Answer this...

Chrissy Wallace makes talk show debut on this...

NASCAR diversity driver Chrissy Wallace makes her first-ever talk show appearance on "The Bonnie Hunt Show," Wednesday, Nov. 5. Chrissy talks to Bonnie about her recent crash and what it is like to compete in the male-dominated sport in which the Wallace name is well known. Her dad makes an appearance in Bonnie's audience.

Chrissy also reveals that she has received criticism from both men and women for participating in such a male-driven sport but that it just, "makes me want to achieve more."  She admits to relying on the support she receives from her family and fellow racer Tony Stewart.

But being in an extreme sport doesn't mean that Chrissy can't be sexy and Bonnie proves that when she shows a glamour photo of Chrissy which elicits cheers from the crowd. Then, Chrissy autographs a racing flag that will be available on an upcoming "Bonnie Hunt" auction to benefit the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chicago, where Bonnie was once an oncology nurse.

Visit bonniehunt.com to check local listings.

Scholarship allows other women to get into this...

Recognizing there are many women interested in pursuing careers in the automotive industry, NASCAR and the UTI Foundation established the Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund for women seeking an automotive technical education. Davis, who graduated at the top of her class at UTI and went on to become a NASCAR Sprint Cup official, died tragically earlier this year at age 28, and is honored by this scholarship created to encourage women to seek a career in the automotive industry.

The Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund is intended to provide an opportunity for a qualified female student who wishes to attend the NASCAR Technical Automotive Program at the UTI's NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C. Each year a $10,000 scholarship will be presented to one student to attend NASCAR Tech.

Quoting this...
"NASCAR is proud to be able to honor the memory of Brienne as one of its shining stars who dedicated her time and energy to serving the sport in various roles. In doing so we also open additional opportunities for women to follow in Brienne's path and learn valuable skills through the NASCAR Technical Institute and pursue their career goals."
- Odis Lloyd, Managing Director, Automotive Aftermarket at NASCAR

The inaugural scholarship was made possible by proceeds raised through an online auction of the NASCAR Performance Show Car during The NASCAR Foundation's initiatives for NASCAR Day 2008. At this year's event, NASCAR enthusiasts were invited to make monetary contributions and bid on the NASCAR Performance Show Car donated to The NASCAR Foundation by NASCAR's Automotive Aftermarket Department.  Every dollar of the $16,000 winning bid for the car has been designated for the Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund.

Future years of the program will rely on funding through charitable contributions made to the UTI Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation.

TGOM's Afterthought on this...
It's not that I don't applaud this effort, but I have to wonder if NASCAR really making strides for women in the sport--and not just because of Mauricia Grant's recent discrimination lawsuit. On top of that, TGOM knows of another female member of the NASCAR family who is very unhappy with Mike Helton and other powers that be for their failure to deliver on several promises. She told them as much in a recent letter, while reminding them how loyal she's been to the sport by declining comment to the media on the aforementioned lawsuit.Time will tell if her situation improves or if she will determine contiued participation futile and decide to blow the whistle on the farce that NASCAR calls their "diversity" program.

NASCAR's France: If only we'd known about this...

NASCAR Chairman Brian France weighs in on the racial discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit brought against NASCAR by Mauricia Grant.

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France addresses the media

"We haven't completed our investigation. It is still ongoing. Obviously we found some violations of our policy. I would not jump to conclusions to assume that all of the allegations that were made over the many months that the plaintiff has made against us are accurate. I would be very, very cautious in making a leap of faith, even if we take action on any official in this investigation.

"The most disappointing thing to me is that we found out about these alleged claims after you did in the media via a national lawsuit that seeks a lot of money. That's very disappointing because if any of those claims turn out to be accurate and have substance, we would have liked to have known about that two years ago so that we could have reacted and done something about it -- because it's inconsistent with anything, from a policy standpoint, about how a work environment for our officials should be.

"She just didn't report anything to anybody. It was quite the opposite. She was very pleased with her colleagues and most of the comments that we have heard are that she liked her job, enjoyed being there, liked the camaraderie with the other officials. We just haven't had anyone who reported a claim. We have not found it yet.

"The other reality is there is a very clear process that you go through if you feel there is any discrimination by NASCAR. And everybody in the company knows what it is. They have been trained to observe it and make sure that the proper officials within the company are notified. Any employee who has an issue can e-mail me directly. They can certainly go to HR. There are dozens of ways to report such an incident, and it just didn't get reported.

"Some of these claims go back years or longer in the past. So here again, it is very, very disappointing that was not brought to our attention -- if these claims actually happened. If they would have been brought to our attention right when they happened, we could have investigated it right then and taken any action that we needed to. It just didn't happen. She chose to make this about money and about a lawsuit -- and we'll deal with that. That's the nature of the court system."

So ... just to recap ... this "violated" official spent two years keeping a meticulously documented diary of offenses for a future lawsuit, but was not significantly bothered to the point of filing a formal complaint with her employer.

Mauricia Grant v. National Association for Stock Car Racing, Inc. (PDF)

NASCAR officials fired for overexposure to this...

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)

Suspended for tradin' off-color paint on this...

The Charlotte Observer reported this morning that the Speed Channel has suspended pit reporter Ray Dunlap for a week for making comments deemed by some to be racially insensitive and disparaging about Hispanics on last weekend's edition of Michael Waltrip's "Trading Paint." Speed and Dunlap have confirmed the suspension.   

Quoting this...

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston: "NASCAR is incredibly disappointed in remarks made by Ray Dunlap. His remarks do not reflect NASCAR's values. We were in contact with Speed executives right away and fully support the steps they've taken."

Speed spokesman Erik Arneson: "Ray has been on the air every week since coverage of the Craftsman Truck Series started here in 2004.  We've had no other similar episodes and don't expect any in the future."

Ray Dunlap: "As a guest on 'Trading Paint,' you try to be edgy, controversial and entertaining. In a failed attempt at humor, I obviously crossed the line between funny and insensitive. For that, I am deeply sorry. I am a huge supporter of NASCAR's diversity initiative and am very proud to work in today's more progressive garage area. I look forward to seeing the fans at the race in Atlanta."

I watched the broadcast and while I am not a member of the PC nation, I couldn't help but think his comments we're going to get him in trouble. I don't recall now what they were, only that they were about NASCAR and its growing Hispanic audience (something about Texas and Miami maybe?).  I'll be back with an update if I track down the transcript.

The article also said that even though Dunlap's comments had been questioned by a producer, the show was still approved for broadcast unedited.  That makes the tallglassofmilk wonder if the producer--or other "approver"--is suspended also?  And if not, why not?