Dear NASCAR: What's Going On?

I have to say this: I am a little confused. First you tell the drivers and the fans that you are going back to basics. Then you tell the drivers you are not out to silence the drivers. Now you tell them to shut up.

Look, I get there are 43 critics out their telling you they don't like this and they don't like that on this new car. I will cut you some slack on that. I mean as fans we know this is the first full year of the new car and we can expect some  problems.

We can only hope that changes will be made.

But come on, these guys are sitting in these cars week-in and week-out, struggling to find a handle and the speed in these cars. Yes, some teams got it, and yes, some teams are still searching, but where else can these drivers go other than the trailer to voice there concerns?

The media is there outlet. Yes, the last few weeks there have been a lot of complaints, but obviously these drivers don't feel like they are being heard when they talk to you one-on-one.

You have hardcore fans who are leaving the sport because they are tired of watching their favorite drivers mind there Ps and Qs, and I don't blame them.

You want to keep your core base. Let these drivers drive and let them complain all they want.

Look, it's up to you to do something about the issues. Let these drivers run their mouths off all they want, bashing other drivers and themselves.

They will have no one other then themselves to blame for loss of interest in this sport. But don't censor them—don't you have enough to deal with? If you are going to allow drivers to have a voice, why are you telling them to shut up?

Another thing—when Danica Patrick won in Japan last month all this talk of women in motor sports was reignited. Which was great, but NASCAR still has its stigma of not many females being behind the wheel or in the garages.

When last week's lawsuit was revealed I was disappointed. NASCAR is not immune to the very things we scoffed at when the NBA was dealing with Isiah Thomas' legal troubles. 

If you read this lawsuit, it's absolutely unacceptable that these issues were not addressed.

We know there are things that are said and comments made and most of the time no offense is taken. But when it gets to the level this was reached, how could NASCAR officials not be aware? How could other officials turn a blind eye and ignore what was happening?

Say what you will about the amount she is looking for, or the timing, but these are serious allegations and can destroy the "clean" image NASCAR has worked so hard to build.

NASCAR needs to address the issue, not go around the issue and place blame on this woman. They need to have harassment classes and training so that if an official sees something they know what to do and who to go to.

I can bet they have things like this in place, but obviously something was missed. They need to face this issue head on and make it clear that this behavior is unacceptable, no matter what level of the circuit you are in.