NASCAR: Kyle Larson request expected to be approved
By Asher Fair
Kyle Larson’s request to be reinstated by NASCAR is reportedly expected to be approved in the near future, indicating that a 2021 return may be on the horizon.
Kyle Larson, the six-time Cup Series race winner who was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR back in April and fired by Chip Ganassi Racing after using a racial slur during a virtual iRacing event on Easter Sunday, technically could have applied for reinstatement several months ago, given that he completed the required sensitivity training as soon as he could.
But he only did so recently, following several months of personal growth outside of the public eye in response to his mistake.
Now the focus is on the sport to, as Tony Stewart put it, “get off their ass” and reinstate the 28-year-old Elk Grove, California native.
Larson has said that he knows he may never get the opportunity to return to stock car racing, given the magnitude of the mistake.
He also knows that NASCAR may not deem it worth it to reinstate him, given the inevitable PR hit that would ensue — again, given the magnitude of the mistake and the times in which we are living.
They have not yet approved his request. But it is looking like, after six-plus months of being suspended, Larson is set to be reinstated in the very near future.
According to Sports Business Journal, NASCAR will likely approve that request within the next few weeks, officially opening the door on a return for the former driver of the #42 Chevrolet.
Sources: Suspended driver Kyle Larson has applied for reinstatement to #NASCAR, and while the sanctioning body did not confirm it today, the request is expected to be approved in the coming weeks (@A_S12).https://t.co/i4NQtv4f91 pic.twitter.com/8dlckhze3b
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) October 16, 2020
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As to whether or not Larson will actually be back competing in NASCAR if he is reinstated as expected, nothing is official, but it is hard to seem him applying for reinstatement without anything lined up for next year behind the scenes.
He has been linked to join Hendrick Motorsports as the replacement for seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson next year, but behind the wheel of a renumbered #5 Chevrolet, and team owner Rick Hendrick said weeks ago that he had their fourth driver picked out but was waiting to announcement to avoid causing a distraction with the playoffs underway.
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Alex Bowman is set to move from the #88 Chevrolet to Johnson’s #48 Chevrolet, and the #88 Chevrolet is believed to be on its way to becoming the #5 Chevrolet regardless of who ends up behind the wheel of it next year. Chase Elliott drives the #9 Chevrolet and William Byron drives the #24 Chevrolet.