Human rights and civil liberties
Denny Hamlin (11) navigates the infield course as he leads in the early laps of the NASCAR Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
AUTO RACING GLANCE: Hamlin tries for history at Daytona 500

By The Associated Press Feb. 10, 2021 03:05 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2019, file photo, team owner Rick Hendrick laughs on pit road during qualifying for the Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Kyle Larson was banished from NASCAR for all but the first month of his last season, his punishment for using a racial slur while racing online. Rick Hendrick felt the driver paid his penalty and deserved a second chance, one that begins with the season-opening Daytona 500. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Larson grateful for 2nd chance in NASCAR after racial slur

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 08, 2021 04:51 PM EST

FILE - NASCAR driver Tony Stewart takes a ride on Jeff Gordon's race car in the pit during the Nextel Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, in this Wednesday, June 6, 2007, file photo. Tony Stewart wants to set the record straight about two misconstrued recent business decisions. Fans have been critical of Stewart since the Truck Series was dropped from Eldora Speedway and because he didn't sign Kyle Larson to his NASCAR team. Stewart is adamant that he tried to sign Larson but couldn't get partner approval on the driver suspended for using a racial slur. And he insists he dropped NASCAR after he felt slighted that Bristol Motor Speedway was given a Cup race on dirt. (Teesha McClam/Dayton Daily News via AP, File)
Column: Stewart balances personal bliss, professional angst

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 18, 2021 03:47 PM EST

Army veteran Michael McKinney, is shown in a Dec. 6, 2020 booking photo released by the Polk County Jail in Des Moines, Iowa. McKinney is charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a 15-year-old Black girl who was arguing with supporters of the president at a Trump rally, a case authorities have not detailed to the public. (Polk County Jail via AP)
White Army vet charged in shooting Black girl at Trump rally

By Ryan J. Foley Jan. 15, 2021 12:58 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2019 file photo, actress Lesley Manville appears at the premiere of the film "Maleficent Mistress of Evil" in London. The Queen's New Year honors list was announced Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Actress Lesley Manville, an Oscar nominee for “Phantom Thread,” was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE. Actor Toby Jones, whose credits include Dobby in the “Harry Potter” movies, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire or OBE, as was writer Jed Mercurio, creator of gripping TV detective series “Line of Duty.” (Photo by Grant Pollard/Invision/AP, File)
Speedy Sir: Lewis Hamilton knighted in year-end royal honors

By Jill Lawless Dec. 30, 2020 05:30 PM EST

FILE - Naomi Osaka, of Japan, wears a protective mask due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, featuring the name "George Floyd", while arriving on court to face Shelby Rogers, of the United States, during the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York, in this Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, file photo. In a most unusual year already thrown into chaos by the coronavirus pandemic, many athletes took unprecedented steps when a nationwide reckoning on race spilled into the streets of American cities after the killing of Floyd, a Black man, while in Minneapolis police custody. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Athletes act: Stars rise up against racial injustice in 2020

By Cliff Brunt Dec. 29, 2020 01:41 PM EST

CORRECTS NAME In this undated photo supplied by Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, director of the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), Ahmed holds his drawing of Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton's racing car with his appeal for help in saving his father from execution. The 11-year old Ahmed is son of a Bahraini man on death row and at risk of imminent execution in Bahrain. BIRD has received letters from alleged torture victims in Bahrain, with pleas for seven-time F1 champion Hamilton to help political prisoners in Bahrain. (Photo by mother of Ahmed/BIRD via AP)
F1 star Hamilton vows to fight to improve human rights

By Jerome Pugmire Dec. 12, 2020 03:17 PM EST

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain participates in a media conference prior to the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (Mario Renzi, Pool via AP)
Hamilton praised for urging F1 to help improve human rights

By Jerome Pugmire Nov. 27, 2020 02:26 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb, 8, 2020, file photo, Kyle Larson climbs into his car as he gets ready for a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Despite being suspended for six months for the use of a racial slur, Kyle Larson remains a popular figure in dirt track racing. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Larson still popular on dirt tracks, despite racial slur

By Steve Reed Nov. 10, 2020 03:25 PM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, April 16, 2017 file photo, Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland, foreground left, leads at the start of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix, at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. Saudi Arabia says it will host a Formula One race starting next year. The kingdom says on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, it will host the race in November 2021 in the Red Sea city of Jiddah. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
Saudi Arabia to host Formula One race in 2021 in Jiddah

By Aya Batrawy Nov. 05, 2020 09:45 AM EST

Urban Youth Racing School founder Anthony Martin, left, and his wife Michelle Martin pose for a photo at the school, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, in Philadelphia. The school has made it its mission to introduce inner-city youngsters, most of them black, to the motorsports world. (AP Photo/Dan Gelston)
Racing school for minorities extends olive branch to Larson

By Dan Gelston Nov. 04, 2020 11:18 AM EST

A voter drops off their ballot on Election Day outside State Farm Stadium early, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Voting, activism replace practice, games in US sports world

By Howard Fendrich Nov. 03, 2020 06:43 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb, 8, 2020, file photo, Kyle Larson climbs into his car as he gets ready for a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Larson will be back in NASCAR next season driving the flagship No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Larson signed a multi-year contract Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2020, with Hendrick that ended his seven-month banishment from NASCAR for using a racial slur while playing an online racing game. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Hendrick hires banished Kyle Larson to drive flagship No. 5

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 28, 2020 11:46 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, file photo, Kyle Larson greets fans before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Larson has been working behind the scenes to educate himself on racial issues since his firing from NASCAR for using a racial slur. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Kyle Larson reinstated to compete in NASCAR in 2021

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 19, 2020 04:47 PM EDT

The stands on the backstretch are empty during the NASCAR Truck series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Talladega, Ala.. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
NASCAR focused on playoffs upon return to Talladega

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 03, 2020 03:44 PM EDT

Black Lives Matter protesters and counter protesters clash in Yorba Linda, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Police eventually declared the event an unlawful gathering and cleared the streets near Yorba Linda and Imperial. Authorities said people were struck by a car and injured during a Black Lives Matter protest and counter-protest about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Orange County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun says the injured were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the driver was detained. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)
California prosecutor: Driver tried to kill Trump supporters

By Brian Melley Sep. 29, 2020 08:34 PM EDT

Ross Chastain is introduced to the crowd before the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Chastain snags Ganassi Cup ride in busy NASCAR free agency

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 21, 2020 08:26 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain participates in a media conference prior to the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. (Florent Gooden, Pool via AP)
NASCAR races, Wallace says fight for racial equality goes on

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 28, 2020 02:40 PM EDT

Buffalo Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott runs practice form the middle of the field with a mask on during the second day of training camp opened to the media at ADPRO Sports Training Center's outdoor field in Orchard Park, N.Y., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. P (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News via AP, Pool)
The Latest: Tennessee cancels practice because of virus

By The Associated Press Aug. 28, 2020 09:49 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain participates in a media conference prior to the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. (Florent Gooden, Pool via AP)
Hamilton won't boycott F1 race amid racism protests in US

By Jerome Pugmire Aug. 27, 2020 12:54 PM EDT