Racing safety pioneer Bill Simpson said his defamation claim against NASCAR isn’t about what sanctioning body officials said following the death of Dale Earnhardt in the 2001 Daytona 500. It’s what NASCAR didn’t say. In a deposition taken Feb. 27, Simpson said NASCAR’s refusal to say that Earnhardt’s seat belt was installed incorrectly is what defamed him. NASCAR, filing for a summary judgment last week in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, said Simpson’s admission that NASCAR never said anything false should compel a ruling in its favor without the $8.5 million claim going to trial as scheduled Sept. 15. NASCAR also contends that it never mentioned Simpson by name and never said anything with malice. In the Simpson deposition, NASCAR attorney Robert Johnstone questioned him on a list of 22 statements provided by Horn as evidence that NASCAR defamed Simpson or invaded Simpson’s privacy.( Daytona Beach New Journal ), see past news on the lawsuit on my Lawsuits Page .(4-8-2003)
