Kyle Larson is doubling down on “The Double.”
Larson is about to run each the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, a process he got down to accomplish final 12 months however by no means had an opportunity to finish after climate disrupted the NASCAR star’s plans.
A 12 months in the past, rain delayed the beginning of the Indianapolis 500, placing Larson properly 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 substitute 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 12 months wasn’t as enjoyable and thrilling as folks would possibly assume,” Larson stated. “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 12 months it goes higher with the climate and I can simply take pleasure in the entire expertise.”
The forecast for Sunday in each cities appears a bit 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 might face a troublesome resolution. If he would not make it again for the Coca-Cola 600, his playoff probabilities can be in jeopardy. Larson is taken into account one of many favorites to win the Cup Championship, having received three Cup Sequence races this 12 months.
Hendrick Motorsports VP Jeff Gordon stated 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 likely be right here (at CMS) by 5:45 p.m.,” Gordon stated 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, changing into the primary driver to ever full all 1,100 miles.
“I like to race,” Larson stated of the problem. “I like to compete in huge occasions and I like to attempt new issues to problem myself,” stated Larson. “I attempt to keep centered on making this the very best expertise I can and getting my automotive to drive the very best it could possibly whereas additionally having fun with the second.”
Different issues to observe on the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night time:
Change in spotters
Christopher Bell and Brad Keselowski could have new spotters on the Coca-Cola 600.
Joe Gibbs Racing stated 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 collection debut in 2020.
“I used to be stunned as properly,” Bell stated of Reeves’ resolution to go away the staff. “It was all Stevie’s resolution. He made the choice on his personal to give up.”
Todd Brewer replaces T.J. Majors as Keselowski’s spotter. Majors will likely be out for a month on account of a medical process.
Byron’s extension
William Byron referred to as it a “reduction” to obtain a four-year contract extension on Friday from Hendrick Motorsports.
The 2-time defending Daytona 500 champion stated negotiations have been “amicable” and he anticipated they’d finally get completed.
“I positively needed to be right here and concentrate on successful races,” Byron stated. “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 stated. “It’s labored and he has been a fantastic match. … We have been going to make it occur a technique 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 stated.
The Coca-Cola 600 grind
The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race on the NASCAR circuit, and it could possibly typically take 5 hours to finish the 400 laps on a 1 1/2-mile observe. Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet previously run by Dale Earnhardt, referred to as it one of the vital grueling races on the NASCAR circuit.
“The observe’s not clean,” stated Dillon, who received the race in 2017. “It’s tough, so I feel you prep your seat properly for this race too. I modified that two years in the past once we went to this automotive. I bear in mind the primary time within the Subsequent Gen automotive right here. It was terrible below warning, even simply your head rattling round in there. So I attempted to make our foam a bit totally different round our head relaxation, which helps.”
Salute to service
Charlotte Motor Speedway has an extended 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 taking part in 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 automotive, to share that with their household — it means greater than motorsports,” stated AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 automotive 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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