Kyle Larson has officially been cleared to get behind the wheel again.
It’s been over six months since NASCAR driver Kyle Larson was fired from Chip Ganassi Racing and indefinitely suspended from NASCAR after using a racial slur on a live-streamed iRacing event. Kyle was required to undergo sensitivity training as a condition to coming back to racing, however NASCAR has made it clear that he have to continue to work towards diversity in the sport for the next few years.
He’ll be required to do several speaking engagements, take further training and engagement classes through 2023, and continue his work as a mentor with the Urban Youth Racing School and Rev Racing.
NASCAR released the following in a statement today:
“NASCAR continues to prioritize diversity and inclusion across our sport. Kyle Larson has fulfilled the requirements set by NASCAR, and has taken several voluntary measures, to better educate himself so that he can use his platform to help bridge the divide in our country. Larson’s indefinite suspension has been lifted. Under the terms of his reinstatement, he will be cleared to return to all NASCAR racing activities effective January 1, 2021.”
Larson recently penned a powerful essay detailing everything he has learned in the past 6 months. Fellow NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, the league’s only black driver, responded to the essay calling it a “great read” and adding that he was “proud” of Kyle on this journey.
Larson is rumored to be in line for the #5 car with Hendrick Motorsports next year. Word on the street is they’re going to retire the #88 car this year, Alex Bowman will take over the #48 car from the retiring Jimmie Johnson, and Larson will drive the #5. And then Chase Elliott and William Byron will round out the Hendrick Motorsports team next year.
Of course none of this is set in stone, but it seems to be the consensus right now among those closest to the sport.
