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An organization calling itself the National Association for Minority Race Fans has set up a Web site and apparently is planning protests at some 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 group 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 for members only but will be opened to the public at midnight tonight. The site's mission statement says the group's purpose is to "create a safe race track environment while pursuing the political, social and economic quality 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.
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said Monday the NAMRF has not contacted the stock car sanctioning organization, which is involved in two major efforts to foster diversity in the sport.
BUSCH'S CHASE: With eight races remaining in NASCAR's Chase for the Championship, Kurt Busch trails Jeff Gordon by a point after Busch's fifth-place finish Sunday at Dover International Speedway.
Busch is the only driver among the 10 eligible for the Nextel Cup championship who has scored top-five finishes in each of the first two Chase races. It also was his eighth consecutive top-15 finish.
"It was a great run for us," Busch said of his finish at Dover. "It's just a good day for us to finish where we did and be second in points. It's a great start to our chase for the cup."
MAKING A RUN: Mark Martin was the runnerup at Dover, the fourth time this season he has finished second.
His finish moved him into a tie for fourth in the Chase, which makes him a serious title contender, but Martin is tired of runnerup finishes. And, at 45, he's probably tiring of questions about whether he has contemplated retirement.
"About the only way I would consider retiring is if I finished 40th in the points," Martin said. "It's a good thing to be challenging to win. We're sorting some things out, but it's not retirement."