Coca-Cola 600 Weather Update: NASCAR Blamed for “Rigged” Red Flag Delay as Agitated Fans Insinuate Kyle Larson Favoritism

This year’s Memorial Day weekend has a special flavor to spice it up. Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson is on the way to making history as he becomes the fifth driver to attempt The Double. Larson and his No. 5 team prepared diligently for their maiden Indy 500 run. So when the rainy weather crashed the party, Rick Hendrick and Co. decided to see through the Indy race, although it was delayed for four hours.

That spelled only one thing: Kyle Larson would not see the entirety of the lengthy Coca-Cola 600 race. NASCAR and HMS tried their best to tweak the race schedule to accommodate his arrival in Charlotte. However, fans are far from pleased about an alleged act of favoritism.

The weather threw Kyle Larson’s Double attempt in jeopardy

Heavy thunderstorms and persistent rain were already on the cards for Indianapolis prior to Sunday. So after Larson qualified fifth in his No. 17 Arrow McLaren Dallara-Chevrolet last week, tensions were on the rise about D-Day. Mother Nature did not yield, and the Indy 500 flagged off at 4:45 p.m. ET. Additionally, the 2021 Cup Champion also washed up against track troubles.

Taking the green flag in the top five, Kyle Larson appeared comfortably wielding an open-wheel car after an early miscue. He carved out a good run and found a spot as high as 6th place. But then a speeding penalty was issued to him due to a late pit road fiasco. After that, Larson had to pit from the lead for fuel with less than 20 laps remaining.

Per the NASCAR report, Kyle Larson felt a dash of remorse for the slip-up. He said, “I made a couple of mistakes early on the restart, but felt like I did a really good job on the restarts. … Obviously, I smoked a left-front or something on the green-flag stop and killed our opportunity. I’m proud to finish, but I’m pretty upset at myself. I just could have executed a better race. You never know what could have happened.”

What awaited next was a smooth ride to Charlotte Motor Speedway. Justin Allgaier, a NASCAR Xfinity Series veteran, was filling in for Larson in the No. 5 Chevrolet. Allgaier ended up running most of the Coca-Cola 600—249 of the 400 laps—before Kyle Larson finally reached the venue.

Incidentally, as Kyle Larson was strapping up his firesuit and donning his helmet, NASCAR issued an announcement. It halted the race as a system moved into Charlotte and brought lightning and rain. Hence, a caution was issued. Bob Pockrass updated the situation: “NASCAR says this lap won’t count and they are told to take their cars to their pit stalls. Lightning delay (and expected rain).”

But Larson’s back in Charlotte,  all ready to hit the Coca-Cola 600. Yet NASCAR fans put two and two together and whispered suspicions of rigging amidst this lightning bout. Kyle Larson was the prime suspect, and NASCAR was his benefactor.

Fans call out NASCAR for suspected favoritism

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Kyle Larson is arguably one of the best motorsport athletes at present. Hendrick Motorsports single-handedly drives TV ratings and viewership just by hopping into a race car. NASCAR would naturally go out of his way to fulfill his ambitions. Hence, the 247-second lightning delay at the Coca-Cola 600 got fans suspicious.

Although thunderstorms did arrive at the venue, race fans called NASCAR’s bluff. One fan ridiculed any lightning situation: “There isn’t any fuckin lightning they want Larson back into the care THATS IT.” Another fan was willing to make a wager on the fishy situation. “If you really think this is for weather boy do I have a bridge to sell you. This for Larson to get in the car.”

One fan accused NASCAR of rigging the race mechanism due to Kyle Larson’s presence. “NASCAR rigged red flag for Larson.” Another fan explained why Larson would benefit: since he had to take over in Allgaier’s place, some sort of lap delay was inevitable. But with the red flag, Larson would not lose any track position. The fan commented, “so Larson won’t lose any laps on driver change… nascar is so rigged.”

Another fan compared Kyle Larson to seven-time Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson for this prince treatment. “Oh to be as lucky as Kyle Larson for the race to be red flagged right as you’re arriving at the track. I swear, if that guy bought a power ball lottery ticket, he’d somehow win the mega millions lottery on it. He’s a lucky as Jimmie Johnson was.”

Hence, the red flag coinciding with Kyle Larson’s arrival in Charlotte did not thrill fans. Now we wait to see how the stellar driver finishes his double ambitions.