In April, team owner Chip Ganassi made the difficult decision to fire NASCAR Kyle Larson after the driver used a racial slur during an iRacing livestream.

As part of an interview with SPEED SPORT’s Bruce Martin for a feature on the 30th anniversary of Chip Ganassi Racing, which will be published in the September issue of SPEED SPORT, Ganassi discussed his decision to let Larson go.

Ganassi said it was difficult to fire Larson, who has been the hottest driver of the summer in winged sprint car racing, because he personally likes the driver.

“Sure, it was hard,” Ganassi admitted. “Kyle is out there winning sprint car races. He was at Lernerville (Speedway) here in Pittsburgh and I was texting him back and forth, telling him to go get some wins.”

Win is something Larson has done this summer, claiming 21 feature victories in 35 starts since May 30, including 17 wins behind the wheel of a 410 sprint car.

Ganassi said he is happy Larson, who won six NASCAR Cup Series races for Chip Ganassi Racing, is continuing to win races.

“Nobody is happier seeing Kyle Larson winning races in whatever he is driving than me. I hope he keeps winning,” Ganassi said. “The door is open for him to come back to NASCAR whenever he wants, if he wants to. I don’t know what his plans are and haven’t talked to him. He has a seat with me and with his talent, he probably has a seat with anyone that he wants.”

The full-length feature on Chip Ganassi Racing will be available in the Septemeber issue of SPEED SPORT Magazine after Labor Day.