Saving the 42

I do think NASCAR will be back sooner than you think. Chip Ganassi Racing has their man to helm the 42 car. Last month following a racial slur, Kyle Larson was suspended and then fired. Sponsors ran away. Coming back and out of retirement once again is Matt Kenseth, one of the sports more well known drivers.

Kenseth has been around the Cup series going back to 2000. He always finds ways to win. That's how it ultimately got him a championship win in 2003, which was huge for Roush Racing, who would win the next one in 04 with Kurt Busch.  Combined for over 70 wins in all kinds of auto racing, he always finds ways to get into contention. Some bad luck here and there, but an all around driver that isn't a bad guy the fans will boo.

Ganassi gets an experienced man for the job. Other guys considered reading the articles included Carl Edwards and Ross Chastain. Edwards hasn't raced in over three years and seems more content with staying retired. Unfortunate, because he was a good natured driver and came close a couple times to winning the championship, including his final year in 2016.  If he had more wins than Tony Stewart in 2011, he could have won the Cup. And Chastain filled in for the injured Ryan Newman. Maybe he gets his chance next year because I don't see Kenseth being a long term answer. He'll probably go back to his home in November and live peacefully until he is in the Hall of Fame.

Embrace it for now. Hopefully, no more stupid moments that cause controversy. And a good guy like Kenseth is a solid answer.

Virtual Suspension

I've played my share of online games or seen them played the last 10 plus years. Sometimes, you see the frustration mount on a few and maybe yourself. I'd be panicking if I'm Kyle Larson and his PR group and whoever else is involved. Saying the n-word  has caused a lot of damage to his reputation and being with Chip Ganassi Racing. I'm not surprised about NASCAR suspending him indefinitely. Little sensitivity training to help fix him.

But what I am surprised kind of is Ganassi giving him the boot so quickly. Even if he weren't suspended, this would have been an end of the year scenario where the result would have been the same. What I see as a reason for the early boot is the sponsors. McDonald's has been around NASCAR for a long time. When I think of the two, I think Bill Elliott and a little Jamie McMurray. Some of the brands don't want to be associated with Larson, which is very understandable. It happens with specific spokespeople.

Where does Larson go? Good question. Until he is reinstated back in, it will be a tough sell. I could see Penske potentially. Maybe Brad Keselowski's car. Or Hendrick if Jimmie Johnson wants to retire instead of doing a full final year next year if he's not satisfied with ending 2020 without a full season. Ganassi will need to think about who they want. They got plenty of time. And maybe NASCAR should have guidelines for this virtual racing that they have done for the last month.

Things need to be ironed out before another incident happens.