Kyle Larson is hoping a second chance will wipe away a lasting impression.
The back story has been well-documented. Larson was one of the most-talented and promising drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. A six-time Cup Series winner, Larson was living up to his reputation as a star of the new generation.
But last spring on Easter Sunday, his entire career was unraveled during a sim racing broadcast on TwitchTV when Larson uttered a racial slur.
Social media was flooded with the clip of Larson’s comment and the fallout came quickly.
One by one, Larson’s sponsors began disassociating their companies from him, NASCAR suspended the then 27-year-old driver and he was eventually fired by team owner Chip Ganassi.
Instead of being remembered as a great race driver with a bright future, his life and career had been tarnished by one ugly word. He needed to rehabilitate his character — and his career.
Larson put his Mooresville, N.C., house on the market and went dirt-track racing. What resulted was one of the most prolific seasons on record.
Larson won 46 features racing winged sprint cars, midgets, Silver Crown machines and a dirt late model. Twelve of those triumphs came with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series, including the $50,000-to-win Capitani Classic at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway.
Larson, whose mother is Asian American, was rediscovering himself as a racer while also making strides behind the scenes to become a better man.
He volunteered with The Sanneh Foundation in Minnesota and worked with the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia.
In October, Larson took to social media and took full responsibility for his actions that led to his suspension by posting a lengthy well-thought-out letter. That was followed by appearances on several television programs, including “CBS This Morning” where he said: “I know deep down I’m not a racist. I said a racist word and I can fully understand why people would label me a racist.”
On Oct. 19, Larson was reinstated to NASCAR. The terms of his reinstatement included speaking engagements that will be spread out through 2023. He’ll also be required to take additional training and engagement classes while continuing to work with the Urban Youth Racing School and Rev Racing.
Meanwhile, the rumors that Larson would replace retiring seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson with Hendrick Motorsports came to fruition. On Oct. 28, Larson was named to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, beginning with the Feb. 14 Daytona 500.
Larson gets a second chance, and he is hopeful the new opportunity will help him to wipe away the lasting impression that may have been formed last April.
“The thing that impressed me so much about Kyle was his heart and the things he was doing above and beyond what he was asked to do and traveling around the country on his own,” team owner Rick Hendrick said. “To me, I had to get comfortable with his heart and that he was really sincere and he was not afraid to tell everybody that was a terrible thing, ‘I’m sorry I did it and I’m going to make it right. I’m not just going to work while I’m getting reinstated, I’m going to carry on and build on it as time goes on.’
“I’m really proud of what he’s done and what he’s doing.”
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