NASCAR driver shares details of his conversation after Kyle Larson used the n-word during an online race
Just before riots in 2020, the pandemic placed most people in their homes. NASCAR races were postponed as people figured out how to handle the situation.
Hear from Bubba Wallace on his conversation with Kyle Larson below.
Drivers who typically live a life on the road were now trapped inside with nothing going on. It didn’t take long for them to organize, pull out sim racing seats and go racing from their living rooms, online.
During a late night race via iRacing, Kyle Larson used the n-word while attempting to reach his personal spotter. The push of the wrong button sent his voice out to every driver in the race. Multiple drivers were streaming the event.
Within minutes, Larson was trending on twitter. Within hours, sponsors began to drop Larson including McDonald’s, Credit One and Chevrolet. He was then suspended by NASCAR indefinitely and not long after, fired by Chip Ganassi Racing.
Related: Bubba Wallace explains why he encouraged NASCAR to ban Confederate flag
Bubba Wallace on a phone call with Kyle Larson
Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson both through NASCAR’s driver for diversity program. They know each other well. Being the only Black driver at the NASCAR Cup Series level, Larson quickly attempted to reach out.
“The word he chose to use, associates me,” Bubba Wallace stated to ESPN via an E60 special.
“It wasn’t 30 seconds after that, Larson’s calling me. Oh yeah, he called me within 5 minutes of saying it. And I didn’t answer.”
Wallace likely didn’t answer because the race was run near the midnight hours.
“Hearing it, I wasn’t offended by hearing the word. I wasn’t like, ‘Whoa, what the hell?’ I was like, ‘Hm. You’re fucked.’ “
The two NASCAR Cup Series drivers eventually spoke.
“My conversation ain’t gonna help you bud. It might make you feel better but you just went off the complete deep end.”
Their conversation took place after Larson was already fired by Chip Ganassi Racing.
“I called Larson. He was, ‘Hey man.’ You know, super apologetic. I said, ‘Hey man, it’s in your vocabulary dog.’ He’s like, ‘Oh, I’m not going to say it again.’ “
Wallace concluded, “If you use that on the regular. I don’t know if he does or not, but it sounds like to me, you do. You have got to get that out of your vocabulary.”
Larson previously stated that his use of the word surfaced after racing with a dirt sprint car team in Australia. The team used the word frequently, in the same way Larson used it. Larson picked up on that and brought it home with him.
Related: Kyle Larson apology video released following slur and NASCAR suspension
Larson returned for NASCAR championship
All things have since come full circle…
In 2020, Larson returned to the dirt tracks. He dominated everything from sprint cars to late models to midgets, winning over half of the races he entered.
In 2021, his NASCAR suspension was lifted. He was hired by Hendrick Motorsports and then drove to a career record season and claimed the NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Bubba Wallace also had a career season in 2021. He drove 23XI Racing to their first career win at Talladega Superspeedway just a few months ago.
Wallace visited victory lane to congratulate Larson on his first NASCAR win with his new team. Months later, Larson did the same as Wallace picked up his first career win at Talladega.
Links
Bubba Wallace | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | NASCAR | eNASCAR | 23XI Racing | iRacing
