PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — NASCAR's 2021 Cup Series champion presented a six-figure check to Philadelphia's Urban Youth Racing School on Tuesday, another step in Kyle Larson's story of redemption and second chances.
Many may remember Larson's fall from grace, as he was suspended from racing after a hot mic caught him using a racist epithet during a virtual racing event in April of 2020.
The Urban Youth Racing School had already partnered with him as he was helping their students. They stepped up in his defense, saying that was not the Kyle Larson they know.
"I received a lot of criticism for doing it, but at the same time I knew the person that Kyle was inside. I know that he made a mistake, and people deserve a second chance. He deserved a second chance," said school founder Anthony Martin.
He called second chances crucial in a climate of cancel culture. Martin believed it was a mistake because Larson had been working with the kids since 2017, and they know him well.
"Look at what he did with his second chance. Now the students are like, 'Wow, he took it to the next level. Well you can do the same thing," Martin added.
Larson said his comment was stupid, and he has since evolved and matured.
He immediately apologized for the use of the word, and came back to win the series championship after his reinstatement. He said he is grateful for the support, forgiveness and a second chance.
"It came down to just ignorance and being immature. Thankfully, they knew who I was, and that day I was nervous coming in here to talk to them, [including a] student that looked up to me who I had let down," he said.
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"I've shown since then that's not who I am, and I know it may take a lot of people a long time for me to convince them, but as long as I know who I am and keep continuing to do good things, that's all that matters."
The check presented from his foundation was for $100,000. Martin says $50,000 will go to scholarships.
Martin said with the evolution of NASCAR he hopes to see more people of color get involved. Larson said he'll continue to be a catalyst for change.
