Kyle Larson, who qualified fifth for the Indianapolis 500 with Arrow McLaren, flew to North Wilkesboro Speedway to compete in the NASCAR All-Star Race on the same night. Although he made it with time to spare, NASCAR had pushed the start of the race back by 15 minutes. Now, the focus shifts to the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race on the NASCAR schedule.
#NASCAR's Elton Sawyer says the sanctioning body will work closely with all parties involved "within reason" to ensure @KyleLarsonRacin gets to @CLTMotorSpdwy in time for the #CocaCola600 🥤
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— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) May 23, 2024
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition, spoke to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio about the situation. “We’re going to work closely with the folks at Speedway Motorsports, our TV broadcast partners, and Hendrick Motorsports to do everything we can to make sure that Kyle can get there—within reason,” Sawyer said. “Our fans deserve to see one of the best drivers ever in our sport participate in our Coke 600 Sunday night.”
The plan is for Kyle Larson to leave the Brickyard by helicopter, get on a plane, and fly into the Concord airport before helicoptering to the speedway. For drivers who have previously competed in the double, the helicopter has landed on the frontstretch grass. It’s an estimated 50-minute to one-hour flight from Indianapolis to Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Kyle Larson’s Regular Championship Chances Despite missing Coke 600
Kyle Larson’s schedule is nothing short of intense. He’ll kick off the day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, competing in the prestigious Indy 500. Then, immediately after, he’ll hop on a plane and head to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he’ll take the wheel for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s a cross-country dash that only a handful of drivers have attempted, and Larson aims to join the elite group who have conquered both races in a single day.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: missing the Coca-Cola 600. If Larson doesn’t perform well or fails to finish the race due to exhaustion or other factors, how will it impact his overall championship chances? The answer lies in consistency. Kyle Larson has been a force to reckon with in the NASCAR Cup Series, notching two victories and six top-five finishes in the first 12 races of the 2024 season. His regular-season performance positions him well in the points standings.
While winning the Coca-Cola 600 would undoubtedly boost his championship bid, Larson’s consistent finishes in other races could still keep him in contention. NASCAR’s playoff format allows for wild-card entries based on wins, but consistency matters too. If Larson maintains his strong form throughout the season, missing one race may not be a deal-breaker.
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