Update (5 p.m. ET): NASCAR has indefinitely suspended Kyle Larson.
“NASCAR has made diversity and inclusion a priority and will not tolerate the type of language used by Kyle Larson during Sundays iRacing event,” a NASCAR statement read. “Our member conduct guidelines are clear in this regard, and we will enforce these guidelines to maintain an inclusive environment for our entire industry and fan base.”
NASCAR suspends Kyle Larson indefinitely: https://t.co/yYFN3fHK4u pic.twitter.com/Wkg5OoXx7z
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 13, 2020
Larson addressed the incident on Twitter.
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) April 13, 2020
Additionally, Larson’s sponsor, Credit One Bank, addressed the incident, saying that it supported the actions of NASCAR and CGR to suspend Larson. Chevrolet has done the same.
Statement from Credit One Bank regarding the actions of Kyle Larson. pic.twitter.com/qVcuoXsTCZ
— Credit One Bank (@CreditOneBank) April 13, 2020
Later, Credit One confirmed it was terminating its sponsorship of Larson.
Statement from Credit One Bank regarding sponsorship of Kyle Larson. pic.twitter.com/SscEVpoz1z
— Credit One Bank (@CreditOneBank) April 13, 2020
According to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, McDonald’s has also terminated its sponsorship of Larson.
McDonalds also terminates its relationship with Kyle Larson: #nascar @nascaronfox pic.twitter.com/29rfci2EHW
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 13, 2020
Original story: When Kyle Larson spoke on his iRacing radio Sunday night (April 12), the driver didn’t realize he was speaking into an open channel, and that anyone listening could hear his remarks.
By Monday morning, Larson found himself suspended without pay at Chip Ganassi Racing for his choice of words.
Recordings of Larson’s radio clearly caught the NASCAR Cup Series driver saying a racial slur on the air, and at least one such recording made the social media rounds Sunday night. Larson tried to defuse the situation by saying he didn’t know his radio was streaming on Twitch at the time.
“We are extremely disappointed by what Kyle said last night during an iRacing event,” a statement from Chip Ganassi Racing read. “The words that he chose to use are offensive and unacceptable. As of this moment we are suspending Kyle without pay.”
A NASCAR spokesperson has also confirmed that the sanctioning body is “aware of insensitive language used by a driver during an iRacing event on Sunday, and is currently gathering more information.”
NASCAR suspended Xfinity Series driver Jeremy Clements in 2013 for using a similar slur in an interview, despite the fact that the comment was not published. Clements was reinstated after completing sensitivity training.
As of Monday morning, Larson, who is a graduate of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, had not issued a statement.
Amy is an 20-year veteran NASCAR writer and a six-time National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) writing award winner, including first place awards for both columns and race coverage. As well as serving as Photo Editor, Amy writes The Big 6 (Mondays) after every NASCAR Cup Series race. She can also be found working on her bi-weekly columns Holding A Pretty Wheel (Tuesdays) and Only Yesterday (Wednesdays). A New Hampshire native whose heart is in North Carolina, Amy’s work credits have extended everywhere from driver Kenny Wallace’s website to Athlon Sports. She can also be heard weekly as a panelist on the Hard Left Turn podcast that can be found on AccessWDUN.com's Around the Track page.