Kyle Larson
FILE - NASCAR driver Tony Stewart takes a ride on Jeff Gordon's race car in the pit during the Nextel Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, in this Wednesday, June 6, 2007, file photo. Tony Stewart wants to set the record straight about two misconstrued recent business decisions. Fans have been critical of Stewart since the Truck Series was dropped from Eldora Speedway and because he didn't sign Kyle Larson to his NASCAR team. Stewart is adamant that he tried to sign Larson but couldn't get partner approval on the driver suspended for using a racial slur. And he insists he dropped NASCAR after he felt slighted that Bristol Motor Speedway was given a Cup race on dirt. (Teesha McClam/Dayton Daily News via AP, File)
Column: Stewart balances personal bliss, professional angst

By Jenna Fryer Jan. 18, 2021 03:47 PM EST

FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, fans sit in a mostly empty Greensboro Coliseum after the NCAA college basketball games were cancelled at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C. Scrubbing last year's March Madness due to coronavirus concerns cost the NCAA some $375 million, and another loss like that would have ripple effects throughout college sports. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Lamentation for sports in 2020: A year of living virally

By Fred Lief Dec. 24, 2020 11:03 AM EST

FILE - In this Feb, 8, 2020, file photo, Kyle Larson climbs into his car as he gets ready for a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Despite being suspended for six months for the use of a racial slur, Kyle Larson remains a popular figure in dirt track racing. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Larson still popular on dirt tracks, despite racial slur

By Steve Reed Nov. 10, 2020 03:25 PM EST

Urban Youth Racing School founder Anthony Martin, left, and his wife Michelle Martin pose for a photo at the school, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, in Philadelphia. The school has made it its mission to introduce inner-city youngsters, most of them black, to the motorsports world. (AP Photo/Dan Gelston)
Racing school for minorities extends olive branch to Larson

By Dan Gelston Nov. 04, 2020 11:18 AM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2019, file photo, Kyle Larson gets into his car during Daytona 500 auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Reinstated last week by NASCAR, Larson on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, signed a multi-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet next season. Hendrick has sold no sponsorship as of yet for Larson and only needed the blessing of Chevrolet, one of the partners that originally dropped Larson for using the n-word, to finalize the deal. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Rick Hendrick eyeing balanced, stronger 2021 NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 29, 2020 03:02 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb, 8, 2020, file photo, Kyle Larson climbs into his car as he gets ready for a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Larson will be back in NASCAR next season driving the flagship No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Larson signed a multi-year contract Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2020, with Hendrick that ended his seven-month banishment from NASCAR for using a racial slur while playing an online racing game. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Hendrick hires banished Kyle Larson to drive flagship No. 5

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 28, 2020 11:46 AM EDT

Chip Ganassi speaks about driver Jimmie Johnson joining his IndyCar team for next season at a press conference during the IndyCar race weekend Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Column: Chip Ganassi celebrates 30 years of winning

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 26, 2020 03:45 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, file photo, Kyle Larson greets fans before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Larson has been working behind the scenes to educate himself on racial issues since his firing from NASCAR for using a racial slur. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Kyle Larson reinstated to compete in NASCAR in 2021

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 19, 2020 04:47 PM EDT

Alex Bowman, left, Chase Elliott, center, and Denny Hamlin listen to the national anthem before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Alex Bowman shuffled to the No. 48 to replace Jimmie Johnson

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 06, 2020 03:46 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, file photo, Chad Knaus, crew chief for William Byron, watches a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Chad Knaus will move off the pit stand and into a management role with Hendrick Motorsports, ending his crew chief career after seven championships. Hendrick on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, announced Knaus will move to vice president of competition.(AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona

Sep. 29, 2020 04:09 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2020, file photo, Erik Jones celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Busch Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The pandemic only accelerated the inevitable: The driver market bubble, pushed to its limit with multi-million dollar salaries for nearly two decades, is about to burst. A major reset has arrived and team owners have all the power. They can pick and choose between drivers who bring sponsorship dollars (Bubba Wallace) or drivers who have won races (Erik Jones). (AP Photo/John Raoux, FIlre)
NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona

Sep. 21, 2020 09:35 PM EDT

Alex Bowman, left, Chase Elliott, center, and Denny Hamlin listen to the national anthem before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Column: NASCAR's dizzying silly season will change landscape

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 21, 2020 09:34 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2020, file photo, Kyle Larson gets ready to climb into his car to practice for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. He was supposed to be the top free agent this year but was banished to sprint cars after his firing five months ago. Larson is awaiting the appropriate time to apply for reinstatement to NASCAR and if sponsors agree to forgive him, he should get a job. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona

Sep. 21, 2020 02:13 PM EDT

Ross Chastain is introduced to the crowd before the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Chastain snags Ganassi Cup ride in busy NASCAR free agency

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 21, 2020 08:26 AM EDT

FILE - Daniel Suarez talks to the media before practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Suarez, who landed his ride two weeks before the season-opening Daytona 500, will not return to Gaunt Brothers Racing next season. The team said Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, it was a mutual decision for the Mexican driver to leave the team. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Suarez on the move again after parting with Gaunt Brothers

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 15, 2020 10:25 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2019, file photo, Joey Logano is shown prior to the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. Logano was sitting in his motorhome watching television when a shell-shocked Erik Jones was interviewed about his firing from Joe Gibbs Racing. Logano knew exactly how Jones felt. Logano had been in that exact spot eight years earlier. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso, File)
Jones gets advice on life after Joe Gibbs Racing from Logano

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 27, 2020 01:55 PM EDT

A ball carrier wears a face mask prior to the friendly soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Le Havre, in Le Havre, western France, Sunday, July 12, 2020. For the first time since the coronavirus shut down sports and chased away spectators, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and other soccer stars are going to play again in front of fans. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
The Latest: World of Outlaws to ramp up COVID-19 protocols

By The Associated Press Aug. 21, 2020 10:33 AM EDT

AUTO RACING: Auto Racing Glance

By The Associated Press Aug. 19, 2020 05:52 PM EDT
All Times Eastern NASCAR CUP SERIES Drydene 311 Site: Dover, Delaware ...

FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2019, file photo, Kyle Larson sits in his car before the final practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. Kyle Larson has been working behind the scenes to educate himself on racial issues since his firing from NASCAR for using a slur. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File)
NASCAR's Kyle Larson to AP on slur: 'I was just ignorant'

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 19, 2020 05:23 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, file photo, Kyle Larson greets fans before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Larson has been working behind the scenes to educate himself on racial issues since his firing from NASCAR for using a racial slur. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
NASCAR's Kyle Larson to AP on slur: 'I was just ignorant'

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 19, 2020 05:03 PM EDT