By James Wright
AFRO Staff Writer
(December 21, 2008) -- NASCAR has settled a racial and sexual discrimination lawsuit with a Black woman who alleged harassment and sued for $225 million arising from her two years working for the stock car organization.
According to the Associated Press, the suit was settled during mediation on Dec. 3 between Mauricia Grant and NASCAR. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
"We're glad to have the case settled on mutually acceptable terms," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston told AP. "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 had worked as a technical inspector for NASCAR. In her suit filed last June, she alleged sexual harassment and racial and gender discrimination during her employment.
Grant claimed she was referred to as "Nappy Headed Mo" and "Queen Sheba" by co-workers, was told she worked on "colored people time'' and was frightened by one NASCAR official who routinely made Ku Klux Klan references.
Grant also said she was subjected to sexual advances from male co-workers, two of whom allegedly exposed themselves to her and made graphic and lewd jokes.
NASCAR is known throughout the sporting world as one of the last bastions of a virtually all-White sport. It is marketed to mainly rural Whites in the South and lower Midwest states.
Despite efforts to connect to the Black community and sponsoring minority drivers and owners through its "Drive to Diversity" program, the numbers are still relatively low in terms of employment. NASCAR officials estimate that 1 in 10 of its fans is Black.
After investigating Grant’s claims, NASCAR fired two employees who exposed themselves to her, but the company refused to acknowledge they were dismissed because of their conduct toward Grant.
When Grant complained of her circumstances to NASCAR officials, she was called in by a human resources director and reprimanded. Soon after, she was fired.
NASCAR chairman Brian France vigorously defended his family business, saying that Grant never complained to her supervisors about any of the actions she claimed after her firing.
NASCAR officials have refused to disclose why Grant was fired.