This virtual race had real-life repercussions.
NASCAR driver Kyle Larson uttered a racial slur during a live broadcast Sunday night, and is being suspended indefinitely by NASCAR and Chip Ganassi Racing.
During the livestream of an exhibition virtual race on the gaming app Twitch that simulated the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy, Larson thought he lost communication with his team and used the N-word.
“Kyle, you’re talking to everyone, bud,” one driver responded. Another said, “No way did that just happen.”
Larson apologized on Monday afternoon.
“I just want to say I am sorry. (Sunday night) I made a mistake and said a word that never, ever should be said,” Larson said. “There’s no excuse for that. I wasn’t raised that way. It’s just an awful thing to say and I feel very sorry to my friends, my family, the NASCAR community and especially the African American community. I understand the damage unrepairable. I wanted to let you all know how sorry I am and I hope everyone is staying safe during these crazy times.”
eNascar.com viewers could hear the slur. So did the 61 other drivers. It soon hit social media.
“NASCAR has made diversity and inclusion a priority and will not tolerate the type of language used by Kyle Larson during Sunday’s iRacing event,” NASCAR wrote in a statement. “Our Member Conduct Guidelines are clear in this regard, and we will enforce these guidelines to maintain an inclusive environment for our entire industry and fan base.”
The 27-year-old Larson, in the final year of his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing, is half-Japanese and is regarded as one of the top sprint car racers in the country. In January, he won the Chili Bowl.
“We are extremely disappointed by what Kyle said last night during an iRacing Event,” Chip Ganassi Racing wrote in a statement on Twitter. “The words that he chose to use are offensive and unacceptable. As of this moment we are suspending Kyle without pay while we work through this situation with all appropriate parties.”
This is the second week in a row a NASCAR driver has created headlines during a virtual race. Bubba Wallace “rage quit” during a NASCAR iRacing event and was fired by his sponsor as a result.