While the narrative was that Kyle Larson lost his job for the use of the racial slur, but it happened only after he lost multiple sponsors.
Larson was fired by Chip Ganassi Racing for using a racial slur in an iRacing event back on April 12. However, it was only after two days he was officially taken off from his role in the No. 42 Chevrolet.
While it seemed like the use of racial slur led to all the consequences that Larson had to face, from losing sponsorship, being fired from the team and suspended indefinitely from NASCAR, but one of these events are not the direct result of Larson’s action.
Larson was fired from the team because he lost sponsorship, including Chevrolet, Credit One Bank and McDonald’s, among others. In the NASCAR industry, sponsorship plays a major role in who will be driving the cars. With no sponsorship on the table, there was no point in Larson driving the No. 42 from the team’s perspective.
It was better for someone else to drive the car with the sponsorship that Larson lost, which 2003 champion Matt Kenseth did.
Chip Ganassi even confirmed this opinion through his Twitter post.
Finally someone says it and gets it! Thank you @BeardedGntlmn28 https://t.co/bZPsor7PYS
— Chip Ganassi (@GanassiChip) July 4, 2020
Larson will get his second chance to redeem himself with Hendrick Motorsports. He will be in charge of the No. 5 Chevrolet for the 2021 season.
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