Woman Suing NASCAR has Questionable Past

Former NASCAR Official Mauricia Grant, who has accused NASCAR of racial discrimination and sexual harassment, has had a restraining order filed against her by an ex-boyfriend and she was also arrested for a DUI, according to the Associated Press.

Grant, who filed a $225 Million lawsuit against NASCAR, was also charged with driving with a suspended license when she still was an employee of NASCAR as a technical inspector in the Nationwide series.

Grants attorney said that his client is not refuting anything that is in her past and that her pervious actions have no bearing on the suit that she filed against NASCAR in June.

"Ms. Grant's alleged prior actions are totally irrelevant to this suit," attorney Benedict P. Morelli said in a statement. "NASCAR must obey the law and should focus its full attention on improving the discriminatory and hostile work environment to which employees are subject."

NASCAR has stated that her past actions are a direct reflection on Ms.Grant’s character, and will continue to fight the claims she has made against the racing series.

"Clearly, these revelations show that there are always at least two sides to every story," NASCAR said in a statement to the AP. "We are confident that over the course of this process even more facts will come to light and justice will be served."

Court documents show that Grant has had legal issues as far back as 2002 when a restraining order was filed by an ex-boyfriend against her.

Willie Lowery was granted a temporary restraining order by the Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging Grant threatened his life and harassed him with repeated phone calls at home and at work.

"She has made many threats on my life and job. She called my job ... up to six times attempting to slander my name and have me fired," Lowery wrote in his complaint. “She has been spotted in front of my home on several occasions. She has contacted all of my family and friends attempting to make threats and slander my name. She has also contacted my current girlfriend and I feel she is in jeopardy as well."

Grant also was jailed for two days in July 2004, for driving under the influence in Los Angeles. She pleaded no contest a month later, but failed to meet the terms of her probation and a bench warrant was issued for her arrest in January 2005.
A spokesman for firm representing Morelli and Grant in this suit said the case was never settled because Grant began working for NASCAR and was busy traveling for her new job.

Grant also was charged with driving with a suspended license in Atlanta last October while working for NASCAR. She was fired later that month, and NASCAR has declined to say why Grant was terminated.

Grant, who is black, claims in her suit she was fired for complaining about how she was treated by fellow officials during her employment. The suit alleges she was referred to as "Nappy Headed Mo" and "Queen Sheba," by co-workers, was often told she worked on "colored people time." She also claimed she was frightened by one official who routinely made references to the Ku Klux Klan.
Grants attorney said that NASCAR actions are father proof that her claims are indeed valid.

"Despite this apparent smear campaign against Mauricia Grant, NASCAR has not refuted one single claim Ms. Grant has made about the discrimination and harassment she endured," Morelli said. "Instead, NASCAR suspended two officials in the course of its interminable internal investigation, and had previously fired an employee later named in the suit for an undisclosed reason."