NASCAR Sued for Racial Discrimination: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

NASCAR is facing a $500 million lawsuit from a man who claimed the sport refused to work with him and has actively worked to keep African-Americans from participating.

Terrance Cox III, the CEO of Diversity Motorsports, filed the suit in court Monday, per Ahiza Garcia of CNN.

"In 2016, motorsports remain the most racially segregated sport in the United States," Cox said in his complaint. "[NASCAR has] been complicit in, and supportive of, the racially discriminatory environment that virtually excludes African-Americans from meaningful participation in motorsports racing in the United States."

NASCAR's senior circuit, the Sprint Cup Series, does not currently feature any full-time African-American drivers. Its sister circuit, the Xfinity Series, has one.

Per Garcia, NASCAR has denied the claims made in the suit, saying the organization "embraces all individuals interested and involved in our sport, whether as partners, fans, competitors or employees, and there is no merit to this lawsuit."

It plans on filing a countersuit against Cox for defamation.

African-American participation in motorsports, specifically NASCAR, has been scant throughout history. In 2013, Darrell Wallace Jr. became the first black man to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race in 50 years when he brought home a truck series event.

"This means everything," Wallace told reporters then. "This is an emotional win for me, especially doing it in Wendell Scott's backyard. I love coming here to Martinsville; it's always good to me. It finally paid off. I think it's my third trip here. I love coming here. The fans are great here."

Wallace, 22, currently races in the Xfinity series. 

“There’s nobody (of color) in the stands. There’s a few on the pit crews and in the office there are some,” Wallace said in a 2015 interview with Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. “It’s not enough to finally say the sport is changing. It’s going in the right direction. You just have to keep getting after it.”

Wallace and Wendell Scott are the only two African-Americans to win in NASCAR's history. Scott's 1963 win came in the Grand National series, then NASCAR's top outfit.

No black driver has ever participated in the Daytona 500, the sport's premier event. There have only been three African-American drivers to compete in the Sprint Cup series.

According to Garcia, Cox said he founded  Diversity Motorsports to increase the African-American presence in NASCAR but has been met with resistance. He names 19 other defendants in the suit, including major teams Richard Petty Motorsports, Team Penske, Hendrick Motorsports and Chip Ganassi Racing.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.