Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson has completed the sensitivity training that had been required of him following an incident in which he used a racial slur on a broadcast channel open to the public while competing in an online virtual race. Since that blunder, the 27-year-old winner of six NASCAR Cup Series events has been fired as the driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Even though he has completed the mandatory training, Larson remains under indefinite suspension by NASCAR.
However, Larson will return to racing action this Friday night as he is listed among the entrants for an upcoming event at the Knoxville(IA) Raceway. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is set to contest it first race since it last sanctioned a feature show on February 9th at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida.
That dirt racing series had earlier stated that Larson could compete with them once his sensitivity training had been satisfactorily completed.
Larson is the owner of Kyle Larson Racing which fields a full-time Sprint Car operation for driver Carson Macedo on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series as well as other events. The owner himself has driven a second car for the team on a part-time basis.
Kyle Larson set for a return to Sprint Cars(Photo: TJslideways.com)
It remains to be seen just how many Sprint Car races Larson will enter throughout whatever remains of the 2020 season now that he is no longer part of any NASCAR organization. Furthermore, no NASCAR team has made any official plans to employ Larson if/when his suspension is rescinded by that sanctioning body. The talented and once highly sought after driver who would have been a free agent at the end of this season had multiple sponsors to part ways with him following his use of inappropriate language.
The Friday night WoO Sprint Car event will be broadcast live by DirtVision.com on a pay-per-view basis.
Richard Allen is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association
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