Tag: NASCAR

NASCAR Accused of Discriminating Against White Men with Diversity Hiring Efforts

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The iconic National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR, has been accused of intentionally discriminating against White men through its efforts to hire more “diverse” drivers and pit crew workers.

As reported by the New York Post, a petition was filed on Thursday by America First Legal (AFL), the conservative legal group run by former Trump Administration advisor Stephen Miller, calling for an investigation into NASCAR by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The petition accuses NASCAR of “illegal discrimination against White, male Americans.”

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Music Spotlight: Kyle Petty

Bethany Bowman

Kyle Petty is a former NASCAR driver turned racing analyst who has become one of the most popular personalities in all of sports. As a member of one of NASCAR’s pioneer families, Kyle is as much a product of racing as he is of his famous father, Richard Petty “The King,” and grandfather, Lee Petty. His son Adam Petty also raced before a tragic racing accident in 2020. While his name will forever connect him to NASCAR, Kyle Petty made significant strides outside of racing in music and philanthropy.

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New Law Blocks Nashville’s Supermajority Requirement for Speedway Demolition

The Center Square

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed a bill to block Metro Nashville’s requirement for a council supermajority vote on demolition at the Fairgrounds Speedway.

Nashville’s council is expected to soon hear a proposal on Bristol Motor Speedway rebuilding the grandstand and track at the Fairgrounds Speedway in order to bring a NASCAR race back to the fairgrounds.

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Bill Would Block Nashville’s Supermajority Requirement for Speedway Demolition

The Center Square

The Tennessee House is expected to vote on a bill Monday that would prevent Metro Nashville from requiring a super majority vote to approve demolition to build a new Fairgrounds Speedway.

Currently, any project that requires demolition would require a super majority vote of Nashville’s council. That could impact a Bristol Motor Speedway project to rebuild the Fairgrounds Speedway.

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Nashville Council, Sports Authority Awaiting Final Documents on New $2.2B Titans Stadium

The Center Square

The Metro Nashville Mayor’s Office is completing what its are calling the definitive documents for a new deal on a $2.2 billion Tennessee Titans stadium and plan to present the final documents to Metro’s council by March.

Before that begins, East Bank Stadium Committee Chair Bob Mendes sent a list of three questions to the mayor’s office following last week’s committee meeting asking for specifics on when the legislation will be filed, if legislation to rebuild Nashville’s Fairgrounds Speedway into a NASCAR cup-worthy track would come at the same time and specifics of when the capital spending on the Titans stadium project will occur.

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Ohio Supreme Court Halts State’s Attempt to Collect More Taxes from NASCAR

Hannah Poling

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Tuesday morning that revenue earned by NASCAR from selling the rights to broadcast stock car races and merchandise to Ohio fans is not subject to state business taxes.

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court rejected the Ohio Tax Commissioner, Jeffrey McClain’s, order that NASCAR owes the state almost $550,000 for money earned from broadcasting races, online marketing, and sponsorship fees.

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Nashville Mayor’s Office Announces Tax Deal for $75M Fairgrounds Speedway Renovation

The Center Square

The Nashville mayor’s office presented to the Fair Board the tax deal for a $75 million renovation of the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in hopes of bringing a NASCAR race back to the site.

The Fair Board will be asked to vote on the lease, term sheet and approval of bonds in early 2023. If approved, it will next go to Nashville’s Metro Council for approval and then the Sports Authority before returning to Mayor John Cooper for his signature.

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‘Let’s Go Brandon’: Mischievous Meme Mocks Fake News and a Failing Presidency

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It all started with a profanity that can’t be repeated here.

NBC Sports reporter Kelli Stavast was questioning NASCAR driver Brandon Brown about winning the Xfinity series at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 9. Crowd members began chanting, “F*** Joe Biden,” a phrase that had been popping up at sporting events across the country in recent weeks.

Stavast, either misinterpreting the chant or trying to clean up the phrase for broadcast standards, told NBC viewers the crowd was chanting, “Let’s Go Brandon” in Brown’s honor.

A meme was born.

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Joke Anti-Biden Song ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Goes Viral, Tops iTunes Hip-Hop Chart

Admin

The joke anti-Biden song “Let’s Go Brandon” is currently trending #1 on iTunes’s hip-hop chart, a jocular but embarrassing slight against the Biden administration that has been ongoing for several weeks.

The meme “Let’s Go Brandon” stems from a NASCAR sportscast in which a group of fans could be heard intoning the vulgar chant “Fuck Joe Biden.” Reporter Kelli Stavast mistakenly claimed that the crowd was chanting “Let’s Go Brandon” in support of driver Brandon Brown.

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Roger Simon Commentary: Time to Stop ‘Communism, American-Style’

RealClearWire

Some will remember that comedy classic from 1961, “Divorce, Italian Style,” starring Marcello Mastroianni. Unfortunately, 60 years later, we seem to be moving toward, even living through, a far less funny, real-life “Communism, American Style.”

What is “Communism, American Style”? As yet one would think it bears little resemblance to the Soviet kind with its gulags and so forth.

Or does it?

On Oct. 6, the Los Angeles City Council proclaimed, nearly unanimously (11–2), COVID-19 mandates that require proof of vaccination to enter indoor restaurants, movie theaters, salons, shopping centers, and just about every other public indoor space you could think of in the entertainment capital.

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No Charges in NASCAR Noose Incident Involving Black Driver

The Associated Press

The noose found hanging in Bubba Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway had been there since at least last October, federal authorities said Tuesday in announcing there will be no charges filed in an incident that rocked NASCAR and its only fulltime Black driver.

U.S. Attorney Jay Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. said an investigation determined “although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week.”

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NASCAR Ready for Long-Term Commitment in Nashville

The Associated Press

Here’s what NASCAR hopes is the honky tonk truth — that a Nashville reboot is good enough this time to make the sport a tough ticket in the heart of one of the entertainment hot spots of the south.

The first step? Convincing its star drivers the trip to Nashville Superspeedway in 2021 is the spark of a motorsports rebirth in the area and not just another lazy ride on an intermediate concrete track.

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Nashville May Reportedly Use Taxpayer Money on NASCAR

Chris Butler

There is talk of using taxpayer money to bring NASCAR to Nashville, according to NobleNashville.com. The website reported this week that Speedway Motors has met with Nashville Mayor David Briley since February of this year to discuss options. “Over the past few months, outrageous proposals have been made such as using $54 million in public taxpayers’ money, and $2 million in cash from the city. Of course, Mayor Briley continues to deny proposals that involve using taxpayers’ money,” NobleNashville.com reported. “This is where we have to ask, is it really worth it? The public and the fair board have no knowledge of the talks between Briley and Speedway Motors. What is known is that the Mayor continues to deny each proposal given to him.” The website went on to say the idea is “horribly expensive and it would be a nuisance to all those living in the area. In the end, it may be best to leave things as they are.” As reported in January, Nashville’s debt continues to climb, so much so it’s at its highest point in 10 years and city officials spent one out of every $10 of taxpayer money to pay off debt the last fiscal…

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NASCAR Legend Darrell Waltrip Races Into Marsha Blackburn’s Corner

Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn has received a high-octane endorsement. Blackburn’s Senate campaign launched a new television ad Monday featuring NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip. The ad will air in media markets across the state and on digital platforms statewide. The video is available to watch here. Speaking about the ad, U.S. Representative Blackburn (R-TN-07) said, “Darrell and Stevie Waltrip and their family are treasured friends of our family. D.W. wants his next Senator to represent our shared conservative values in the Senate, and I’m the only one Tennesseans can count on to do that. I’m grateful for his support as we head into the final laps of the campaign.” Here is the transcript: Waltrip: “I’m Darrell Waltrip. I made a career out of going fast and turning left. That works on the track, but not so good in Washington. Phil Bredesen will go along to get along with Washington liberals on taxes, immigration, and Obamacare. That’s why we need Marsha Blackburn at the wheel.” Blackburn: “Are you going to keep talking or are we going to roll?” Waltrip: “Boogity, boogity, boogity – let’s win this race!” Blackburn: “I’m Marsha Blackburn, and I approve this message.” Voiceover: “Marsha Blackburn for Tennessee.” Waltrip is not Blackburn’s only…

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NASCAR Driver Loses Sponsorship Over Father’s Racial Slur – 35 Years Ago

Tennessee Star Staff
David and Coner Daley

by Molly Prince   A sponsor announced on Friday that it has ended its partnership with NASCAR driver Conor Daly after it was reported that his father used racially insensitive language during an interview in the early 1980s. Lilly Diabetes pulled its sponsorship from Conor’s No. 6 car in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race, citing his father’s alleged use of the N-word 35 years ago, reported Fox News. Derek Daly, a retired Indy 500 and Formula One driver, was fired days earlier from his role as WISH-TV’s Racing Analyst due to the controversy. In a statement, the elder Daly admitted to using the word, but denied its connotation. “I was a foreign driver now in America, driving for an American team, with an American crew, and with an American sponsor – and that if things did not go well, the only ‘”n” in the wood pile’ would be me,” Derek Daly wrote, saying that the expression was common in his native Ireland and didn’t carry the same racist connotation. He added that he was “mortified” after he was informed of the derogatory nature of the word and has not used the word since. “Unfortunately, the comments that surfaced this week by…

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Kyle Busch Wins NASCAR Series Race at Bristol Motor Speedway

Tennessee Star Staff

BRISTOL, Tennessee — Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday and The Tennessee Star was there to capture all the sounds and sights.   Before the evening officially kicked off, fans were able to sign the starting line with greeting and well-wishes.   Dale Earnhardt Jr., surrounded by a few of the Monster Energy girls, makes his entrance during drivers introductions at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Earnhardt Jr. has announced his retirement at the end of the 2017 NASCAR racing season, making this his last night Bristol race. He was greeted by lots of cheers from the crowd.   Aric Almirola (Tampa, FL) driver of the No. 43 car, with his daughter during Drivers introductions.   Driver of the No. 7 car, JJ Yeley (Phoenix, AZ), came out dressed as a hippie for drivers introductions.   Kyle Busch (Las Vegas, NV) and his rambunctious little boy Brexton at drivers introductions – he is rarin’ to go!   Meanwhile, drivers and their teams discuss strategy. Here’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. and team owner Rick Hendrick (Hendricks Motorsports).   Jimmy Johnson goes over last-minute details with his crew.   The event officially kicked off with the National…

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