Kyle Larson's Second Chance is a Win for Race Fans

Kyle Larson has become an absolutely unstoppable force in the world of racing, particularly in the NASCAR Cup series. This after his career in the highest series in American auto racing came to a sudden halt due to a controversy over him saying a racial slur.

Larson uttered the slur while racing on a computer game, which led to him losing his NASCAR Cup ride with Chip Ganassi Racing after sponsors decided to distance themselves from Larson. NASCAR suspended him until he met certain conditions. He was out of a seat for the rest of the year, with no guarantee that he would ever be back in the series. That didn't stop him from racing, mind you. He was still involved in various types of sprint car racing where he dominated much of the rest of the year. He also got behind the wheel of a dirt late model and showed that he could perform well in that too. Pretty much any style of racing he tries, he seems to win.

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He eventually met the requirements laid out by NASCAR in order to be reinstated. According to Autoweek, "He has attended sensitivity training, increased his work with various urban youth organizations and opened a charity that raises money for children, families and communities in need of support." The road was paved to heading back to NASCAR. But would anyone give him a ride?

It was announced that Kyle Larson was picked up by Hendrick Motorsports for 2021. Rick Hendrick decided to give Larson another chance. Why? Well, because he's one of the best frickin' drivers out there, that's why. As Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports put it:

Hendrick knew Larson was a generational talent, but he also knew he would have to bankroll the car through his companies as Larson repairs his reputation.

So, Hendrick put Larson in the legendary number 5 car, put his Hendrick Automotive Group logo on the side and watched as the wins started to pile up.

Over the course of the year, Larson won 5 NASCAR Cup races and clinched the regular season championship. In the first playoff race in Darlington, he came in second at Darlington. The guy is on a role and the possibility of him becoming the NASCAR Cup champion for 2021 is pretty darn high.

He has continued to race on dirt, and has won some of the biggest events in dirt racing: The Knoxville Nationals, the Chili Bowl, and the King's Royal at Eldora. He also raced in a late model, and became the first driver to win in both the World of Outlaw late model series and the World of Outlaw sprint series. The guy has been unstoppable.

To say that he would have an impressive career without NASCAR would be an understatement. But being able to return to NASCAR and see such success puts him on a whole new level.

It is not just to Kyle Larson's advantage that Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports gave him a second shot. It's to the advantage of all of us race fans who would have missed seeing the amazing comeback he has had. In many ways, Kyle didn't need NASCAR. He was doing great without NASCAR. But, NASCAR needed him. Reinstating him and him getting a ride with such a great team was one of the best things to happen to the series this year.

And the year isn't over.