#51- Jeremy Clements, a driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR for violating the sanctioning bodys Code of Conduct. On Feb. 23 at Daytona International Speedway, Clements was found to have violated Sections 7-5 (NASCARs 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 ODonnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. ‘NASCAR has a Code of Conduct thats explicitly spelled out in the 2013 NASCAR Rule Book. We fully expect our entire industry to adhere to that Code.”(NASCAR)(2-27-2013) UPDATE: The following statement has been issued by Jeremy Clements regarding his NASCAR suspension: ‘I apologize and regret what I said to the NASCAR writer and to NASCAR, my sponsors, my fans, and my team. NASCAR has a Code of Conduct that everyone must follow and I unintentionally violated that code. I will not get into specifics of what I said but my comment to the writer was in no way meant to be disrespectful or insensitive to anyone or to be detrimental to NASCAR or the NASCAR Nationwide Series. I will do what I need to do in order to atone for my error in judgment.”( Jeremy Clements Racing )(2-27-2013) UPDATE 2: Nationwide Series driver Jeremy Clements was indefinitely suspended on Wednesday for using a racial slur in an interview with a writer at Daytona International Speedway, a source told ESPN.com. NASCAR officials would not verify or discuss what Clements said to earn the suspension, only that it was an ‘intolerable and insensitive remark” and violated the sanctioning bodys Code of Conduct for actions detrimental to stock car racing. Officials did verify that the remarks came during the course of a Feb. 23 interview. That was the same day as the Nationwide opener at DIS. The rule book prohibits ‘public statement” that criticizes, ridicules or otherwise disparages another person based on race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age or handicapping condition.( ESPN )(2-27-2012) UPDATE 3: Nationwide Series driver Jeremy Clements explained in detail Thursday exactly how he finds himself suspended indefinitely from NASCAR competition. In a one-on-one interview with ESPN, Clements would not verbalize the specific comments he made, but when pressed for clarity about whether or not it was racial, he paused. Asked again, ‘Was it racial or not? Maybe not in context, but in term?” Clements replied: ‘Correct.” ‘When you say ‘racial remark, it wasnt used to describe anybody or anything’ Clements said. ‘So thats all Im going to say to that. And it really wasnt. I was describing racing, and the word I used was incorrect and I shouldnt have said it. It shouldnt be used at all.” Clements said he only said the word once. The remarks, he said, were made Saturday following the drivers meeting at Daytona International Speedway. The remark lands Clements in NASCAR suspension for a minimum of two races, he said. He also said he must undergo some sort of speech advisement, the details of which he did not have at the time of the interview. Clements admitted his mistake and hes hurting. His emotions ‘are pretty bad. Im pretty hurt, for sure’ he said. ‘Ive never gotten into trouble with NASCAR. Not one time. Were just a small family team, just trying to survive and run the whole season. This is our third full season. And I was supposed to be on a plane right now going to Phoenix to race. And then this hit me late [Wednesday] afternoon. Ive known about it since Sunday night, when I got a phone call. But I did not think it was going to be like this. I just thought Id be fined like most normal guys have been fined. But not suspended for this. But Im going to do what they want me to do so I can get back in the car as soon as possible. I think its a little harsh, but its their rules. Its their game.”(see more details at ESPN )
