NASCAR: Kyle Larson loses McDonald’s sponsorship
By Asher Fair
McDonald’s will no longer sponsor a NASCAR Cup Series car that is driven by Kyle Larson, although their deal with Chip Ganassi Racing remains intact.
The last 24 hours have been nothing shy of a nightmare for Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson as it pertains to his NASCAR Cup Series career, and it was brought about by his own during.
During Sunday night’s virtual NASCAR race on iRacing at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Larson attempted to get the attention of his spotter by stating “Hey N*****”.
Larson’s use of the N-word racial slur was being streamed live on Twitch, so the whole world was able to hear it, not just the other 61 drivers who were competing. That sent Twitter ablaze, but the true hits only began rolling in on Monday.
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Chip Ganassi Racing suspended the 27-year-old Elk Grove, California native without pay and NASCAR proceeded to suspend him indefinitely and will not reinstate him until he at least completes sensitivity training.
How these suspensions will ultimately play out remains to be seen with the season currently suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. iRacing suspended him from using their racing simulator service indefinitely as well, and he then lost primary sponsor Credit One Bank.
Now the driver of the #42 Chevrolet has been cut by McDonald’s as well.
Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern confirmed this news.
.@McDonalds has terminated its relationship with @KyleLarsonRacin.
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) April 13, 2020
➖ McDonald's has been with Chip Ganassi Racing for more than a decade. pic.twitter.com/8eEVoJOhMy
Like Credit One Bank, McDonald’s did not terminate their deal with Chip Ganassi Racing, just with Larson.
Similar to Credit One Bank, McDonald's is only terminating its deal with Kyle Larson, not its sponsorship of Ganassi Racing.
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) April 13, 2020
➖ @RossChastain could be an obvious choice to fill in the No. 42 if @RyanJNewman is back in the No. 6, but no word yet that such talks are underway. pic.twitter.com/HebJAXGArg
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McDonald’s had served as Kyle Larson’s primary sponsor in two of the first four races on the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series schedule before the season was suspended. The #42 Chevrolet carried McDonald’s sponsorship in the season’s third and fourth races at Auto Club Speedway and Phoenix Raceway, respectively. It carried Credit One Bank sponsorship in the season’s first two races at Daytona International Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, respectively.