NASCAR Celebrates Black History Month (no joke, not from the Onion!)

[The Straight Story]

NASCAR Celebrates Black History Month

Daytona Beach, FL (BlackNews.com) - The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced a month-long series of events to celebrate Black History Month. The events aim to increase awareness about the sport among African-American communities to help further diversify the sport.

"NASCAR celebrates Black History Month and honors the contributions of African-Americans in motorsports and society," said Marcus Jadotte, NASCAR managing director of public affairs, who oversees the diversity department. "Our diversity initiatives throughout the month are just a part of our year-long commitment to further diversify the sport."

The plans include introducing students to the sport via NASCAR's two biggest events of the month – the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona on Feb. 10 and the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. At the Budweiser Shootout, select engineering students from Florida A&M University will tour the track to learn about the technical elements of the sport. Students from Bethune-Cookman College will experience the same tour during the Daytona 500 the following week.

Another element, the NASCAR College Tour, will kick off at the end of the month at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament in Charlotte, N.C. NASCAR will have representatives at the event and will participate in several elements including the Ford Fan Experience, High School Career Day and Showtime at the Apollo presented by Coca-Cola.

http://www.blacknews.com/pr/nascardiversity301.html

Ya know, it just seems to me that some folks are using Black History month as a way to advertise instead of to educate. I am glad they are taking notice and all, it just seems a wee bit weird to me...

[daveskilt]

1. It certainly would open a new market for NASCAR

maybe have a special section for african americans down in all those southern tracks - on the opposite side from the trucks with confederate flags maybe. Seperate but still equal though.

before I even hear from a NASCAR fan about how a big a "sport" it is and how many people go to races and blah blah blah....

I have lived in 5 states and worked in over 20 - i have lived in 4 countries and visited I don't know how many and the only place in the world i have ever been that gave a blue arsed monkey fart about NASCAR was the US south (where I lived in GA for 3 years) and those people are just plain weird (and this coming from a guy who lived in Utah for a while! - GA was worse)

[pnorman]

2. Did you say: "NASCAR"?

Here's an appropriate sound clip: http://media.ebaumsworld.com/mrbergis-nascar.mp3

(Turn on your speakers, and ENJOY!)

pnorman

[Ian David]

3. Greased Lightning (1977), starring Ricard Pryor, based on the life of Wendell Scott

Directed by
Michael Schultz

This movie showed the life of one mans adversity in a sport that he loved but not always loved him back. I had the great pleasure of meeting Wendell Scott at a car show in the 80's. He was a very kind hearted man that loved to meet and greet people. I have this movie on tape so that I can show my son when he grows up. It is a great story that every man of any race should see.



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076106/#comment