NASCAR accused of racial discrimination in lawsuit
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[September 20, 2016]
By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK (Reuters) - NASCAR was hit
with a $500 million lawsuit accusing the auto racing body of racial
discrimination for preventing black-owned teams and drivers from
competing, including in the Sprint Cup Series.
Terrance Cox and his company, Diversity Motorsports Racing LLC,
filed a lawsuit late on Friday in U.S. district court in Manhattan
against NASCAR, its parent company, International Speedway Corp, and
18 teams, according to court records.
The plaintiffs are also seeking an injunction requiring the
defendants to "fully integrate the African-American community."
In a statement, NASCAR said the lawsuit has no merit.
"Diversity both on and off the track continues to be a top priority
for NASCAR and its stakeholders," the organization said. "We stand
behind our actions, and will not let a publicity-seeking legal
action deter us from our mission."
The plaintiffs said they sued after NASCAR refused to let them field
a team or join its Drive for Diversity program, and last year told
them to cease contact.
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Citing NASCAR's website, the plaintiffs said none of the 48 drivers
in the Sprint Cup, NASCAR's top racing series, is black, and only
one of the 18 teams has partial African-American ownership. They
also said only one driver in NASCAR's Xfinity Series circuit is
black.
"Motorsports remain the most racially segregated sport in the United
States," the complaint said. "NASCAR and ISC have been complicit in,
and supportive of, the racially discriminatory environment that
virtually excludes African-Americans from meaningful participation."
The lawsuit seeks $75 million in compensatory damages and $425
million in punitive damages.
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![](../images/092016pics/sports61.jpg)
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards (19), Kevin Harvick
(4), Jaime McMurray (1), Ryan Blaney (21), Brad Keselowski (2) and
Kyle Larson (42) during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International
Speedway. Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Sep/20/images/ads/current/pacesetter_lda_041116.png)
Ronald Paltrowitz, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said any funds would
go toward groups that the plaintiffs sponsor to boost minority
participation in motorsports.
Diversity Motorsports was founded by Cox, who is chief executive
officer, and Bob Schacht of Bob Schacht Motorsports, and is based in
Mooresville, North Carolina. NASCAR is based in Daytona Beach,
Florida, and has a Manhattan office.
The case is Cox et al v National Association for Stock Car Racing
Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.
16-07268.
(Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
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reserved.]
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