Why Did Kyle Larson Get Fired From NASCAR? Who Saved His Career?
NASCAR
Before signing with Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Larson was with Chip Ganassi Racing for nearly 6 years.
However, his time with CGR ended on a sour note, as he was fired for using a racial slur during a virtual race. Moreover, NASCAR also fired him, before he returned to racing with HMS.
Larson’s words got him fired
During the 2020 season, Larson was caught saying the N-word during a virtual race. During an iRacing event, he seemingly lost communication with his spotter, as he was heard saying, “You can't hear me?... Hey N***.” That incident got him fired from both CGR and NASCAR. Almost all sponsors dropped him as well.
Chip Ganassi’s statements
"After much consideration, Chip Ganassi Racing has determined that it will end its relationship with driver Kyle Larson… As we said before, the comments that Kyle made were both offensive and unacceptable, especially given the values of our organization.”
“I made a mistake, said the word that should never, ever be said… There is no excuse for that. I wasn't raised that way. It is just an awful thing to say. I feel very sorry for my family, my friends, my partners, the NASCAR community, and especially the African American community… I just want to let you all know how sorry I am, and I hope everyone is staying safe during these crazy times."
Larson’s redemption
After getting fired, he went through rehabilitation and later applied for reinstatement, which NASCAR granted. Later, in October 2020, HMS signed Larson on a multi-year deal. In 2021, he redeemed himself, as he won the Cup Series for the first time in his career.
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