Kyle Larson is eligible to contend for the 2024 Cup Collection championship after NASCAR granted Hendrick Motorsports’ waiver request, NASCAR introduced Tuesday.
The group submitted the request after Larson missed a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway final month to compete within the Indianapolis 500 on the identical day. Larson, the 2021 Cup champion, wanted the waiver to keep up playoff eligibility as a result of he was making an attempt the “Double” — racing in each the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on Might 26 — however missed the beginning of the NASCAR race.
NASCAR requires drivers to begin all 26 regular-season races if they’re to earn one among 16 playoff spots.
NEWS: @KyleLarsonRacin has been granted a waiver and maintains his eligibility for the #NASCARPlayoffs. pic.twitter.com/bUOPgxCzez
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 4, 2024
Sometimes, there may be sufficient of a niche between the end of the Indy 500 and the beginning of the Coca-Cola 600 to permit a driver to journey from Indianapolis to Charlotte. 4 drivers have accomplished the “Double” beforehand, with Larson making an attempt to grow to be the fifth.
Nevertheless, Larson’s plans have been sophisticated when the beginning of the Indy 500 was delayed 4 hours as a result of inclement climate. And as a substitute of forgoing the Indy 500, Larson and Hendrick management determined to stay at Indianapolis and skip the beginning of the Coca-Cola 600.
Justin Allgaier began Larson’s automotive in NASCAR’s longest race. Since Larson was not within the automotive in the beginning, Allgaier was thought of the driving force of document, necessitating Larson needing a waiver.
After the Indy 500, Larson instantly flew to Charlotte (he completed 18th at Indy) the place he was planning to alleviate Allgaier, however inclement climate additionally scuttled that plan. By the point Larson arrived on the monitor and was ready to get in his automotive, NASCAR had stopped the race as a result of inclement climate.
The race was not restarted. NASCAR traditionally has judiciously given waivers out when requests have been made.
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Typically these requests pertain to drivers lacking races as a result of harm, and even when a driver has been suspended for an on- or off-track incident. However Larson skipping a NASCAR to compete in a race exterior its sanction was distinctive, elevating questions on whether or not Larson needs to be given a waiver since he selected to prioritize the Indy 500.
Many NASCAR drivers have since publicly voiced assist for Larson saying he needs to be granted a waiver as he was making an attempt to do one thing particular that raised the profile for motorsports as a complete.
“Kyle Larson goes to win 5 – 6 or seven races this yr,” Michael McDowell mentioned. “To sit down right here and say that he’s not going to get a waiver as a result of he tried to do the ‘Double’ and introduced an amazing quantity of eyeballs on our sport and an amazing quantity of eyeballs on IndyCar and simply helped motorsports all collectively is loopy. So I do know that there’s arguments to that, however I imply, come on, we’re speaking about the most effective driver that’s ever sat in a inventory automotive and we’re not going to present him a cross? That’s loopy.”
Had NASCAR not granted Larson a waiver it might’ve created a controversial storyline that hung over the game for the rest of the season — and probably past.
Larson is taken into account one of many favorites to win the Cup championship, and earlier than lacking the Charlotte race, he was main the purpose standings and had already just about locked up a playoff spot based mostly on profitable two races.
Even regardless of Larson lacking a race, he’s solely 21 factors behind championship chief Denny Hamlin with 11 regular-season races remaining.
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(Photograph: James Gilbert / Getty Photos)