CONCORD, N.C. — All of Kyle Larson’s major NASCAR sponsors have ended their respective sponsorship agreements with the driver following Larson’s use of a racial slur during an iRacing stream Sunday evening.
Credit One Bank, which has been a sponsor of Larson since 2017, revealed the news in a statement on Twitter Monday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the company denounced Larson’s use of a racial slur but did not end its sponsorship program.
“As stated earlier, Credit One Bank denounces the highly offensive language used by Kyle Larson during Sunday’s iRacing event,” the company said in a statement posted to Twitter. “In addition to the quick actions taken by NASCAR and Chip Ganassi Racing, Credit One Bank is terminating its sponsorship of Kyle Larson.”
McDonald’s announced its sponsorship termination shortly after Credit One Bank.
“We were extremely disappointed and appalled to hear about this incident,” McDonald’s USA officials said in a statement. “The comments made by Kyle Larson are insensitive, offensive and not reflective of our inclusive values and will not be tolerated. McDonald’s is taking immediate action to terminate the relationship with Larson.”
The statements from each company specifically stated they were terminating their relationships with Larson, potentially opening the door for both to stay with Chip Ganassi Racing should the team select a different driver.
Lucas Oil, which sponsored Larson during his race-winning effort in the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals in January, has also suspended its sponsorship arrangement with him.
“Due to the offensive language used by NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson during Sunday night’s iRacing event, Lucas Oil is indefinitely suspending its sponsorship with him, effective immediately,” Lucas Oil officials said in a statement. “Lucas Oil has a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of such harmful language and we stand by the actions taken by iRacing, NASCAR and the Chip Ganassi Racing team.”
Clover and First Data, both of which are owned by parent company Fiserv, were the last of Larson’s major NASCAR Cup Series sponsors to terminate their contract with him.
“We denounce the language used during Sunday’s iRacing event,” company officials said in a statement. “We support the actions taken today by NASCAR and the Chip Ganassi Racing Team, and are terminating our sponsorship of Kyle Larson.”
One company, Plan B Sales, has stuck by Larson and company officials said in a statement Monday they would continue to support him.
“Although we do not condone or appreciate the slur Kyle used during his iRacing event last night, at the same time we know he is an awesome young man that made a mistake and we are going to stand behind him 100 percent and help any way we can,” company officials said in a statement Monday.
The action taken by Credit One Bank, McDonald’s, First Data/Clover and Lucas Oil were the latest dominos to fall after Larson’s improper comments on Sunday night.
NASCAR suspended Larson indefinitely and ordered him to take part in sensitivity classes and Chip Ganassi Racing suspended the driver without pay. Chevrolet has also suspended its relationship with Larson, which could also affect Larson’s World of Outlaws sprint car team, which carries sponsorship from Chevrolet Accessories.
iRacing has also suspended Larson from its service indefinitely.
Larson has since apologized for his actions, acknowledging that he, “made a mistake.”