At age 19, Hailie Deegan has already made quite a name for herself, placing second in an ARCA Series race at Daytona last February along with a 16th place result in her Truck Series debut at Kansas Motor Speedway.
Deegan has now become the first women in NASCAR history to be ordered into sensitivity training after uttering the 'R-word' in an online racing event aired on social media.
Wonder what it was? Someone ask Ryan Kinel at RK Outpost...
Last spring Cup Series driver Kyle Larson was fired from Chip Ganassi Racing for using a racial slur in a similar online event, the timing could not have been worse as Larson was to become a free agent at season's end. Fellow Cup driver Bubba Wallace also received heat for quitting a similar iRacing event while NASCAR was shutdown during the pandemic.
After a stint in the World Of Outlaws and a stint in sensitivity training, Larson landed a fully-sponsored ride with Hendrick Motorsports in October. The Hendrick organization includes reigning 2020 Cup champion Chase Elliott along with retired multi-time champs Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon.
Larson's No. 5 team was back in the news this past weekend when spotter Chris Monez was released after social media activity revealed him supporting Donald Trump and QAnon. Monez joined the Hendrick organization Jan. 1 after a similar role with another team.
Elsewhere, golfer Justin Thomas landed in the rough after being heard uttering a homophobic slur after a missed putt during the Tournament of Champions at Hawaii's Plantation Course, an event with no attendance where literally every fart can be heard via. on-course microphones.
Thomas has apologized for making an 'inexcusable' remark. No word yet on whether the PGA Tour will take action.
This is where we are so far in 2021 - and if you feel a need to let off steam just remember two simple phrases..
'Fahrvergnugen' and 'God Bless America'...