Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson both said drivers' only concern with race is the one that takes place each Sunday. Credit: Autostock

Drivers not surprised about Dateline failure

SMI's Bruton Smith says track officials will be more watchful

JUSTIN, Texas -- On Friday morning, Jimmie Johnson had no idea about the swirling controversy concerning Dateline NBC's trip to Martinsville Speedway last weekend to gauge NASCAR fans' tolerance to Arab-Americans.

Martinsville Speedway was one of multiple targeted locations by the NBC television show. Credit: Autostock

RELATEDS NBC News' attempt to incite anti-Muslim sentiments at Martinsville riled up the wrong people, says B. Duane Cross.  •   Complete story, click here NASCAR's governing body called a network television news magazine "outrageous" on Wednesday, saying it tried to provoke anti-Muslim reactions from spectators at last week's race for a story about growing U.S. sentiment against Islam.  •   Complete story, click here

When he found out the network had followed two fans that appeared to be Arab-Americans throughout the weekend -- and that no incidents took place -- he was proud of his sport and its fans.

"Perfect," he said. "There's no doubt that there's a stigma or a labeling that our sport's had and based on what you just told me, I'm happy to see that it's wrong.

"When you're in the sport and living it, you know that it's wrong."

The television news magazine confirmed to NASCAR it was sending Muslim-looking men to a race, along with a camera crew to film fans' reactions. The NBC crew was "apparently on site in Martinsville, Va., walked around and no one bothered them," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Johnson isn't surprised.

"I'm not familiar with the perception of fans," he said. "I just know from working in the sport that it doesn't matter what nationality, what race. It's a job. It's a sport. It's where we work. I don't think the labeling exists. It's maybe what people outside of our sport think that it is."

Chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc. Bruton Smith's reaction wasn't as politically correct.

"If this is really true and NBC has anything to do with that, I question the mentality of that," he said. "They're creating news? I thought they were supposed to report it.

"We're going to be very watchful to see that things are done properly."

Kasey Kahne was more surprised at NBC's actions.

"I don't really understand why they would do that," Kahne said. "That's different to me."

Kahne says, at least for him, nationality isn't an issue any time during a race weekend.

"I'll take pictures with anybody and have a good time with anybody that's here," he said. "If they're supporting our series, they're part of NASCAR and I think it's great that we have so many different types of people following the sport.

"They know why they're there and they're there to have a good time."

There is, however, one case that Johnson joked would be sure to start a confrontation.

"If they went and harassed a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan wearing a Jeff Gordon T-shirt," Johnson said, "there'd be a fight."