Kyle Larson used a racial slur on a livestream during Sunday’s virtual race, and he has been suspended by both NASCAR and his race team.
Chip Ganassi Racing first announced on Monday that Larson has been suspended indefinitely without pay for his use of the N-word during the latest iRacing Pro Series event.
Kyle Larson has now been suspended without pay by Chip Ganassi Racing due to his use of the N word during last night’s iRacing event. pic.twitter.com/Kq70LUtCf4
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) April 13, 2020
NASCAR then issued a statement saying the organization has also suspended Larson. NASCAR said it has “made diversity and inclusion a priority and will not tolerate the type of language used” by Larson. The 27-year-old must undergo sensitivity training.
NASCAR suspends Kyle Larson indefinitely: https://t.co/yYFN3fHK4u pic.twitter.com/Wkg5OoXx7z
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 13, 2020
Larson appeared to lose communication with his spotter during the virtual race just before he dropped the N-word. He was heard on the livestream saying, ‘You can’t hear me? Hey, n—-r.” Other drivers uncomfortably informed Larson that what he had said was heard by all. Beware that the video below contains inappropriate language:
Well, @KyleLarsonRacin apparently dropping an n-bomb could be the biggest story in sports this weekend. pic.twitter.com/5gmkbcK6yM
— A.J. Perez (@byajperez) April 13, 2020
Believe it or not, this is the second controversy we have seen in the last two iRacing events televised by NASCAR. Last week, Bubba Wallace became enraged and quit mid-race over an incident with Clint Bowyer.
Larson is half Japanese and a graduate of NASCAR’s “Drive for Diversity” program. He is the only driver of Japanese descent to ever win a major NASCAR race.
