NASCAR driver Jeremy Clements would fit in if he had a part in “Django Unchained,” or singing Kanye West lyrics; or performing a Chris Rock bit. Jeremy Clements has been suspended for using the n-word in an interview off camera prior to the Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Jeremy Clements made the comment in the presence of an MTV reporter and NASCAR publicist.
Clements finished 33rd in the Daytona 500, failing at the race, and in race relations.
From Tireball:
After the news of Clements’ suspension made waves it was finally revealed what he said early Friday. It was eventually found out that the MTV reporter was Marty Beckerman who spoke to MTV News.
“I was there to do a fish-out-of-water story about going to NASCAR and having a wild, crazy weekend. And, we were doing interviews with many of the drivers, and I was on the way to another interview we were looking for [driver] Johanna Long’s trailer and the NASCAR publicist called Mr. Clements over and asked him for help finding her,” Beckerman said.
“He walked us toward where she was, and on the way over, I explained to him that Guy Code is rules for guys, how you treat your friends, how you treat your ladies, things like that. I was there to do a humor piece, so I asked him what would be Guy Code for race car drivers, and he blurted out [a phrase that used the n-word].” Beckerman said that Clements didn’t use the phrase in reference to any specific driver, but was instead illustrating that “if you drive roughly, you’ll be treated roughly.”
Maybe Clements should be more concerned with the NASCAR code of conduct than the bro code, or guy code. Clements was found to have violated Sections 7-5 (NASCAR’s Code of Conduct) and 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing).
“During the course of an interview, Jeremy Clements made an intolerable and insensitive remark,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “NASCAR has a Code of Conduct that’s explicitly spelled out in the 2013 NASCAR Rule Book. We fully expect our entire industry to adhere to that Code.”
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, a Google News site generating millions of visitors. He also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
A Fulbright scholar, author and MBA, Banks has appeared on the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@Paul_M_BanksTSB)