and NASCAR. Settlement terms were confidential. Neither side admitted liability or wrongdoing, according to NASCAR.

"We're glad to have the case settled on mutually acceptable terms," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Thursday. "NASCAR remains dedicated to maintaining a professional work environment for all employees at all times, and we wish Ms. Grant well in her future endeavors."

Grant's attorney, Benedict P. Morelli of New York-based Morelli Ratner PC, did not immediately return a call from the AP for comment.

NASCAR settles $225 million suit with ex-official....

Former technical inspector issues discrimination complaint against NASCAR

DOVER, Delaware — A black former technical inspector filed a complaint against NASCAR with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging racial discrimination, a hostile work environment and wrongful termination.

Dean Duckett said discrimination started in May 2001 and lasted until NASCAR fired him from his job in the Sprint Cup series on Nov. 14, 2007.

Duckett told The Associated Press on Saturday that he would consider a lawsuit if NASCAR offered him his old job back.

"I'm looking for something. Even if NASCAR was to offer me my job back, I would do that," he said. "If they wasn't going to offer me my job back, I'm shooting for a lawsuit."

Duckett said his problems started last Nov. 10 when he got into a heated argument with another official the night before the Phoenix race.

"I said to him, 'I ought to cut you.' I don't carry no blades or nothing like that," Duckett said. "It basically came out in the heat of the moment. We got into each other's faces but nothing happened. My roommate pulled me away and said, 'C'mon guys leave it alone,' and we left."

Duckett said he apologized, made up with the official and thought the incident was squashed. Instead, he said he was called the next day to NASCAR's at-track office and was sent home. Duckett said he was fired by Cup Series director John Darby and human resources director Star George.

"They took my life away," he said. "I loved my job. I put everything into my job. I feel they took away from my family."

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said on Saturday the stock car series was aware of the complaint.

Former technical inspector issues discrimination complaint against NASCAR....

Suspended NASCAR officials accused of sex charge

By JENNA FRYER – 2 hours ago

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two officials suspended by NASCAR are accused in a $225 million lawsuit of exposing themselves to a former co-worker, the Associated Press has learned.

Tim Knox and Bud Moore have been placed on indefinite administrative paid leave.

NASCAR will not reveal the identities of the officials sent home Friday from Kentucky Speedway, but a person familiar with the investigation confirmed to AP on Saturday that Knox and Moore were suspended. The person requested anonymity because NASCAR's investigation is ongoing.

NASCAR did not give a reason for the men's suspension. NASCAR chairman Brian France was expected to address the investigation later Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, site of Sunday's Cup Series race.

Mauricia Grant filed her suit Tuesday, alleging 23 specific incidents of sexual harassment and 34 specific incidents of racial and gender discrimination during her time as a technical inspector for NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series.

Grant, who is black, claims her October 2007 firing was retaliation for complaining about the way she was treated on the job from her January 2005 hiring.

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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.

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