NASCAR Protest planned by organization

The group purportedly represents minority fans.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
An organization calling itself the National Association for Minority Race Fans has set up a web site and is apparently planning protests at some NASCAR Nextel Cup races before the end of the season.
The NAMRF has made inquiries to officials in Hampton, Ga., the home of Atlanta Motor Speedway, about the possibility of staging a protest during the week of the Oct. 31 Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500. There were also indications the group might hold a protest before the EA Sports 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.
Bud Smith, chief of police in Hampton, confirmed the NAMRF had contacted the city but said a permit for such a protest would not be necessary. He said the organization would only need to register with the city.
The web site, www.namrf.com, is currently for members only but will be opened to the public on Oct. 1. The home page features a clock counting down to its public opening at midnight Thursday. Behind the clock is what is described on the site as a mission statement which says the group's purpose is to "create a safe race track environment while pursuing the political, social and economic equality of minority groups and citizens who desire to enjoy NASCAR events without racial bigotry."
"We strive to remove the barriers of racial discrimination permitted by NASCAR, its sponsors and race teams," it said.
The home page also includes images of a Confederate flag, a person wearing a white hood and robe and a burning cross with a car in the background, all with titles like "Entitled to Damages" and "What We're Up Against" superimposed over them.
Rumors
There is also mention of a documentary film and NASCAR officials said Monday a film crew has shown up unannounced at the corporate headquarters of several team sponsors, asking to speak with company officials.
A newspaper in Clayton County, Ga., carried a story last week about the planned protest at Atlanta Motor Speedway and quoted a Dallas attorney, Phillip W. Offill Jr., as the group's spokesman. A call to Offill by The Associated Press on Monday was not returned.
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Monday the NAMRF has not contacted the stock car sanctioning organization, which is currently involved in two major efforts to foster diversity in the sport.
"NASCAR represents 75 million fans from all across America and we don't think that fan base can be painted with any one broad brush," Poston said. "We think we have shown that we want to make the sport more diverse off and on the track and we are ready and willing to speak to anyone on the issue of diversity."