NASCAR announced Monday that it has lifted Cup Series driver Kyle Larson's suspension, and that he will be eligible to resume racing on Jan. 1, 2021.
Larson was banned indefinitely on April 13 for saying the N-word during a live iRacing event the previous day. Chip Ganassi Racing fired him April 14. He applied for reinstatement Friday.
"NASCAR continues to prioritize diversity and inclusion across our sport," NASCAR said in a statement announcing Larson's return. "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."
MORE: Bubba Wallace to drive for Michael Jordan-Denny Hamlin Cup team in '21
NASCAR.com reported that NASCAR and Larson agreed to a reinstatement agreement that runs through 2023. Larson will be required to continue with speaking engagements, training and classes. He will continue to work with the Urban Youth Racing School and Rev Racing as well. He previously completed sensitivity training.
Larson spoke extensively about his suspension experience Oct. 4 in an essay on his website, titled "Kyle Larson: My Lessons Learned."
"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, whose mother is of Japanese descent, wrote. "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. The kind who makes an effort to understand the hate and oppression it symbolizes and the depth of pain it has caused Black people throughout history and still to this day. It was past time for me to shut up, listen and learn."
Larson was able to race during his NASCAR suspension; he competed in the World of Outlaws and USAC series, where he won races regularly.
