[MikeNoun]

Ahhh...here we go...the modern day marketing machine. Combine a webpage, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and the next thing you know, you're a legend in your own mind.

03/07/13 - ‘First and only African-American female licensed by NASCAR’ has been overstating claims

Over the past year, Tia Norfleet has gotten significant publicity centered around being the only licensed African-American female NASCAR driver.

While the licensing part may be true -- Norfleet is licensed to participate in bottom tier races -- it's overstated at best and inaccurate at worst. According to this report from the New York Times, Norfleet has bought a license to compete at local and regional events -- licenses that are not regulated. However, she hasn't earned NASCAR approval to move up to one of its national touring series. Why? well, in her only sanctioned start last August she completed one lap before parking her car.

On her website, her racing schedule lists the 2013 Nationwide Series schedule, and there are pictures of her in a firesuit with the Nationwide Series logo. That's NASCAR's second-tier series. A series she obviously hasn't been approved for. NASCAR officials are uneasy over Norfleet's claims.

When Norfleet was contacted by the Times, she said she raced in nonsanctioned races "all the time." That's the equivalent response of calling yourself a professional baseball player and playing weekly in a Tuesday night beer league. It's also entirely possible there are other African-American women drivers competing at local events around the country. They just don't have a marketing campaign.

At first glance, her stats coming up through racing series seem impressive; she claims 37 wins in 52 starts. But this ESPNW article says those achievements were in a drag racing series.

Nascar officials said they were also concerned with questions about Norfleet’s legal record. Public records indicate that Tia Norfleet’s full name is Shauntia Latrice Norfleet, and that she has a criminal record in Virginia and Georgia. The charges on her criminal record include assault and drug related offenses.

Her father Bobby Norfleet (referred to as a race car legend by the Washington Post), made one start in NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series in 2000, and finished 32nd after starting 33rd and last.