Jeremy Clements
Photo – Getty Images
NASCAR is just like any other sport where there are rules during the course of competition as well as a Code of Conduct that the drivers must adhere to, whether on or off the track. Any infraction of any rule can and usually will incur some kind of penalty, monetary or otherwise.
There have been many drivers suspended over the years for their behavior, including suspensions for alcohol offenses and failed drug tests. Most of these offenses bring only a small penalty, but being caught in violation of NASCAR’s drug policy, brings an indefinite suspension.
Jeremy Clements became the first driver of the year to be suspended indefinitely. However, his suspension wasn’t for a violation of the drug policy but rather for violating NASCAR’s Code of Conduct.
Jeremy Clements refused to reveal the inappropriate word used during an interview with ESPN. But when asked for more information…
“Was it racial or not? Maybe not in context, but in term?”
Clements replied: “Correct.”
“When you say ‘racial’ remark, it wasn’t used to describe anybody or anything,” Clements told ESPN. “So that’s all I’m going to say to that. And it really wasn’t. I was describing racing, and the word I used was incorrect and I shouldn’t have said it. It shouldn’t be used at all”
However, Marty Beckerman, the MTV reporter involved in the incident did reveal more about what occurred:
Beckerman said he was at Daytona International Speedway to do “a fish-out-of-water story about going to NASCAR and having a wild, crazy weekend.”
“And, we were doing interviews with many of the drivers, and I was on the way to another interview — we were looking for (driver) Johanna Long’s trailer — and the NASCAR publicist called Mr. Clements over and asked him for help finding her,” Beckerman said.
“He [Clements] walked us toward where she was, and on the way over, I explained to him that ‘Guy Code’ (the name of Beckerman’s blog) is rules for guys, how you treat your friends, how you treat your ladies, things like that. I was there to do a humor piece, so I asked him what would be ‘Guy Code’ for race car drivers, and he blurted out [a phrase that used the n-word].”
After the indefinite suspension was issued by NASCAR, Clements issued a public apology stating…
“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.”
To be considered for reinstatement, Jeremy Clements will have to go through a program that NASCAR will set up specifically for Clements’ situation.
Even if he is allowed to return before the season is over, he may be searching for sponsors and possibly a ride. Sponsors and teams frown upon drivers whose behavior is inappropriate. Many drivers have lost sponsors and rides before because of inappropriate behavior. A prime example of a driver losing a sponsor is Kyle Busch, who actions during the Camping World Truck race at Texas Motor Speedway at the end of the 2011 season cost him M&Ms sponsorship for the final two races of the season. Busch was lucky to only loose M&Ms for two races.
In an era where rides and sponsorship are both limited, any misstep like this can sink a driver’s career for a long time, possibly even ending their career. If and when Clements is finally allowed to return to competition, he will have to be on his best behavior for a long time. If he is lucky, his team will still have space for him and hopefully, sponsors will still want to sponsor him. If and when NASCAR lets him return to competition, it will be interesting to see how the remainder of Jeremy Clements career unfolds.
