A former technical inspector filed a complaint against NASCAR withthe Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging racialdiscrimination, a hostile work environment and wrongful termination.
DeanDuckett, who is black, said discrimination started in May 2001 andlasted until NASCAR fired him from his job in the Cup series on Nov.14, 2007.
Duckett told The Associated Press on Saturday that he would consider a lawsuit if NASCAR refused to offer him his old job back.
“I’mlooking for something. Even if NASCAR was to offer me my job back, Iwould do that,” he said. “If they wasn’t going to offer me my job back,I’m shooting for a lawsuit.”
Duckett said his problems started last Nov. 10 when he got into aheated argument with another official the night before the Phoenix race.
“Isaid to him, ‘I ought to cut you.’ I don’t carry no blades or nothinglike that,” Duckett said. “It basically came out in the heat of themoment. We got into each others faces but nothing happened. My roommatepulled me away and said, ‘C’mon guys leave it alone,’ and we left.”
Duckettsaid he apologized, made up with the official and thought the incidentwas squashed. Instead, he said he was called the next day to NASCAR’sat-track office and was sent home. Duckett said he was fired by CupSeries director John Darby and human resources director Star George.
“They took my life away,” he said. “I loved my job. I put everything into my job. I feel they took away from my family.”
Thediscrimination complaint was first reported Saturday by The CharlotteObserver. NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said on Saturday that stockcar series was aware of the complaint.
Duckett was named inMauricia Grant’s $250 million lawsuit against NASCAR, alleging racialand sexual discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination.Her lawsuit claimed Duckett was reprimanded and ultimately fired lastNovember for using “aggressive language toward a white co-worker.”
Duckettdenied harassing Grant, though he acknowledged NASCAR suspended himwith pay for two weeks. Duckett was accused by Grant of dumping wateron another female official to simulate a wet T-shirt contest.
“She lied about that part,” Duckett said. “NASCAR suspended me for that and I still don’t even know why they did that.”
Duckett, who said he now works two jobs and is falling behind in bills, said Grant was mostly telling the truth.
“I believe some of the stuff that was said,” he said. “It’s kind of funny that the stuff she said, I said already.”
Duckett’scomplaint was filed Sept. 4 with the Buffalo department of the EEOC. Hewrote in the complaint: “During my employment, I was subjected todifferent terms and conditions of employment and a hostile workenvironment, because of my race and marital status, and was ultimatelyterminated in violation of Title VII and corresponding state laws.”
Duckett said he has more to say about the way he was treated and even kept a diary while he was employed in NASCAR.
“I’ve got stuff,” he said. “It’s not even funny.”