Opportunities coming up for minorities in NASCAR

Associated Press ^ | November 6, 2003 | By Mike Harris,

[TC Rider]

Why doesn't NASCAR start an amateur series where the drivers race Honda's with big fins and 24 inch wheels?

[stainlessbanner]

I was pulling for Buckshot at the Peepee 400 this year.

[randog]

Thanks.

[Fierce Allegiance]

In addition to driving, a critical part of being a successful nascar driver is being the pitch boy for the sponsors products.

[Vigilantcitizen]

If he ever can excercise those small track ways that win 25 lap features but guarantee early cup race exits, he'll be in the game.

If I were an owner, I'd grab him. I believe some tough love, aka Bobby Knight, might shake the boy into his senses.

[dsrtsage]

I haven't personally read the Nascar charter, however I find it hard to believe that there is some clause specifically banning minorities. Nor do I believe there has ever been a sign outside the nascar office reading "negroes need not apply". Therefore, as has been said over and over again in the above posts...."Why?"

[Afronaut]

Two Door only!

[Vigilantcitizen]

"In addition to driving, a critical part of being a successful nascar driver is being the pitch boy for the sponsors products."

Typical post victory interview...

"That {Insert multi-company shameless plug here} car was on the money today, like the {Insert multi-company shameless plug here} car has been all year. And the {Insert multi-company shameless plug here} team did a great job all week in the fab shop and in the pit stall. A complete team effort for the {Insert multi-company shameless plug here} organization as a whole."

Yeah, I know what ya mean.

[commish]

Shawna Robinson is a Stock Driver who had some limited success at lower levels of the sport, she moved up to the ARCA series and had enough success to catch some rides in the Busch series. Despite the fact that she never showed any ability no move beyond the late model or ARCA series (her Busch results were dismal to put it kindly) she was put in a fulltime WINSTON CUP ride this season.

An omen to the team should have been the fact that got ZERO, ZIP, ZILCH, NADA sponsorship for the car.

Even with that they attempted to field a team with inferior equipment and an unqualified driver. Shawna flopped completely -- she qualified less than half the races she attempted, and the one she did qualify in she either wrecked, blew up or finished multiple laps down.

Can't remember the track, but one race she had no mechanical problems and was still lapped by the ENTIRE field within 15 laps.

She was finally canned about mid season --NASCAR veteran Kenny Schrader is now driving --and even with no sponsor and horribly outclassed equipment he has been able to run in the top 10 and 20 of many races (at least before the car blows up)

[Vigilantcitizen]

"I haven't personally read the Nascar charter, however I find it hard to believe that there is some clause specifically banning minorities. Nor do I believe there has ever been a sign outside the nascar office reading "negroes need not apply". Therefore, as has been said over and over again in the above posts...."Why?"

Because NASCAR, like 90% of Americans, have heard "The big lie" for so long, they really believe it's true.

[Mr. Bird]

Therefore, as has been said over and over again in the above posts...."Why?"

Umm....to increase the fan base maybe? NASCAR doesn't give a crap about giving one or two drivers the opportunity to compete. They give a crap about the millions of people who may start buying their and their sponsors' products if those one or two drivers succeed.

It makes perfect economic sense and it's financed privately. As long as they don't change qualifying rules to ensure a "diverse" field, I say it's a smart move.

[tubebender]

... and will become even more mainstream next season when Nextel replaces Winston as the sponsor of its top series

The writer should soak his head in a barrel of his favorite Chardonnay...

[HELLRAISER II]

Her situation just like this of an underskilled driver in NASCAR will only result in their humiliation and or getting themselves hurt or killed and let me tell you the drivers really do point fingers at the unskilled Kamikaze drivers out there.

[Blue Screen of Death]

I am going to start the O.J. Simpson Getaway Driving School.

[headsonpikes]

RE: opportunities for minorities

I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for Orthodox Jews in the pits.

They should stand out. ;^)

[Arpege92]

NASCAR has contributed large amounts of money, but Jesse Jackson never delivered. We should be asking Jesse about this....not NASCAR.

[HELLRAISER II]

Do you know what the dollar figures were?

[Elsie]

"We're out selling this the same as if we were a competitive team," said Daryl Stewart

 

and...

 

"You'll be getting the price it's worth because it is NOT a "competitive team," says me!

 

---

 

They don't have any choice....

 

SURE they do!  Just tell Jesse to get lost and give him not a minutes more of your time!

[Arpege92]

I believe it was $200,000. NASCAR donated that money and yet Jesse Jackson hasn't followed through.

[commish]

Her situation just like this of an underskilled driver in NASCAR will only result in their humiliation and or getting themselves hurt or killed and let me tell you the drivers really do point fingers at the unskilled Kamikaze drivers out there.

Probably why her nickname around the Garage is Shawna WRECKERson ;-)

I have no problem with teams bringing up kids like McMurry, Vickers, etc --guys who have had success at Bbusch level and show the skills to compete. It is the "rolling Cautions" that you and I are in agreement about.

While I realize his death was a tragedy and a result of an equipment malfunction and basically bad luck, I have all along maintained that Adam Petty was not ready to drive a WINSTON CUP car. The kid was a good driver, but he had not proven himself fully at the Busch level IMO. I think his name and the need for Petty Enterprises to post any type of a success led to him being put in that car way to early