NASCAR denies claim in suit
NASCAR denied Friday that a former official, now suing for racial discrimination and sexual harassment, ever complained to her superiors about such problems.
The former employee often referred to herself with racial stereotypes and was repeatedly reprimanded for tardiness and other behavioral issues, NASCAR said. In addition, NASCAR said the firing of Mauricia Grant last October was legitimate and not an act of discrimination or retaliation.
The claims were part of a 29-page document filed in response to Grant’s $225 million lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
A former technical inspector for NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series, Grant filed suit in June alleging 23 specific incidents of sexual harassment and 34 specific incidents of racial and gender discrimination over the two-plus years she worked for NASCAR.
Sprint Cup
Qualifying for the Centurion Boats at The Glen in Watkins Glen, N.Y., was canceled because of rain for the fourth time in five years at the storied road course.
It began raining just as the Cup cars were about to hit the track for their first practice at noon, and although the track was nearly dry by 2:45 p.m., NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said the day’s schedule did not afford enough time.
The cancellation puts Cup points leader Kyle Busch on the pole with Dale Earnhardt Jr. alongside him. Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson are in the second row, followed by Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, and Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin.
IRL
Scott Dixon grabbed the pole for the Meijer Indy 300, averaging 218.968 mph during his four-lap turn around the 1.5-mile oval at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., his Chip Ganassi car snapping Team Penske’s streak of three consecutive poles at the track.
Meanwhile, Andretti Green Racing, answering persistent rumors that Tony Kanaan would sign with another team for 2009, announced the 33-year-old Brazilian has signed a five-year contract extension through 2013.