Kyle Larson went from being suspended from NASCAR to winning the most prestigious award in this sport within two years.
Larson was suspended from NASCAR in April 2020 for the use of a racial slur in an iRacing event. His then team Chip Ganassi Racing decided to let go of him and it was only in the 2022 season that Larson again returned to Cup Series, this time with Hendrick Motorsports.
With the equipment that HMS has, Larson could finally show the talent that he always had. The No. 5 driver won the championship and most number of wins with 10 in the 2021 season.
“Now that I’m a champion, it’s going to explode” – Kyle Larson on making an impact on NASCAR
Recently, he reflected on the crazy journey he went through within the last two years.
“That journey of last year, getting to this point, was difficult.
“But then, all the success we had this year made it all rewarding and something that I can’t believe. The last 18 months … the lowest-lows to the highest-highs … have been crazy.”
Larson also revealed that he thought he would never get back to Cup racing again. So, he is very thankful to NASCAR for giving him a second chance.
“I was accepting of the fact that I probably won’t ever race in it again,” the 29-year-old Larson explained. “I’m thankful that I did get that second chance and I was able to do good things through it.”
Larson is the perfect example of where dedication and hard work can lead you especially after having gone through a hard time.