During yesterday’s iRacing Pro Series event, NASCAR driver Kyle Larson, who apparently didn’t realize he was in a live-stream, was heard using a racial slur.
The clip was heard by thousands of racing fans who were watching the race on Twitch, including other professional drivers who appeared to be pretty shocked by his comment.
As of right now, neither Kyle nor NASCAR addressed the situation, but you can imagine some pretty hefty discipline is going to come down on Kyle, and deservedly so.
Not to mention all the sponsors that are jumping ship as we speak.
UPDATE: Kyle has been suspended indefinitely.
NASCAR is however aware of the situation:
NASCAR response to questions about Kyle Larson: “NASCAR is aware of insensitive language used by a driver during an iRacing event on Sunday, and is currently gathering more information.” @NASCARONFOX
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 13, 2020
And not only is the use of the word abhorrent in itself, NASCAR and its fans have worked hard to battle the stereotype that the sport is only for a bunch of racist rednecks, and this kind of shit just goes to further that perception.
Kyle is free to ruin his own career, but this sets the entire sport back, and the fans know that too.
I think one of the worst parts about the Kyle Larson situation is that it reinforces stereotypes about the sport. People associate NASCAR with rednecks and rednecks with racism.
Larson’s slur reinforces an image that NASCAR has worked so hard to get rid of.#NASCAR
— Jake Holley (@JakeHolleyMedia) April 13, 2020
After decades of NASCAR trying to break the redneck stereotype…. Kyle Larson says the N word today over iRacing stream. Pathetic.
May become the first driver to lose their job via a video game. #ByeByeSponsors
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) April 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/Kim661_/status/1249539587602436096
Kyle Larson is a total idiot and I’m so disappointed in his actions. This is the kind of stuff that sets NASCAR back and makes it that much harder to reach new fans and sponsors. Horrible timing too when NASCAR actually had solid momentum with the iRacing races
— travis (@travisparks24) April 13, 2020
