NASCAR orders sensitivity training for driver Denny Hamlin after he posted 'Family Guy' clip that stereotypes Asian drivers



NASCAR has ordered driver Denny Hamlin to take a sensitivity training course after he posted a now-deleted tweet that included a clip from "Family Guy" that stereotypes Asian drivers, Yahoo! Sports reported.

Say what?

Hamlin and fellow driver Kyle Larson are good friends, the outlet said. (They indeed look chummy in the above photo.)

Larson's maternal family is Japanese, Yahoo! Sports said, adding that he's the first person from NASCAR's Driver for Diversity program to win a Cup Series title.

In the final seconds of Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, Larson went for the lead before the finish line and hit Kurt Busch, who hit the wall "and the subsequent crash that unfolded also collected Bubba Wallace," the outlet said.

Busch and Wallace drive for 23XI Racing, which Hamlin co-owns with Michael Jordan, Yahoo! Sports said.

So Hamlin posted a tweet Monday with the "Family Guy" clip as a joke toward his good friend Larson, the outlet said, and then he deleted it hours later and issued an apology:

For the curious among you, another Twitter user reposted Hamlin's tweet and video in the comments under Hamlin's apology tweet below:

I took down a post I made earlier today after reading some of the comments. It was a poor choice of memes and I saw how it was offensive. It came across totally wrong. I apologize.
— Denny Hamlin (@Denny Hamlin) 1650944970

What else?

NASCAR said Hamlin must begin his sensitivity training by the start of the next Cup Series race at Dover on Sunday, Yahoo! Sports reported.

The outlet noted that NASCAR instituted mandatory sensitivity training for all participants ahead of the 2021 season, and other drivers have been required to take sensitivity training after saying or posting offensive things recently.

Busch was ordered to complete sensitivity training in November after using the R-word to describe Brad Keselowski's driving at Martinsville, Yahoo! Sports said, adding that Truck Series driver Hailie Deegan had to complete sensitivity training after using the R-word during a Twitch stream of a virtual race in January 2021.

What's more, Larson himself was suspended for most of the 2020 season and had to complete sensitivity training after using the N-word during a virtual race, the outlet said, adding that he was reinstated to NASCAR after fulfilling requirements for a return to the Cup Series and then won the 2021 title.

How are folks reacting?

While some Twitter commenters said Hamlin was in the wrong, others commenting under his apology tweet expressed dismay over the discipline handed down to him and said people are taking things way too seriously these days:

  • "I’m a Larson fan, and this is ridiculous," one commenter said. "Political correctness has led to a sissified society. Everyone is offended by everything...and since that’s going to continue, go on being yourself. No worries."
  • "No way you had to apologize for that. You were just trying to be funny. A shame people couldn’t take a joke. Sorry you have to do this man," another user wrote.
  • "I thought it was hilarious!!" another commenter said. "Best thing on Twitter in a while!"

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin form new NASCAR team, sign Bubba Wallace to multiyear deal



NBA legend Michael Jordan has partnered with three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin to form a new NASCAR team, and the duo has already signed Bubba Wallace to "a multiyear deal to drive for the yet-to-be named, single car team," according to a news release by the NBA.

What are the details?

"Growing up in North Carolina, my parents would take my brothers, sisters and me to races, and I've been a NASCAR fan my whole life," Jordan, who is majority owner, said in a statement. "The opportunity to own my own racing team in partnership with my friend, Denny Hamlin, and to have Bubba Wallace driving for us, is very exciting for me."

"Historically, NASCAR has struggled with diversity and there have been few Black owners," added Jordan, who is also the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets NBA franchise. "The timing seemed perfect as NASCAR is evolving and embracing social change more and more. In addition to the recent commitment and donations I have made to combat systemic racism, I see this as a chance to educate a new audience and open more opportunities for Black people in racing."

Hamlin — who is still a NASCAR driver himself — made the announcement of his partnership with Jordan on social media, saying that the team would be competing in 2021 while declaring, "Deciding on a driver was easy - it had to be Bubba Wallace."

"Bubba has shown tremendous improvement since joining the Cup Series and we believe he's ready to take his career to a higher level," Hamlin continued. "He deserves the opportunity to compete for race wins and our team will make sure he has the resources to do that."

He added, "Off the track, Bubba has been a loud voice for change in our sport and our country. MJ and I support him fully in those efforts and stand beside him."

Tonight, I’m excited to announce MJ and I are starting a new, single car @NASCAR Cup Series team for 2021. Deciding… https://t.co/tAXZcZwicd
— Denny Hamlin (@Denny Hamlin)1600735852.0

In response to Hamlin's post, Wallace tweeted, "This is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I believe is a great fit for me at this point in my career. I'm grateful and humbled that they believe in me and I'm super pumped to begin this adventure with them."

What else?

NBC Sports noted that Wallace, 26, "is in his third full season in Cup," and that "all 105 of his starts in NASCAR's premier series have been with Richard Petty Motorsports."

The outlet further reported that Wallace is "the only Black driver competing full-time in any of NASCAR's top three national series," pointing out that "he has been active in helping lead NASCAR through social changes, including the banning of the Confederate flag at series events and tracks."

Wallace parted ways with Richard Petty Motorsports earlier this month, according to NPR, which reported that Jordan is "trying to make NASCAR more inclusive."