KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Kyle Larson, who lost his NASCAR ride with Chip Ganassi Racing last month following his use of a racial slur during an iRacing stream, has been invited to compete with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series on Friday night at Knoxville Raceway.
A World of Outlaws spokesperson confirmed to SPEED SPORT that Larson was issued an invite for the event at the black-dirt Marion County Fairgrounds half-mile oval and that the Elk Grove, Calif., native has indicated his intention to compete.
The spokesperson also confirmed Larson has completed his required sensitivity training “to our satisfaction” and “has been cleared” to compete with the Outlaws.
Larson later confirmed to Associated Press reporter Jenna Fryer that he does intend to compete at Knoxville.
Larson entered all three World of Outlaws features that have been completed so far this season, racing during the DIRTcar Nationals tripleheader at Florida’s Volusia Speedway Park in February while driving Paul Silva’s familiar No. 57 sprint car.
He made two of the three main events, with a best finish of 16th on Feb. 9.
Perhaps Larson’s most notable Knoxville Raceway accomplishment came during the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals in 2017, when he chased eventual winner Donny Schatz to the final corner and earned his career-best second-place finish in sprint car racing’s most prestigious event.
He’ll look to finish one spot better on Friday night, chasing his ninth career win with The Greatest Show on Dirt.
Larson’s eponymous team, Kyle Larson Racing, will also be in action during the World of Outlaws Invitational presented by McKay Group with Nationwide Insurance, fielding a car for full-time WoO competitor Carson Macedo.
Macedo confirmed to SPEED SPORT via text on Tuesday that he would be competing at Knoxville and that there are no changes to his plans for the season.
The Lemoore, Calif., young gun and reigning WoO Rookie of the Year currently ranks fifth in points, 26 behind series leader and defending champion Brad Sweet.
Friday’s World of Outlaws Invitational can be streamed live on DIRTvision starting at 7 p.m. ET.