Speed Channel suspends pit reporter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A pit reporter for Speed Channel's broadcasts of
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races has been suspended for this
weekend's race at Martinsville after making on-air comments the network
felt were racially insensitive.

"Ray Dunlap has been suspended for one race for making comments on-air
that the company found inappropriate," Speed vice president for media
relations Erik Arneson said Thursday.

The comments were made during Dunlap's appearance on the Speed Channel
show "Trading Paint" that was taped last week.

During a discussion with Nextel Cup driver Michael Waltrip about
NASCAR's efforts to expand its fan base among minorities, Dunlap took
issue with a claim that 10 percent of NASCAR fans are Hispanic and made
some jokes on the topic. A tape or transcript of the exchange was not
immediately available Thursday and Speed Channel declined to say
exactly what Dunlap said.

Dunlap told The Charlotte Observer he was sorry for the remarks.

"As a guest on 'Trading Paint,' you try to be edgy, controversial and
entertaining," he said. "In a failed attempt at humor, I obviously
crossed the line between funny and insensitive. For that, I am deeply
sorry."

A NASCAR spokesman said Dunlap's comments were disappointing and do not
reflect the sanctioning body's values.

Last week, Fox Sports fired baseball broadcaster Steve Lyons for making
a racially insensitive comment about colleague Lou Piniella's Hispanic
heritage.

Fox owns the Charlotte-based Speed Channel.

On Monday, former Miami player Lamar Thomas lost his TV analyst job
with Comcast Sports SouthEast because of comments he made during a
sideline-clearing brawl involving the Miami and Florida International.