NASCAR: Joey Logano responds to Kyle Larson firing

2018 NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano responded to Chip Ganassi Racing’s firing of Kyle Larson, calling it a “tough situation” but a “good reminder”.

NASCAR Cup Series drivers have been noticeably silent about Chip Ganassi Racing’s recent firing of Kyle Larson over Larson’s use of the N-word in a virtual race on iRacing which was being live streamed on Twitch on Easter Sunday.

The 27-year-old Elk Grove, California was not initially fired from his job as the driver of the #42 Chevrolet. He was first suspended without pay by Chip Ganassi’s organization before NASCAR suspended him indefinitely and mandated that he complete sensitivity training before returning. iRacing even suspended him.

Then major primary sponsors Credit One Bank and McDonald’s cut ties with him, and Chevrolet suspended their relationship with him indefinitely, leaving Ganassi’s hands practically tied. Despite Larson’s talent, the only option was to release him.

More from NASCAR Cup Series

Amid all of the chaos, there hasn’t been public chatter about the situation among the Cup Series field. But 2018 champion Joey Logano, who drives the #22 Ford for Team Penske, has broken that silence.

Logano, whose potential 2017 championship bid was derailed by an encumbered victory at Richmond Raceway and then a runner-up finish to Larson at the same track in the regular season finale later in the year, called it a “tough situation” and noted that it can serve as a good reminder of what it means to compete in NASCAR and to represent sponsors in an acceptable manner.

Here is what the 29-year-old Middletown, Connecticut native had to say about the matter in an interview with NBC’s Mike Tirico, emphasizing the idea of representing your brand and echoing what has been going through most of our minds since Sunday night.

"“Obviously, it’s a tough situation for the whole sport, right? It’s something that obviously none of us want to hear. And the facts are: Hey, when we sign up for this, we know that you’re supporting and representing Fortune 500 companies. You look at Shell, Pennzoil, Coca-Cola, Ford — these are all huge companies that you are representing.“Even more importantly, you’re representing your own brand, whether it’s the Joey Logano brand or whatever it is. You always have to be on. Someone always has that camera phone, someone always has the ability to show what you’re doing.“And it’s a good reminder for all of us. Whether you’re a race car driver or not, whether you’re working at the bank or the grocery store, pumping gas, whatever you may be doing — your brand is always the most important, and everyone sees that all the time. And you always have to think of: What is my brand? And what do I want it to be? How do I want to be represented? And that’s the things that we have to think about all the time.“Moments like this are good reminders. I hate to see that happen to Kyle. I feel for him and his family. Obviously, a huge adjustment from what it was two days ago. But things like that are not accepted in our society, and they shouldn’t be.”"

dark. Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time

As far as Kyle Larson’s future is concerned, nobody knows what is next. He hasn’t been banned from competing in NASCAR completely, and there are already rumors swirling about potential future landing spots, but there is undoubtedly a long road ahead of him before he gets back behind the wheel of a stock car.

Home/NASCAR Cup Series