Kyle Larson Officially Reinstated by NASCAR Effective January 1st, 2021

On Monday Afternoon, NASCAR officially announced the reinstatement of six-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Kyle Larson, signaling the conclusion of the 28-year-old’s seven-month suspension handed down in April for the use of a racial slur in a public iRacing voice chat.

Larson will be reinstated effective January 1st, 2021.

The Elk Grove, California-native has since lost his race-winning NASCAR Cup Series ride at Chip Ganassi Racing, along with numerous partners that have assisted Larson in his NASCAR and Dirt Racing efforts throughout his racing career.

Last  Friday, NASCAR announced that Larson had officially applied for reinstatement earlier in the week, but insisted that the sanctioning body needed time to review the request and make a final decision. Just three days after the announcement, the sanctioning body has officially reinstated Larson.

Kyle Larson Has Officially Filed For Reinstatement With NASCAR

“I’m truly grateful to everyone at NASCAR and appreciative of their process. The work I’ve done over the last six months has had a major impact on me. I will make the most of this opportunity and look forward to the future.”

— Kyle Larson, October 19th, 2020

Over the last eight to ten weeks, Larson has been the unchallenged favorite to take over Hendrick Motorsports’ NASCAR Cup Series vacancy for 2021, a rumor that seems more and more logical with the reinstatement of the 28-year-old.

“NASCAR continues to prioritize diversity and inclusion across our sport. Kyle Larson has fulfilled the requirements set by NASCAR, and has taken several voluntary measures, to better educate himself so that he can use his platform to help bridge the divide in our country. Larson’s indefinite suspension has been lifted. Under the terms of his reinstatement, he will be cleared to return to all NASCAR racing activities effective January 1st, 2021”

— NASCAR Statement, dated October 19th, 2020