Larson requests NASCAR lift suspension, 6 months after making racial slur

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR is in the process of reviewing a request by Cup driver Kyle Larson to return to competition after he was suspended indefinitely from the sport in April for using a racial slur during an iRacing event. A NASCAR spokesperson told the Observer Friday that Larson requested reinstatement earlier this week and that the leadership team is communicating with Larson about his potential return.

“We’re also talking to our stakeholders,” the spokesperson said. “Sponsors, OEM partners, things like that, because this is a decision that’s high-profile. We want to make sure that any feedback they bring to us, we’ll take that into account.”

The core group reviewing the request includes NASCAR’s five-member Board of Directors, which includes NASCAR president Steve Phelps. Executive vice president and chief marketing officer Jill Gregory, vice president of diversity and inclusion Brandon Thompson and vice president of racing operations John Bobo are also part of the leadership team reviewing the request.

The spokesperson declined to comment on a timeline for if or when Larson’s request would be approved, but according to Sports Business Journal, approval is expected in the coming weeks.