"I made a mistake": When Kyle Larson apologized after losing his NASCAR seat due to misconduct

In 2020, Kyle Larson was dismissed without pay from his team, Chip Ganassi Racing, and was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR due to social misconduct. As a result, the promising Cup Series driver issued a statement soon after, admitting his mistake and apologizing to the NASCAR community.

Hendrick Motorsports driver Larson suffered a season-long suspension in April 2020 because of using a racial slur at an iRacing event. Reportedly, the then 27-year-old lost communication with his spotter in the virtual race and uttered the N-word.

Although Larson took accountability for his negligence, his career took a steep downturn. He lost all his sponsors and ties with Chevrolet in addition to getting suspended from the team and stock-car racing. Moreover, the Elk Grove native was mandated by NASCAR to attend sensitivity training.

Reflecting on his behavior, the former Cup Series champion shared an apology video on his X (formerly Twitter) account. Here's what the 32-year-old said:

"I just wanna say, I'm sorry. Last night I made a mistake said the word that should never, ever be said. There is no excuse for that. I wasn't raised that way. It is 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 everyone is staying safe during these crazy times," he concluded.

NASCAR announced Larson's reinstatement on October 19, 2020, and he was allowed to compete in the stock-car racing series from January 1, 2021.

Soon after the announcement, Rick Hendrick's organization signed the #5 Chevy driver in a multi-year contract with whom he went on to win his maiden Cup Series championship the following season.

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"HMS is going to support those continued efforts": Rick Hendrick on signing Kyle Larson after his reinstatement

Rick Hendrick signed Kyle Larson soon after the latter's reinstatement in October 2020. Moreover, Mr. H paired Larson with crew chief Cliff Daniels and handed HMS's flagship #5 Chevy Camaro to the duo.

With utmost confidence and support, the 75-year-old Hendrick signed the future championship winner and provided a platform to one of the best NASCAR drivers in recent years. After signing Larson, the owner of Hendrick Motorsports said (via NASCAR):

"Kyle is unquestionably one of the most talented race car drivers in the world. He has championship-level ability and will be a significant addition to our on-track program More importantly, I have full confidence that he understands our expectations and will be a tremendous ambassador for our team, our partners and NASCAR."

Hendrick continued:

"Kyle has done important work over the past six months and Hendrick Motorsports is going to support those continued efforts. I’m excited about our roster of young talent. We have a team that is built to win races and compete for championships for years to come."

The 2021 NASCAR season became Larson's breakthrough year in his Cup Series career. He secured double-digit wins in his first season for the Rick Hendrick outfit and lifted his maiden Cup Series championship title.

Currently, Larson is on his run for the 2024 championship title and will be seen in action at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is worth mentioning that, the #5 driver first drove through the victory lane for HMS at the same Nevada track.