Oct. 9, 2002

As the NFL faces a potential controversy over its lack of minority head coaches, NASCAR made a proactive move today to show its diversity. “NASCAR is unparalleled in diversity,” read a statement released by the racing circuit. “We have a fan base that includes an equal mix of white trash, crackers and rednecks.”

The statement went on to say that NASCAR is unmatched in bringing together people from different backgrounds. “No more can we say that there are the distinctions in place that divide white trash from crackers, crackers from rednecks, and rednecks from white trash. We have blurred those definitions. NASCAR is the true melting pot.”

Industry experts say NASCAR’s statement of diversity came at the perfect time, as there is a national debate as to what sport will fill baseball’s place as the national pastime – football or racing.

“If the NFL gets caught up with Johnnie Cochran in this racial equality issue, there could be a huge ‘in’ for NASCAR,” said Davis Williams, a sports business reporter for the “Wall Street Journal.” “The timing of their statement is perfect. It lets people know that there are sports out there who have gotten the balance right.”

The other advantage seen for NASCAR in the race for the title of “national pastime,” is that the circuit has exact representation in the race of their drivers to that of its crew chiefs. Whereas the NFL has 70 percent black players and only a handful of black head coaches, NASCAR crew chiefs exactly represent the race of the drivers – 100 percent white to 100 percent white.

“No other sports league can boast such parallelism in those ratios,” said Williams.