No surprise – tonight Troy and I discussed the firing of a Red Bull Team member for his anti-gay tweets. During the 2nd half of the show, Lewis Frank – from Rueters called into to talk some racing….. we recap Sonoma and make some predictions for Daytona:
Watch my appearance on ESPN’s NASCAR Now today with host Nicole Briscoe:
I recieved this statement from @Gofastharvick29 – he is the fan who tweeted Jeremy Fuller saying “yea if we could get rid of them it’d be a lot better.” A reply to @gofastharvick29 was then posted on Fuller Twitter Account “LOL, Don’t we all wish” Fuller – claims he did not respond to that tweet and did not write that.Fuller was fired from Red Bull Racing and Turner Motorsports over the tweets.
Bob Padecky at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat interviewed me after the race on Sunday at Infineon Raceway. The SR Press Democrat is the paper that serves Sonoma County – where the track is located. I may be biased – since it’s about me, but it is a great story. Bob took his time and asked me a ton a questions – he’s a great sports writer and I want to thank him for profiling Queers4Gears.
picture tweeted by Jeremy Fuller of Team Red Bull - saying "This is way (sic) I don't live here."
It had been an incredible weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. I was flying high – having spent another weekend at the NASCAR races but as I was leaving the track….. it all changed. Several anti-gay tweets by a member of the Red Bull Racing Team clipped my wings sending me crashing back to earth.
Let me start by saying that I have been covering NASCAR since September 2009 as Queers4Gears and this is the first instance of gay prejudice that I have encountered. Contrary to what many might think – the NASCAR community has been very accepting.
In fact, earlier that day I posted a profile of an openly gay person that work for Michael Waltrip Racing. Craig Wadsworth, the team chef, has been “out” and working in the sport for over 20 years. Turns out, it isn’t a big deal – no one seems to mind – because Craig does his job well. You know….. how it SHOULD be!
The story got a lot of traffic and it was another example of how “open” NASCAR really is. That is why the tweets from the Red Bull Team member stung even more – coming out the same day as my story.
Jeremy Fuller, (@fullerjeremy) who works for the Red Bull Racing Team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series let loose several hateful tweets as he was leaving the track in Sonoma.
San Francisco’s Gay PRIDE Celebration was being held the same weekend as the races and as Jeremy was in traffic heading to the airport he saw a van with a homemade sign.
The sign had a rainbow on it the words, “On Our Way to SF Gay PRIDE” Fuller tweeted a picture of the sign with the comment, “This is way (sic) I don’t live here.”
I wondered if he knew there are gay people located outside of the San Francisco Bay Area? In fact, the same day, Salisbury, NC – in the heart of where most NASCAR teams’ call home – celebrated that cities first annual Gay PRIDE Celebration.
But then it got worse – and it is where I think Fuller crossed a line.
One of Jeremy’s followers (@gofastharvick29) saw the sign and sent Fuller a tweet saying, “yea if we could get rid of them it’d be a lot better.”
To that Fuller tweeted this reply: “lol.. Don’t we all wish!!”
LOL?? Anyone who follows me on twitter knows I have a pretty sordid sense of humor – but since when did violence against anyone become funny?
It should be noted these tweets were not generated from the official Red Bull Racing Team’s account. This was a personal twitter account for one of Red Bull’s employee’s – but at the time these tweets were posted: Jeremy’s bio stated: “ #NASCAR Tire changer @redbullnascar NASCAR Nationwide Series Turner Motorsports NASCAR Truck Series Turner Motorsports.”
By using the official NASCAR hash tag and Red Bull’s twitter handle in his bio – he is reflecting on the company and the sport.
The tweets were removed late Sunday night as well as any mention of NASCAR or Red Bull in his bio.
NASCAR’s Code of Conduct states: “A NASCAR Member shall not make or cause to be made a public statement and/or communication that criticizes, ridicules, or otherwise disparages another person based upon that person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, or handicapping condition.”
I reached out to Red Bull Racing, Red Bull USA and NASCAR – they did not respond to a request for comment.
Again, this is the first example of any anti-gay “speech” that I have come across since I started covering this sport. So let’s step back and take a look at the big picture. The tweets of one guy should not reflect on the entire sport.
The director of Marketing for Red Bull Racing just sent me this statement. They were taking time to complete an internal investigation: ”Red Bull Racing Team was made aware of comments posted to a contractor’s Twitter account following this weekend’s race. After investigating the matter, Red Bull Racing Team terminated the contractor’s employment effective immediately. The race team regularly conducts diversity training and strictly enforces our team policies against any form of discrimination. We have zero tolerance for such violations and in no way support any of the comments posted by this individual.”
The Gaynalysis is just one gay NASCAR fans’ take on the race weekend. You can read the “straight” recap of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 by clicking here.
credit: Kevin R Tengesdal
I am not sure if it had anything to do with the fact the NASCAR shared this weekend with Gay PRIDE in the Bay Area – but there sure were a lot of pissed of drivers divas in Sonoma today.
While tame by some standards – the fights that were picked and fought were entertaining for the fans in the stands and at home – actually, from the tweets I saw, NASCAR nation was unhappy with today’s TV coverage of the Savemart 350.
Kurt Busch got the win which was no surprise as the #22 was the best car at Infineon on Sunday. He led 76 of 110 laps – Denny Hamlin was the only other driver diva who came close, and the #11 only led 12 laps.
Juan Pablo Montoya broke the record for pissing people off – set last year by Jeff Gordon.
Douche Diva Driver Brad Keselowski traded a lot of paint with Montoya. After the race he said it was an eat or be eaten day and he wasn’t going to be eaten. For his part, JPM played the smart-ass role tweeting: “I guess the 2 car loves cottonelle cause really need it to get close to me LOL!!!!” He also told reporters after the race that it was hard to race against guys that aren’t any good on road courses.
Sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the Cama this morning.
The other amazing battle took place in turn 11 between Tony “show me some damn respect” Stewart and Brian “I need a job” Vickers. Early in the show, Tony pushed Vickers hard into the turn sending the #83 into the blue and yellow tire barrier.
Many laps later the #83 payed Tony back. Brain spun Tony and the #14 wound up ASS UP on the wall. Stewart’s Chevy was planted on top of the tires and had to be pulled off by the tow truck. Both guys eventually made it back on track.
After the race Tony admitted to dumping Vickers. “He was blocking me, and every other driver should know that if they block me, I will dump them. I am sure he (Vickers) was paying me back – but he blocked me.”
Vickers was less awesome in his answer and while he did try to beat around the bush the tire barrier – he told Jeff Gluck from SB Nation that Tony made his bed and had to sleep in it!
Both Stewart and Vickers seemed to think they are now even and NASCAR has said not to expect any penalties from their incident. Have at it!
Last but certainly not least – we need to discuss the skirmish between Old Man Robby Gordon and little biddy Joey Logano. These climbed all over each other like two Queens in heat.
After Joey dumped Gordon early in the race – Robby came on the radio and said he was going to put the #20 into the wall.
Joey, like a young smart-ass kid, commented that his car was faster and Robby would have to catch him.
After the race Gordon told reporters he has plans to go all “Richard Childress” on Joey. Keep in mind, Robby is already on probation for the entire year after he “assaulted” Kevin Conway in the Las Vegas garage.
If I were Joey I wouldn’t accept any paper from strangers over the next few days…. instead of a fan wanting an autograph it could be Robby’s lawyers serving him with papers.
One thing you can say about Robby Gordon, he is a world class driver… I mean Sue-er!
At times, for me, the race was a little boring. Kurt ran away from the pack and these drivers divas were more spread out than Paris Hilton’s legs. But as always, the fights and drama made up for the lack of action on track.
I just wanted to see Boris get in a fight….. guess I gotta wait for the Glen!
[ credit NASCAR Media Group / by Reid Spencer - The Sporting News Wire Service ]
credit NASCAR Media Group - Todd Warshaw/Getty Images
Kurt Busch avoided all the wildness exploding behind him and cruised to a convincing win in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway.
The victory was the first of the season for Busch and the 23rd of his Sprint Cup career.
Jeff Gordon parlayed pit strategy into a second-place finish, and series points leader Carl Edwards did the same to run third in the 16th Cup event of the season. Clint Bowyer came home fourth, followed by Marcos Ambrose and pole-sitter Joey Logano.
Busch led Martin Truex Jr. through Turn 11 on Lap 87, but right behind him, Brian Vickers jack-hammered Tony Stewart into the tire barrier, destroying the rear end of Stewart’s Chevrolet. The back of Stewart’s car came to rest on top of a stack of tires, unable to move.
Vickers, who waited for Stewart to pass him before wrecking him, exacted revenge for a Lap 37 incident in which Stewart pile-drove Vickers’ Toyota into the same corner and started a seven-car chain-reaction collision that collected Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Chevrolet and eventually knocked the No. 88 out of the race.
Busch stayed on the track during the caution and led the field to a restart on Lap 92 of 110. From that point on, it was no contest.
NOTES AND NUGGETS
• This is Kurt Busch’s 23rd Cup Series victory, moving him into a tie for 26th on the all-time win list with Ricky Rudd.
• Kurt Busch is the 11th different winner in 16 races this season.
• This is Kurt Busch’s sixth consecutive finish of 14th or better.
• Kurt Busch is the seventh different race winner in the past seven Infineon races.
• This is Kurt Busch’s first career Cup Series road course victory in 21 starts.
• This is Penske Racing’s 68th Cup Series victory and second in 2011.
• Jeff Gordon (second) has finished ninth or better in the past six Infineon races — the longest current streak. Gordon extended a 17-race streak of running at the finish.
• Carl Edwards (third) matched his career-best road course finish set at Watkins Glen (2009).
• Clint Bowyer (fourth) matched his career-best road course finish set at Infineon (2007, 2008). Bowyer has finished eighth or better in four of the past five races at Infineon.
• Marcos Ambrose (fifth) scored his sixth consecutive finish of sixth or better in his past six road course races.
• Joey Logano (sixth) scored his best finish and first top-10 in three races at Infineon and his first top-10 on a road course.
• Jimmie Johnson (seventh) has top-10 finishes in his past three Infineon races.
• Kevin Harvick (ninth) posted his sixth consecutive finish of 14th or better in 2011.
• Matt Kenseth (14th) scored his fourth consecutive top-15 finish.
• Tony Stewart (39th) scored his career-worst road course finish in 25 races. His previous worst finish on a road course was 28th (2006 at Infineon).
Kyle Busch played the role of gentleman today – moments after the race Kyle climbed out the #18, walked over to Kevin Harvick – shook his hand and told him “Good Race.”
credit Michael Myers / Queers4Gears - copyright 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011 – Sonoma, Ca. – by: Michael T. Myers
Craig Wadsworth prepares Meatball Subs at Infineon Raceway
If you worked at Michael Waltrip Racing and you didn’t like gay people – you’d better keep that to yourself or else you might be going hungry. Meet MWR team chef Craig Wadsworth who is out and proud at the racetrack.
Craig has been working in NASCAR for over 20 years and this marks his 10th year with Michael Waltrip. He started out driving the hauler but for the past three years Craig has kept the entire team well fed every weekend.
He cooks for 80 people on Friday and Saturday but the headcount climbs to over 120 people for Sunday’s race. Offering a mix of healthy food and yummy food – most folks on the team agree Craig’s hot wings are to die for. After our interview Craig offered me a fresh meatball sub that was delicious and is making this reported lethargic as I write this story! Talk about being in the right place at the right time – this “real” food was quite a treat compared to the school-cafeteria-food typically reserved for the media.
Craig has always been out in racing. “I was already out when I got here,” said Wadsworth. He began his career not far from Infineon Raceway in Northern California - before moving to the Carolinas to work in NASCAR. It may have been easier to be “out” in liberal California but Craig said it really wasn’t any different in Charlotte.
Asked is he has even been given a hard time for being gay, Craig told Queers4Gears, “I don’t have any problems at all – they all know it and nobody seems to mind.” His experience mirrors what I have found in my time around the garage.
Despite what “most gays” might think – NASCAR is not controlled by rednecks and at the end of the day, no one cares about your personal life…. as long as you do your job. (and that’s the way it should be)
Ty Norris, the Vice President and General Manager of MWR told Queers4Gears, “Michael Waltrip Racing is a reflection of all society. We are a welcoming workplace who cares only about the quality of people’s performance and Craig is an exemplary employee.”
As it turns out, NASCAR is sharing the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend with PRIDE. Craig says he plans to head into the city for PRIDE but that the early schedule at the race track will prevent him from spending too much time down there.
Craig is not alone at MWR – his partner Benito also works for the team. Bentio is Michael Waltrip’s personal assistant and drives his coach to the east coast races. Michael usually doesn’t send his coach this far west – so Benito did not get to make this trip.
Being out at a race track isn’t a big deal at all – do your job and people will respect you. Hey, that reminds me a lot of the way life should be. Maybe “regular” America could learn a lesson about respect and acceptance from NASCAR!
