NASCAR’s history requires heavier penalties for racial wrongs

March 2, 2013 5 Comments »

Nationwide Series driver Jeremy Clements. (Photo by John Harrelson/NASCAR via Getty Images)

I’ve never spoken to Jeremy Clements, and have no idea what was in his heart when he uttered the n-word to MTV blogger Marty Beckerman at the 2013 Daytona Nationwide opener.

I just know that he shouldn’t be allowed back at a NASCAR track until the 2014 Daytona Nationwide opener.

Sure, whatever he did pales in comparison to other issues of race that mar NASCAR’s history. Shoot, baseball integrated in 1947, NASCAR formed in 1948, and yet, 60-plus years later one African-American, Darrell Wallace Jr., is in a full-time ride in one of NASCAR’s top-three series. The stories of black NASCAR racing pioneer Wendell Scott being marginalized have finally been exposed to the point they don’t need to be repeated here. (That said, check out Brian Donovan’s “Hard Driving” for the full recap). Stories of a black driver, team employee and race official being harassed are troublesome enough without them all happening within the last 15 years.

At the Super Bowl, players from the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens sparred over the issue of gay players in the locker room. NASCAR still seems to be fighting much of the last generation’s social battle.

So it’s understandable for people to feel that Clements is being unfairly served up as a scapegoat for NASCAR’s past.

It’s just an incorrect feeling.

Everybody in the garage knows how much NASCAR needs to make its racial issues finally go away. NASCAR made a great decision by not allowing PGA golfer Bubba Watson to drive his “General Lee” show car at Phoenix last year. The car would have been fine at the World Series, but not at a NASCAR race. Too sensitive a subject for countless reasons.

NASCAR showed it would hold itself to a higher standard on racial sensitivity. It was a clear message to those in the garage that they had better do the same.

Clements apparently didn’t get the message.

He’s apologized, and he’ll receive sensitivity training, as was reported Saturday. NASCAR VP Steve O’Donnell told scribes the goal was to get Clements back in a car “as soon as possible.”

I partially agree. The goal should be to get Clements back in a car. But the goal also should be to make the consequences of this behavior sufficient to the point that we don’t have to go through this again…and again…and again.

Everybody deserves a second chance, and I look forward to welcoming him back with open arms.

Next year.

Follow Josh Stewart on Twitter @JoshNASCARWWE.

  • Wayne M

    Get off your soapbox, idiot.

  • RWM

    IDIOT! I’m talking about you, Mr. Stewart. Not Jeremy Clements. I make mistakes. You make mistakes. Jeremy Clements made a mistake. Unless you know what was said (I’ll bet you don’t but if you do you should publish what was said and in what context.) you can not judge the comments. If the n -word was used, I’ll almost bet it was used to describe an event or incident that happened and not directed towards anyone in particular. I don’t know Clements either so I am speculating, as you are, that he is a decent kid working hard to make the grade in racing. Will this slow him down or motivate him is yet to be seen. I grew up in racing and while I didn’t work closely with Wendell Scott, I did know him and his kids from around the track. They were decent, humble and hard working people who chose a difficult path to make a living but that was half a century ago. Were they abused or slighted in some ways? Yes, but Mr. Scott chose to stick with his program and move ahead knowing a lot about what was coming. Eventually he was accepted by most of his peers and his name is now on the list of nominees for the NASCAR HOF to honor his acheivements. I can’t speak for his family but I’ll almost bet they would rather see his nomination for the HOF as a simple acknowledgement of his accomplishments. The worst part of this incident with Clements is that he is being judged for something that we don’t know about. Also the fact that any conversation (remember this conversation was supposedly “off the record) is being monitered by a “girl” from NASCAR (Clements words) or anyone for that matter and then reported to the sanctioning body is beyond the pale. Unless it is recorded, it is hearsay. Try doing a little in-depth reporting on our sport instead of just spouting an opinion in a blog. Sorry, thats what I just did.

  • Wayne T.

    Ever listen to rap, or the youth of today, a NBA game,NFL game? I thought not.

  • Rick

    Mr. Stewart you are a complete jackass I am not talking about the Jeremy Clements comment I won’t get into that because no one is saying exactly what he said but he made a mistake we all do. However your comment about Nascar doing the right thing by not allowing the General lee to make a parade lap is wrong firstt off if you knew your history you would know the rebel flag is not a racists thing it’s the symbol of the south and the civil war was fought over state rights there were slaves in the north to and the Dukes of Hazzard was by no means a racist show so get your face s right oh and I fly a rebek flag at my home and I am not racist.

  • Louie

    So it was OK for the rapper invited by NASCAR to tweet how white it was at Daytona, to all of the public, but not ok for someone to make a comment off the record to two other people? That is what is wrong with this whole situation.