NASCAR

Kyle Larson was dropped from his racing team and quickly lost sponsors after uttering the N-word in April while playing a livestreamed video game. NASCAR has now lifted his suspension.

"The timing seemed perfect as NASCAR is evolving and embracing social change more and more," says Michael Jordan, the basketball icon and majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets NBA franchise said.

The president follows up a pair of divisive speeches over the holiday weekend by castigating the racing body for banning the Confederate flag and saying Wallace should apologize to his fellow drivers.

NASCAR releases picture of the noose found in driver Bubba Wallace's garage at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. The organization also completed its investigation into what happened.

Bill Lester, one of only seven Black drivers to race in NASCAR's top-tier cup series, says he wanted the flag gone when he raced more than a decade ago. "The country was not ready to listen," he says.

"After a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event, we have concluded that no federal crime was committed," FBI officials said in a statement, Tuesday.

The FBI joins investigation into who left a noose inside NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace's garage at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. NASCAR plans to ban the perpetrators from the sport for life.

The symbol of violent white racism was found in Bubba Wallace's stall. The only Black driver in the top stock car racing circuit, he had led the campaign to ban Confederate flags from NASCAR events.

The car's driver says it honors first responders. Last week, NASCAR banned the Confederate battle flag from its events. A black driver recently unveiled a Black Lives Matter paint scheme.

Up to 1,000 South Florida service members, first responders and their families are the first group of fans allowed to watch a NASCAR race in the stands since March.

Bubba Wallace is the only black driver to race full time in NASCAR's top series. He tells All Things Considered that banning the Confederate flag will bring in people who felt uncomfortable before.

"The presence of the Confederate flag runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and industry," officials announce Wednesday.