Larson's Championship Rebound is One for the Ages

Kyle Larson (L) and Cliff Daniels (R) pose with the Bill France Cup (Google Images)

Kyle Larson had killed the golden goose.

The night of April 12, 2020 was the night his career as a NASCAR Cup Series driver should have, for all intents and purposes, ended. After believing he had lost communication during an iRacing event that was streaming online, he asked if any of his fellow racers could hear him, then uttered a racial slur. A competitor radioed Larson to let him know that, in fact, they could hear him - and that those watching the event could as well.

The next day, he lost his ride, was suspended by NASCAR and the World of Outlaws, and was dropped by nearly every major sponsor on his Cup Series and dirt cars.

Once one of the most promising young stars in our sport, Larson had been "cancelled." To those watching the saga unfold on social media, it didn't seem like there was any chance of resurrecting his career. Fans everywhere, myself included, never thought they'd see him climb into a NASCAR stock car again.

That is, until Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon rolled the dice and gave Larson the opportunity of a lifetime - a second chance to not only prove he had learned his lesson and matured as a person, but also a chance to prove his abilities as a racer in of the best cars in the Cup Series garage. Despite a chorus of doubters and naysayers, Hendrick's gamble paid off in the biggest way possible.

Larson and his son Owen celebrate a title together (Google Images)

The Elk Grove, Calif. native scored his tenth points-paying win of the 2021 season in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, which is impressive in and of itself, but this victory also netted Larson and his team the 2021 Cup Series championship. Along with 20 top five finishes, 26 top tens, two poles, and nearly 2,600 laps led, this was an absolutely stellar season for Hendrick's flagship No. 5 team. It was also a level of success many would have considered impossible after the journey Larson had just competed.

The life of a professional athlete appears to be a relatively charmed one. Wealth, success, and admiration from legions of fans. However, living nearly every moment in the limelight means that each move you make and every word you say is scrutinized by the media, your competitors, and countless keyboard quarterbacks and social media trolls on the web.

The comment made by Larson was repugnant, reprehensible, and should not be tolerated in the world today. But, does that also mean he is incapable of changing his ways and atoning for his mistake? Today's hot take, "Cancel Culture" society seems to ensure that, more often than not, once a prominent person does or says something offensive, they're removed from the public eye for good before they can even think about asking forgiveness.

Larson was not going to let public opinion stop him from climbing back to the pinnacle of American motorsports. After a hiatus from social media, he penned an essay apologizing to those he'd offended and thanking those who still supported him.

"After I said the N-word, anger came at me from all angles. Being labeled a racist has hurt the most, but I brought that on myself," Larson wrote. "What I didn't expect, though, were all the people who, despite their disappointment in what I did, made the choice to not give up on me. It motivates me to repay their faith by working harder, not giving up on myself, and making sure something positive comes from the harm I caused."

Larson and his team look to defend their title in 2022  (Google Images)

Words are nice, and it's clear from his essay that the 17-time Cup Series winner wanted to make amends. But, actions always speak louder and Larson was ready to put in the work.

Yes, he completed his NASCAR-mandated sensitivity training, but he also worked very closely with the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia during his time away from the sport. Founded in 1998 by Anthony Martin, the organization exposes inner city youth between the ages of 8-18 to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career opportunities within the motorsports industry. Per their website, the UYRS has impacted the lives of more than 7,500 at-risk youth. Larson had already become involved with the Urban Youth Racing School a few years prior to his suspension, but he clearly saw this as an opportunity to do even more for a cause he feels strongly about. He also attended classes to learn more about the African-American community and visited the city of Minneapolis just days after George Floyd's murder.

Larson went above and beyond, and the NASCAR garage took notice.

Enter Hendrick Motorsports and the resurrected No. 5 team. When rumors began to swirl that Larson would make his way back into NASCAR, many saw Hendrick as a fool for wanting to sign a driver they assumed no sponsor would want to touch. Just 18 months or so later, HendrickCars.com is doing land-office business and HMS partner Valvoline recently renewed their contract with the team through 2027. That deal includes three primary races on Larson's Camaro.

It can be easy to write people off after an egregious error in judgement, especially when that person is a major league athlete. But, Larson's saga illustrates the importance of second chances. He put in the effort, made some personal changes, and was rewarded with the opportunity of a lifetime and the support of some of the most influential people in our sport. He's clearly grown by leaps and bounds and matured into someone fans can be proud to have represent NASCAR as its champion. And with one win, eight top fives, 10 top tens, and two poles in the first 18 races of 2022, he won't be giving up that crown without a fight.