SPEED's Dunlap suspended one race

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- 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 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.