Two NASCAR officials have been suspended following allegations in the Mauricia Grant lawsuit:
ESPN - 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.
Specific allegations from Mauricia Grant's lawsuit against this...
- 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.
- During that period from approximately January 2005 until her unlawful termination on or about October 27, 2007, approximately daily during the NASCAR Busch Series season, Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT was subjected to inappropriate sexual comments by her male supervisors, including Assistant Director Mike Dolan, and her male co-workers, including Officials David Duke, Tim Knox and Bud Moore. Furthermore, some of these vulgar remarks were loudly made in the presence of NASCAR Directors, including NASCAR Busch Series Director Joe Balash and NASCAR Open Wheel Series Director Scott French. However, nothing was done to discourage or stop this sexual harassment.
- Throughout her employment from approximately January 2005 until her unlawful termination on or about October 27, 2007, approximately weekly during the NASCAR Busch Series season, White Officials including David Duke and Bud Moore made lewd sexual advances to Plaintiff MAURCIA GRANT, commenting: "Let me see your tits!" and "Do you wanna see my dick?" Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT repeatedly declined these invitations, letting them know that she was not interested.
- On or about the week of July 7, 2007 while they were working at the Daytona International Speedway, White Official Bud Moore asked Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT how it felt to be Black. When Plaintiff responded that being Black is "a privilege," Bud Moore looked aghast and asked her: "How could you possibly feel that being Black is a privilege?" When Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT was non-responsive, Moore feigned exaggerated confusion, wondering aloud in Plaintiff's presence: "How can she be proud of being Black?"
- During approximately the week of April 14, 2007, at a work
gathering initiated by NASCAR Busch Series Director Joe Balash in the
hospitality suite of their hotel following a race in Texas, Official
Tim Knox exposed his penis in Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT's presence.
- During approximately the week of October 28, 2006, Plaintiff MAURICIA GRANT and some co-workers were in the lounge of the hotel where we stayed while working at Memphis Motor Speedway in Memphis, Tennessee. Suddenly, Official Bud Moore came out of his room wearing only a towel, and called out: "Mo, do you want to see my dick?" Bud Moore then opened his towel and ducked behind a trash can. The other male Officials, including David Duke and Jason "Pee Wee" Covel, laughed.
If Brian France and Helton are looking to avoid further actions detrimental to stock car racing, they ought to be handing out a few more pink slips. And if they want anyone to believe they take discrimination and harassment seriously, the next one should go to Balash. Wouldn't hurt for 'em to reach for that checkbook sooner than later either.
Mauricia Grant v. National Association for Stock Car Racing, Inc. (PDF)
