Larson repays Urban Youth Racing School with virtual visit

Kyle Larson made a quick Zoom stop Saturday before he zipped off to his latest sprint car race: the NASCAR star had to say hello to the students at the Urban Youth Racing School.

“It’s good to be back racing again in NASCAR,” he told the class.

Larson’s road back to NASCAR after he was suspended last season for using a slur during an iRacing event can be traced in large part back to his heavy involvement with UYRS. The Philly-based program that creates opportunities in racing for minorities extended an olive branch last year to Larson and a fast friendship was formed with program founders Anthony and Michelle Martin.

In a sport in which minorities are scarce at all levels, the Martins made it their mission to introduce inner-city youngsters, most of them Black, to the motorsports world with the school. The school has served more than 7,500 students from ages 8 to 18 over the last 22 years and teaches all aspects of auto racing, including driving and Black racing history.

Larson surprised the school last year when he bought it two racing simulators and gave them a test run in September against select students. “What kind of stuff will you guys work on, today, this year?” Larson asked the class of 15 students.

Martin and his staff had a full syllabus devoted to topics ranging from race car aerodynamics to a history lesson on the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes, an auto racing event for top Black drivers in the 1920s and 1930s.

DOVER, DEL. >> Austin Cindric saved his car from a serious spin early in the race and dominated late at Dover International Speedway and won his third Xfinity Series race of the season.

Josh Berry, who makes his Cup debut Sunday, was second and Justin Allgaier was third.

VeeKay wins IndyCar race

INDIANAPOLIS >> Rinus VeeKay continued IndyCar’s youth movement by scoring his first career victory with a win on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Dutchman became the third first-time winner through five races this season, the most at this point in the season since 2013.