NASCAR has up and down week

It began on Wednesday with the announcement of a lawsuit against NASCAR by a former employee. Former Nationwide Series official Mauricia Grant sued NASCAR for $225 million, claiming 23 incidents of sexual harassment and 34 incidents of racial and gender discrimination.

My problem is that, according to NASCAR CEO Brian France, at no time during her employment with NASCAR does it appear that she made an official complaint. If you never complain about the problem to management, then you haven't given them a chance to investigate and correct any problems. Grant had the responsibility to report the incidents immediately, particularly if they were happening on an ongoing basis.

She claims that she did make complaints all the way up to Nationwide Series director Joe Balash, and that after the complaint she was reprimanded for poor performance and two months later fired.

No matter what the outcome of the lawsuit, the publicity can't be good for NASCAR's image. They have been working for years to get rid of the "good old boys" characterization of the sport and it has been working.

Then on Sunday, NASCAR's superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr., who hadn't won since May 2006, finally found his way to Victory Lane.

"Junior" used every fuel-saving trick in his repertoire to go the final 55 laps on one tank of gas. His No.88 Chevrolet sputtered on the final lap, but he made it to the checkered flag for the win. Earnhardt benefited from a Patrick Carpentier spin on the final lap that slowed the field and allowed him to coast to the finish line.

"We came in on that last stop and we were going to be about six laps short, and I saved six laps of gas," said Earnhardt.

"If we run out, we're going to finish 25th and if we pit we're going to finish 25th," said crew chief Tony Eury Jr.

So after all the problems at the beginning of the week, NASCAR's Father's Day race ended on a high note.

"It means a lot to me to do well on Father's Day," said Earnhardt Jr. "It's a special day for my family...I know I can't tell my father happy Father's Day but I get the opportunity to wish it upon all of the other fathers out there."