Tony Stewart: NASCAR needs to 'get off their [expletive]' and allow Kyle Larson to return

Former Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyle Larson was fired and barred from NASCAR indefinitely in April after he used the N-word during an iRacing event that was being streamed online while the season had been interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to his suspension from NASCAR, Chevrolet also suspended its relationship with Larson indefinitely. According to a report this week from Bob Pockrass, NASCAR and Larson have “discussed” possible reinstatement. Matt Kenseth took over Larson’s No. 42 car when the Cup Series season resumed, and Larson has since returned to the world of dirt track sprint car racing, where he has been dominating in the World of Outlaws series.

As the 2020 season winds to a close, we’ve already seen some driver movement for the 2021 campaign, with Erik Jones set to leave the No. 20 car to make way for Christopher Bell. On talent alone, Larson would be an attractive option for race teams looking for a driver, but it’s unclear if Larson would even be eligible to race in NASCAR’s top series in 2021, or if car manufacturers and sponsors would be willing to move past his racist comment.

One team owner, at least, believes Larson deserves a Cup Series ride. Stewart-Haas co-owner Tony Stewart said Wednesday that it’s time for NASCAR to allow Larson to return to the sport.

Stewart was slightly less diplomatic toward NASCAR in an interview with CBS Sports.

“NASCAR has gotta get off their ass and do the right thing and give this kid an opportunity to get back in a car. I think he’s paid his penalty and he’s served the penalty long enough where you know we’ve had similar instances in the sport that have happened and the penalties didn’t last as near as long as this has lasted with Kyle. 

It’s changed Kyle’s world, it turned everything upside down and not only did it affect him. It affected his family and a lot of other people that didn’t deserve to be affected. So I think it’s been long enough. I think it’s time for NASCAR to get off their ass and to do the right thing and allow him to come back to the series now.”

Two Stewart-Haas Racing drivers, Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer, are in the final years of their contract – which opens up the possibility of Larson landing in one of Stewart’s cars next year.