Kyle Larson is doubling down on “The Double.”
Larson is ready to run each the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, a job he got down to accomplish final yr however by no means had an opportunity to finish after climate disrupted the NASCAR star’s plans.
A yr in the past, rain delayed the beginning of the Indianapolis 500, placing Larson effectively delayed in his quest. He completed 18th in Indianapolis, and did not make it to Charlotte Motor Speedway till 249 laps had been accomplished. He was set to leap into the No. 5 Chevrolet and take over for alternative driver Justin Allgaier, however lightning and heavy rains compelled NASCAR to name the race.
Larson by no means turned a lap at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“Final yr wasn’t as enjoyable and thrilling as individuals would possibly suppose,” Larson mentioned. “I used to be tremendous bummed as a result of I knew I wasn’t going to have the ability to race in each. I didn’t get to benefit from the pre-race stuff or something, however hopefully this yr it goes higher with the climate and I can simply take pleasure in the entire expertise.”
The forecast for Sunday in each cities seems to be just a little extra promising, though there’s nonetheless a small likelihood of rain.
If rain have been to delay the beginning of the Indianapolis 500 once more, Larson may face a tricky determination. If he would not make it again for the Coca-Cola 600, his playoff possibilities can be in jeopardy. Larson is taken into account one of many favorites to win the Cup Championship, having gained three Cup Sequence races this yr.
Hendrick Motorsports VP Jeff Gordon mentioned the staff has a “concrete plan” to have Larson in Charlotte in time for driver introductions, about 45 minutes earlier than the race. “He will probably be right here (at CMS) by 5:45 p.m.,” Gordon mentioned emphatically.
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Solely a handful of elite drivers have dared to tackle the epic motorsports crossover. Tony Stewart set the usual for “The Double” in 2001 when he completed sixth on the Indy 500 and third on the Coca-Cola 600, turning into the primary driver to ever full all 1,100 miles.
“I like to race,” Larson mentioned of the problem. “I like to compete in huge occasions and I like to strive new issues to problem myself,” mentioned Larson. “I attempt to keep centered on making this the most effective expertise I can and getting my automobile to drive the most effective it could whereas additionally having fun with the second.”
Different issues to look at on the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday evening:
Change in spotters
Christopher Bell and Brad Keselowski can have new spotters on the Coca-Cola 600.
Joe Gibbs Racing mentioned Matt Philpott has changed Stevie Reeves as Bell’s spotter. Reeves had been the spotter for Bell, final week’s All-Star Race winner and the defending Coca-Cola 600 champion, since he made his sequence debut in 2020.
“I used to be stunned as effectively,” Bell mentioned of Reeves’ determination to depart the staff. “It was all Stevie’s determination. He made the choice on his personal to give up.”
Todd Brewer replaces T.J. Majors as Keselowski’s spotter. Majors will probably be out for a month on account of a medical process.
Byron’s extension
William Byron referred to as it a “aid” to obtain a four-year contract extension on Friday from Hendrick Motorsports.
The 2-time defending Daytona 500 champion mentioned negotiations have been “amicable” and he anticipated they’d finally get achieved.
“I positively wished to be right here and concentrate on successful races,” Byron mentioned. “That’s what it’s all about at Hendrick Motorsports and what I wish to do. … I felt like Hendrick was all the time my residence.”
“We expect it’s a no brainer,” Gordon mentioned. “It’s labored and he has been a fantastic match. … We have been going to make it occur a method or one other.”
Johnson set for milestone
Seven-time Cup Sequence champion and Legacy Motor Membership part-owner Jimmie Johnson will hit a profession milestone on the Charlotte Motor Speedway together with his 700th profession Cup Sequence begin.
For the 49-year-old Johnson, it is a poignant second, returning to the venue the place he started his Cup Sequence journey in 2001. Johnson’s first begin got here on Oct. 7, 2001 at Charlotte. He went on to dominate at Charlotte, successful the Coca-Cola 600 4 occasions (2003, 2004, 2005, 2014), the Financial institution of America 500 4 occasions (2004, 2005, 2009, 2016), and the All-Star Race 4 occasions (2003, 2006, 2012, 2013).
“That is my 700th begin, however let’s be clear — it is not my final begin,” Johnson mentioned.
The Coca-Cola 600 grind
The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race on the NASCAR circuit, and it could typically take 5 hours to finish the 400 laps on a 1 1/2-mile monitor. Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet previously run by Dale Earnhardt, referred to as it probably the most grueling races on the NASCAR circuit.
“The monitor’s not clean,” mentioned Dillon, who gained the race in 2017. “It’s tough, so I believe you prep your seat effectively for this race too. I modified that two years in the past after we went to this automobile. I bear in mind the primary time within the Subsequent Gen automobile right here. It was terrible underneath warning, even simply your head rattling round in there. So I attempted to make our foam just a little completely different round our head relaxation, which helps.”
Salute to service
Charlotte Motor Speedway has a protracted custom of honoring the navy on Memorial Day weekend as a part of their “Salute to service.” There are flyovers, quite a few navy members on web site, the enjoying of “Faucets” and every driver carries the identify of a fallen soldier’s identify on their racecar.
“To have a reputation on the aspect of a race automobile, to share that with their household — it means greater than motorsports,” mentioned AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 automobile for Kaulig Racing. “I’ll be 100% trustworthy, I get misplaced. You realize what our job is, you’re on the market to win, and that’s all you concentrate on, however there’s a short second there of all of the pre-race stuff on the (Coca-Cola) 600 the place racing doesn’t imply something.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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