Kyle Larson was suspended last season after uttering a racial slur during an iRacing event while the NASCAR series was on hold during the spread of COVID-19. Larson’s use of the N-word toward his spotter did not go over well with Wallace, who has been the sport’s leading spokesman for racial diversity.
Wallace called Larson’s language “wrong, whether in price or public.” “There is no grey area,” he said. Kyle Larson texted Wallace immediately after the incident and called him repeatedly the next day to apologize. Wallace later revealed that Larson was crying when he left a voice message.
Wallace accepted his Larson’s apology and said the young driver deserved a second chance.
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After being suspended by NASCAR and subsequently fired by Chip Ganassi Racing, Kyle Larson, who is Japanese-American, spent the last 10 months trying to make amends for the incident. He visited the George Floyd memorial in Minneapolis, Minn. and worked with the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia, Pa. After a heartfelt interview with CBS on the lessons he learned about racial equality, Kyle Larson was reinstated by NASCAR.
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A year later, Kyle Larson is starting over as the driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Wallace, meanwhile, is the new driver for the 23XI team owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR star Denny Hamlin. And despite last year’s controversy, the two remain close friends.
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Kyle Larson shied away from social media during his suspension and says he prefers to focus on “more important things than burying my face in my phone.” He said he would join Wallace, however, in speaking out on racial issues when appropriate.
“I’m sure when those things present themselves, yeah, I could put my voice out there. You don’t really know until that day comes.”
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Kyle Larson also plans to continue working with the Urban Youth Racing School and supporting other racial equality efforts. He also plans to start his own foundation, which he said could also help address racial issues.
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