Kyle Larson fired by team Chip Ganassi Racing, loses major sponsors for using N-word during livestream event
Kyle Larson has been fired by his NASCAR team, Chip Ganassi Racing, after he was caught using a racial slur during the live stream of an online simulation race that took place this past Sunday.
"After much consideration, Chip Ganassi Racing has determined that it will end its relationship with driver Kyle Larson," the team said in a statement. "As we said before, the comments that Kyle made were both offensive and unacceptable especially given the values of our organization. As we continued to evaluate the situation with all the relevant parties, it became obvious that this was the only appropriate course of action to take."
Meanwhile, some of his major sponsors had earlier announced they are severing ties with him over the incident.
MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) previously reported that the incident unfolded when Larson had been competing in the iRacing league of virtual racing created by NASA amidst the coronavirus pandemic, which saw the circuit suspended just four races into the season.
As he was racing, he appeared to lose communication on his headset with his spotter, and during a check of his microphone, asked, "You can't hear me?” before uttering the N-word. Other drivers who were also competing and in the chat immediately reacted to his use of the slur, with many visibly in disbelief. "Kyle, you’re talking to everyone, bud," one told him.
It prompted a quick and decisive rebuke from both, NASCAR and his team Chip Ganassi Racing. NASCAR announced that he was suspended indefinitely and the latter said they would not be paying him as they "work through this situation with all appropriate parties."
That wasn't the end of the bad news for Larson either. Credit One, McDonald’s, and Clover all announced they would be terminating their sponsorship of him, while Chevrolet the manufacturer aligned with Chip Ganassi Racing, stated that it had suspended its relationship with Larson indefinitely and is “prepared to take additional action.”
Credit One Bank, which sponsored Larson’s car in 18 of 36 Cup points races in 2019, said in a statement, "As stated earlier, Credit One Bank denounces the highly offensive language used by Kyle Larson during Sunday’s iRacing event. In addition to the quick actions taken by NASCAR and Chip Ganassi Racing, Credit One Bank is terminating its sponsorship of Kyle Larson."
The statements from McDonald's and Clover were similarly damning. The former said they were "extremely disappointed and appalled" by his actions and that it was "not reflective of our inclusive values and will not be tolerated" and the latter said they "denounce the language" he used.
It wasn't the major sponsors either. Advent Health, which sponsored Larson’s car in the Busch Clash, said, "We're committed to a culture of inclusiveness and wholeness for our patients and team members, and Kyle Larson's use of a racial slur is not reflective of that and unacceptable. As an ongoing partner with Chip Ganassi Racing, we support the decisive actions taken by them and NASCAR to suspend him."
However, there is some hope for Larson, who is the only driver of Japanese descent to win a major NASCAR race. Some sponsors like Finley Farms and Plan B said they would continue to sponsor his sprint car races.
He can take solace from Xfinity Series driver Jeremy Clements as well. Clements was suspended in 2013 by NASCAR for the same reason as Larson but was reinstated after completing a sensitivity training course, and is still competing to this day.
Following the backlash, he has also posted an apology video that has been viewed over 1.5 million times where he admitted he had made a mistake and done "irreparable damage."