NASCAR removes racial requirement from 'Diversity Internship' posting after backlash and claims of racism

NASCAR's Diversity Internship Program no longer lists specific races/ethnicities as a requirement for the program on its webpage, after recent criticism and claims of illegality were made online.

The internship program is a paid internship that involves attending a race, visiting the sport's Hall of Fame, and meeting with racing teams and industry executives.

NASCAR had required applicants to be "one or more of the following races/ethnic minority classifications: Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Latino or Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander."

That requirement was removed, however; a screenshot of the previous version of the page with the above stipulation still exists on the Daily Wire's website.

David Bernstein, a professor at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia School of Law, told the Daily Wire in late August 2023 that NASCAR’s program is "blatantly illegal" and that it seemed to "violate Title VII and the 1866 Civil Rights Act.”

“Having a 100% quota for minorities for a position is illegal even under a very generous view of what is allowed,” Bernstein added.

Despite the removal of the race-based requirement for their internship program, the racing company has a plethora of identity-focused programs that list similar qualifications.

NASCAR's diversity "philosophy" notes that "NASCAR Diversity & Inclusion strives to create an inclusive environment in all facets of the NASCAR industry recognizing the value of diversity, which allows us to go faster and farther in our workplaces, at the race track and in the stands."

The company boasts special programs for its supply chain, for which it seems to prefer businesses owned by certain races and sexual orientations.

"NASCAR Supplier Diversity" ensures "equitable opportunities to participate in NASCAR’s supply chain," the website stated. "Minority-owned businesses (Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Latinx or Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander)" are listed, along with "woman-owned" businesses and "LGBT-owned" businesses.

The program is sponsored by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and National Minority Supplier Development Council.

The racing league also implements a Pit Crew Development Program available only to "aspiring minority and female pit crew members," as well as a Driver Development Program which, of course, is open to "talented, young, up-and-coming minority and female drivers and pit crew athletes" only.

NASCAR Digital responded to a previous request for comment from TheBlaze, but only to note that questions would be forwarded "to the appropriate department." No further response was given.

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