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NASCAR president explains redneck remark
By Kenny Bruce
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
NASCAR President Mike Helton says he made a mistake when he used the phrase "Southeastern redneck heritage" in response to a reporter's question Feb. 8 on Capitol Hill.
Helton was in Washington, D.C., to announce the establishment of a new consortium aimed at training and hiring more minorities within the sport. He was responding to a reporter's question concerning diversity and NASCAR as a predominantly white sport when he said: "We believe strongly that the old, Southeastern redneck heritage that we had is no longer in existence. But we also realize that there's going to have to be an effort on our part to convince others to understand that."
The comment brought criticism from fans, accusing Helton of trying to distance NASCAR from its roots.
On. Feb. 17, Helton clarified his statement.
"The question that was asked by the reporter was 'Do you think you can make headway in diversity based on your Southern redneck heritage?" Helton said.
"The first mistake I made was using the same terminology used in the question. But the point I was trying to get across, and it came out in quotes - not very well - was that we're proud of our heritage. We use our roots, out heritage, in promoting the sport today, in presentations to talk about the future of the sport. We're as proud of our heritage, I think, as anybody is."
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