“LLL”—Fans Call Out NASCAR for “Forced Diversity” Announcement

Unity in diversity is something that the world needs to embrace in every walk of life—including in motorsports. However, being hypocritical or paying lip service to the idea does not sit well with the NASCAR community. Fans have often been critical of some of the “changes” that NASCAR has brought on over the years. But a particular issue seems to have riled them up like never before.

NASCAR’s governing body has been trying to pace up its diversity initiatives. According to some fans, they have—in the process—tended to focus more on “seeming to be diverse” than on the initiatives themselves. In a recent post, the governing body unveiled the 2023 Drive for Diversity Development team. Along with a picture of the eight drivers representing diverse communities, the sanctioning authority shared a caption that included the words, “Their time is now.”

However, fans did not approve of NASCAR’s post. A few Twitter users called out the governing body for trying too hard to showcase the non-existent diversity in the sport. Furthermore, a few others questioned why was it necessary for NASCAR to make it all about “skin color,” not talent.

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The fan reactions are more or less the result of what they have understood about the sport throughout the years. Although the governing body has invested time and effort in such initiatives, there is not much to show for it on the ground level.

Diversity in NASCAR: The bitter truth

As reported by the Boardroom, NASCAR Cup Series boast only three drivers that are from African-American or minority backgrounds. This means only Bubba Wallace (African-American), Aric Almirola (Cuban-American), and Daniel Suarez (Mexican-American) have participated in the Cup Series. Though many would like this number to go up, a compromise on the quality of competition is unacceptable for most.

Concerning gender diversity, NASCAR is the home of the rare few sporting events where people of all genders compete on the same track. But the fan sentiment says that a few structural changes are required at the ground level to make the sport even more equitable. Currently, the sport boasts a few notable female drivers like Janet Guthrie, Danica Patrick, Shawna Robinson, Patty Moise, Hailie Deegan, and Jennifer Jo Cobb.

Apart from that, as NASCAR expands its horizons, it would feel the need to work on the inclusion of underrepresented communities. According to Brandon Thompson, NASCAR VP of Diversity and Inclusion, a lack of exposure to opportunities is the main hindrance for marginalized communities.

In the interview with the Boardroom, Thompson said, “Great auto racing is expensive for anyone. We have seen that it doesn’t matter what race you are or ethnicity, male or female, racing is an expensive sport. The challenges with Black and Brown communities and other underrepresented communities, whether it be LGBTQ or women, sometimes resources aren’t as readily available.”

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Furthermore, Thompson also said that most people do not feel welcome in NASCAR. This may be because it has been always perceived to be a predominantly male-dominated sport. To tackle these issues, the governing body has been working on initiatives like the Diversity Internship Program.

Accompanying the governing body’s efforts for racial diversity, the Busch Light Accelerate Her Program has also promised a $10 million commitment for woman racers. Promises aside, only time will tell where the sport is headed.