On NASCAR’s website, located near the top of the page in a prominent location, the racing organization describes the internship, stipulating that applicants must “Be a member of one or more of the following races/ethnic minority classifications: Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Latino or Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.”
“Having a 100% quota for minorities for a position is illegal even under a very generous view of what is allowed,” David Bernstein, a professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia School of Law told the Daily Wire. Bernstein added that the requirement would “seem to violate Title VII and the 1866 Civil Rights Act.”
NASCAR offers several programs to “create an inclusive environment in all facets” of the organization, including programs geared towards mentoring minority and female drivers, and another for aspiring pit crew members.
Both programs require applicants to be a female, or an “American Indian, Alaskan Native, or of native/indigenous descent; Asian or Pacific Islander; Black or African-American; Latino or Hispanic.”
All of the programs that fall under NASCAR’s “Drive for Diversity” banner seem to exclude explicitly whites, Caucasians, and individuals of European descent.
Though the majority of NASCAR fans are conservatives, and races seem to mimic their traditions by hosting a prayer before the checkered flag waves and by paying homage to military members, the organization has an odd history of catering to a minority of fans.
NASCAR has suspended several drivers for speech deemed racist or offensive, and most recently, the organization effectively banned driver Noah Gragson after he “liked” an “insensitive meme” of George Floyd on social media. Gragson was “suspended indefinitely” even after issuing a groveling apology for his actions.
I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media.
— Noah Gragson (@NoahGragson) August 5, 2023
I understand the severity of this situation.
I love and appreciate everyone.
I try to treat everyone equally no matter who they are. I messed up plain and simple.https://t.co/PCX6iMJxRF
NASCAR also offers several employee resource groups under the “Drive for Diversity” umbrella that “provide[s] a forum to proactively address workplace culture and diversity, inclusion & equity initiatives.”
