Evidently it's as difficult for some drag-racing observers to understand why the sport doesn't tout its racial and gender diversity as it is for others to understand why it should.
 
Drag racing, and pleasantly so, never has bothered to point out the differences among its participants. After all, by definition, "diversity" means one doesn't have to point that out.
 
NASCAR, for all the things it does professionally and correctly, can't seem to develop an effective diversity program. Maybe it should take a clue from drag racing. By not emphasizing the differences between whites and minorities, men and women, old and young, rich and struggling, drag racing just offers itself and accepts whoever is qualified.

Evidently it's as difficult for some drag-racing observers to understand why the sport doesn't tout its racial and gender diversity as it is for others to understand why it should.
 
Drag racing, and pleasantly so, never has bothered to point out the differences among its participants. After all, by definition, "diversity" means one doesn't have to point that out.
 
NASCAR, for all the things it does professionally and correctly, can't seem to develop an effective diversity program. Maybe it should take a clue from drag racing. By not emphasizing the differences between whites and minorities, men and women, old and young, rich and struggling, drag racing just offers itself and accepts whoever is qualified. 
 
So it seemed a bit odd Tuesday during a teleconference when a reporter asked NHRA Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown why he has, in the journalist's words, "downplayed the whole cultural significance about your season" and asked if Brown, "Have you allowed yourself to think about what it could mean to the fans, and maybe . . . minorities who want to get into the sport?"
 
Answered Brown, "My family loves drag racing, and we are weekend warriors. And it really doesn't bother me or make a difference to me race, creed or color. We are all Americans.
 
"I think something that our sport of drag racing does well is that we don't look at somebody being different ethnic background. If you're a good racer, you're a good racer, no matter what color you are," he said.
 
"The thing about it, that's great. That's what our sport does," Brown said. "We have reached so many different cultures out here because so many people can relate to drag racing. And it will be huge, if it's a kid or a young adult or teenager out there that might look up to me as a hero or a mentor. And that's great, because I had my heroes and mentors, too.
 
"Like one of my heroes, that was Big Daddy (Don Garlits) -- and we had a local heroes Frank Manzo, Bruce Larson, Eddie Hill. Those were my heroes growing up as kids," the New Jersey native who makes his home at Brownsburg, Ind., said. "So (maybe) I can be that same deal and that same light, maybe for an inner city kid or whoever it may be. It could be a kid in the country. 

"If I can encourage some inner-city kids and some of my cousins and nephews and nieces, that's awesome," he said. "I want them to fulfill the dreams in their lives because I love the career that I'm in."
 
Brown said he thinks John Force's personal story from poverty to Funny Car success is plenty inspirational. He said it certainly inspired him.
 
"He used to live in a trailer home with his brothers and sisters, and he was a guy that used to drive logs on a tractor trailer. And now he's got a multi-million dollar empire driving Funny Cars. That story right there will get anybody motivated, because somebody like that that can do it, (somebody) that's a normal Joe Blow off the street, means that you can do it. And that's the way I look at myself."
 
Brown held up former Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Reggie Showers as an example. Showers, who like Brown is black but also is a double-amputee, earned respect for his ability.
 
Said Brown, "People see him as being a great Pro Stock bike racer because of his skill level, not because of what color he is or they think he's handicapped or this or that. He's a great racer. And that's one thing that drag racing brings out in all of us: that we are seen for who we are and the skills we have."
 
Maybe someday the casual observer will understand it. 

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