Kyle Larson Reinstated by NASCAR Effective January 2021

Credit: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

NASCAR has officially reinstated Kyle Larson to return to competition starting on January 1, 2021, the sanctioning body announced on Monday, October 19, 2020. 

Larson was suspended April 13 after he used a racial slur during an online public racing event. Chip Ganassi Racing terminated him after Chevrolet and multiple sponsors dropped their support.

Larson was required to complete sensitivity training after violating Sections 12.1 (General Procedures) and 12.8 (NASCAR Member Conduct Guidelines) of the NASCAR Rule Book. Larson had 30 days after the incident to complete the training. He finished it by May 6th.  

“I’m truly grateful to everyone at NASCAR and appreciative of their process,” Larson said in a statement. “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’s reinstatement for competition comes with the conditions that he continues to complete follow-up training through 2023. Those engagements include speaking with members of the NASCAR community as well as continuing his work with the Urban Youth Racing School and Rev Racing.

“NASCAR continues to prioritize diversity and inclusion across our sport. Kyle Larson has fulfilled the requirements set by NASCAR, and has taken several voluntary measures, to better educate himself so that he can use his platform to help bridge the divide in our country.” Officials said in a statement on Monday, “Larson’s indefinite suspension has been lifted. Under the terms of his reinstatement, he will be cleared to return to all NASCAR racing activities effective January 1, 2021.”

Larson detailed his experience of educating himself about social and racial injustice on October 4th in a personal essay posted to his website. He was also featured on CBS This Morning explaining the incident, his journey of self-improvement afterward, and how he hopes to regain the trust he lost six months ago.