Kyle Larson has done it once again. The man who won six Cup Series races last season now has another Golden Driller trophy in his cabinet. It couldn’t be a better moment for the Hendrick Motorsports driver, with Jeff Gordon cheering him on from the stands. However, Larson’s passion to race in other motorsport disciplines might just be under threat thanks to NASCAR’s latest ruling, and Gordon isn’t having it at all.

Now, Hendrick Motorsports vice president Jeff Gordon has slammed NASCAR for the rule change that will affect drivers like Kyle Larson.

Jeff Gordon reveals the true extent of Kyle Larson’s pain

From introducing international events to overhauling playoff regulations, NASCAR is preparing for a transformative season. These changes include the introduction of the Open Exemption Provisional, updates to the Damaged Vehicle Policy (DVP), and stricter playoff qualification rules. While these revisions aim to improve competition and fairness, some have sparked massive debates. Among these controversial changes, the playoff waiver rule stands out. Kyle Larson’s withdrawal from the Coca-Cola 600 rocked the 2024 NASCAR Cup season. It came after Larson failed to manage his attempt to run ‘The Double.’ NASCAR had to give Larson a waiver and allow him to qualify for the playoffs. However, ahead of the 2025 season, the organizing body decided to change the playoff waiver rule which now omits drivers who miss race willingly.

Speaking on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Jeff Gordon revealed why he doesn’t like the new rule. “The one comment I’ll make about that is there’s a lot of debate over this right last year and being right there in it the whole time. I mean, I flew on the plane with Kyle from Indy, you know, to Charlotte, and I personally don’t think they needed to take any further steps. And here’s my reason why. Because I saw the hurt on Kyle Larson’s face, and I could feel him letting his team down,” Gordon told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

These comments highlight that many believe that NASCAR’s playoff rule changes for 2025 are unnecessarily harsh. If these policies were in place last year, Larson would have lost all his playoff points and started at the bottom of the standings. Gordon highlighted the emotional and professional toll of Larson’s Indy 500 attempt, stating it was punishment enough.

“I had the conversations, you know, with Rick, and the conversations he’s have had with NASCAR, Chad Kunas, and Jeff Andrews. You know, the, I heard from fans and, you know, sponsors. And so, you know, if, if you’ve never owned A-Team or driven a race car, then I understand why you feel like you need, to take extra action. But if you ever have, you know that nothing is harder than to make that decision and deal with the consequences of not being in that car,” Gordon further added.

Notably, Kyle Larson’s bid to complete the grueling 1,100-mile “Double” in 2024 was ambitious but fraught with challenges. Larson made his Indy 500 debut by piloting the No. 17 Hendricks.com Arrow McLaren Chevy. He was running a powerful race before a speeding penalty on pit road relegated him to an 18th-place finish.

However, things got worse when weather delays in the Indy 500 forced him to withdraw from the Coca-Cola 600. Despite the chaos, Hendrick Motorsports successfully secured a playoff waiver for Larson, allowing him to remain championship-eligible. However, this process was anything but smooth. NASCAR’s hesitance to grant the waiver highlighted the friction between its priorities and the ambitions of drivers like Larson.

While Larson grapples with his challenges, he has set his sights on another NASCAR star—Kyle Busch.

Larson’s candid review of Kyle Busch’s dirt racing!

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After spending time with Busch at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, Larson expressed his belief that Busch could excel in 410 Sprint Car racing. Speaking to FloRacing, Larson praised Busch’s adaptability, especially in winged Micro Sprints. He argued that winged sprint cars are safer than midgets, making them a viable option for Busch.

“I’ve watched him, and he’s much better in winged cars than non-winged. A winged sprint car would fit him way better. He understands aerodynamics and how to find clean air. Midgets are way more dangerous. There are safety features you can add to sprint cars, which make them a better choice,” Larson explained.

Notably, Larson and Busch participated in multiple dirt racing events in the last few weeks together. While Busch remains winless, Larson clinched three trophies in the last two events. In Tulsa Shootout 2025, Busch made his debut at the event while Larson clinched two Golden Driller trophies. Going forward Larson won the Chili Bowl Nationals while Busch once again made his debut at the prestigious event.

However, the High Limit Racing Series co-owner also encouraged Busch to participate in companion events with NASCAR races. These include stops at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Kansas Speedway. As the 2025 season approaches, it will be interesting to see whether Larson will be able to complete ‘The Double’ or not.