Fans, teams, drivers, and media have eagerly approached the NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway, anticipating whether Kyle Larson will receive a playoff eligibility waiver. Larson, however, maintains that everything is proceeding as usual.
“Everything is business as usual,” Larson stated after Saturday’s qualifying session, questioning why it would be any different.
Last week, Larson was in the spotlight as he attempted to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, two major auto racing events. However, widespread rain disrupted his plans, delaying the Indy 500 start and eventually cutting the Cup race short.
The 2021 Cup champion admitted he was hoping for a rainout on race day.
“I was hopeful that it would rain long enough to where they would cancel Indy,” Larson said. “I knew rain was coming, but I just didn’t know how long it would last. I was pretty optimistic that we would get rained out there, and then as it was getting closer, I realized it was probably not going to happen.”
Kyle Larson faced a tough decision: whether to seize the rare opportunity to compete in the Indianapolis 500 or fly to Charlotte to meet his NASCAR obligations. Ultimately, he chose to stay in Indianapolis, finishing 18th in his first Indy 500, despite a late speeding penalty that affected his performance. Larson then attempted to make it to Charlotte to complete the Coca-Cola 600, but by the time he arrived, rain had already ended the race.
The decision was a no-win situation, bound to disappoint some. Larson felt particularly uneasy about it, worried he might have let down his NASCAR team. It wasn’t until he received a call from his Cup crew chief, Cliff Daniels, that he felt reassured about his choice.
“I was just sad that I didn’t get a chance to get into the car and get going in Charlotte,” Larson said. “In my heart and mind, I thought I was letting the [No. 5 team] guys down. I didn’t get to talk to them before the race, so I didn’t know what they were thinking. I didn’t want them to think I chose something else over them.”
“But after talking to Cliff, I found out everyone was in great spirits and proud that I was at Indy representing the team. That made me feel better. I just didn’t really know, so I felt depressed for a night or two.”
With the tough decision behind him, Kyle Larson is now focused on getting back into his routine. However, his arrival in the St. Louis area comes with uncertainty regarding his championship prospects. Because he didn’t start in Charlotte, Larson needs a waiver from NASCAR to maintain his championship eligibility. Hendrick Motorsports submitted the waiver request during the week, but NASCAR has not yet announced its decision.
On Saturday, many of Larson’s fellow drivers expressed support for him.
Kyle Larson remains tight-lipped about the waiver discussion. Instead, he’s kept himself busy, participating in a midweek test at the new Cup venue, Iowa Speedway, and securing a win in the High Limit Racing sprint car series he co-owns at Lawrenceburg Speedway on Friday.
Despite the complicated situation, Larson isn’t deterred from considering future attempts at the Indy-Charlotte double. In fact, he’s more determined.
“I would like to do it again, just because I can’t imagine the weather could get any worse or screw up the plans any worse,” Larson said. “I think if I was to do it again, it would go smoother.”
While decisions about future Indy efforts will come later, Larson is now focused on pursuing a Cup championship, whether that chance is for himself or solely for his team.
“It’s not up to me,” Larson said of the waiver decision. “I’ll be here every weekend.”
Be the first to comment