During an iRacing Event on Sunday, NASCAR Driver Kyle Larson, used the n-word. Social media and NASCAR fans quickly took notice.
Team Owner Chip Ganassi Racing issued a statement on Monday suspending Kyle Larson without pay saying:
"We are extremely disappointed by what Kyle said last night during an iRacing Event. The words that he chose to use are offensive and unacceptable. As of this moment we are suspending Kyle without pay while we work through this situation with all appropriate parties."
Kyle has also been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR and must attend sensitivity training. NASCAR issued the following statement:
"NASCAR has made diversity and inclusion a priority and will not tolerate the type of language used by Kyle Larson during Sunday's iRacing event. Our Member Conduct Guidelines are clear in this regard, and we will enforce these guidelines to maintain an inclusive environment for our entire industry and fan base."
Larson then shared the following video to Social Media, apologizing for his actions:
Full Text: “Hey, I just want to say I’m sorry. Last night I made a mistake and said the word that should never, ever be said. There’s no excuse for that. I wasn’t raised that way. It’s just an awful thing to say. I feel very sorry for my family, my friends, my partners, the NASCAR community and especially the African-American community. I understand the damage is probably unrepairable, and I own up to that. But I just want to let you all know how sorry I am, and I hope everybody is staying safe during these crazy times. Thank you.”
The fallout continued all day long with multiple sponsors and iRacing issues statements with one supporting him:
Source: NASCAR
Photo Credit: Getty Images