NASCAR Reinstates Racer Kyle Larson After Suspending Him For Using N-Word

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Kyle Larson, shown here during a practice at Daytona International Speedway in February, has been reinstated by NASCAR after he was suspended in April.

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Larson, whose mother is of Japanese descent, told The Associated Press the work conducted since his suspension «has had a major impact on him.

«The work I’ve done over the last six months has had a major impact on me. I will make the most of this opportunity and look forward to the future, Larson told AP’s Jenna Fryer.

#NASCAR has re-instated Kyle Larson. "The work I've done over the last six months has had a major impact on me. I will make the most of this opportunity and look forward to the future."

— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) October 19, 2020

On April 12, while NASCAR was suspended because of the spread of the coronavirus like much of the sports industry, Larson took part in live stream event with other professional drivers.

«He said he had keyed his microphone to send a private message, but his use of a racial slur was instead broadcast to all participants in the race and to viewers on public live streams, NASCAR said.

In a clip posted to social media that contains the racial slur, one of his fellow competitors said «Kyle, you’re talking to everyone, bud.

«Yep, we heard that, another one said.

Chip Ganassi Racing swiftly announced they were dropping him from the team and Chevrolet, the only car that Larson had driven in NASCAR, also announced it would be suspending its relationship with Larson.

The driver opened up about his time away from the sport in an essay posted to his website, where he touched on his grandparents being held in World War II internment camps and his parents being «an interracial couple who have gotten disapproving stares.

He added, «There’s absolutely no excuse for my ignorance.

«Since April, I’ve done a lot of reflecting. I realized how little I really knew about the African-American experience in this country and racism in general, Larson said.

«Educating myself is something I should’ve done a long time ago, because it would’ve made me a better person – the kind of person who doesn’t casually throw around an awful, racist word.

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