As the Memorial Day weekend looms on the horizon, memories of the fierce ‘Double Duty’ flash in our heads. One gem of a driver stands out among the four who attempted this nerve-racking venture. Tony Stewart tried twice in 1999 and 2001. He set significant milestones along the way, including becoming the only driver to complete both races. And Kyle Larson draws inspiration from that.

Larson, currently leading the NASCAR Cup Series in terms of points, is hungry for more glory. That is why he will be the fifth driver to race in both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on a single day. The task could be daunting and exhaustive, but Larson is harnessing his energy from Stewart’s run.

Kyle Larson equates himself with Stewart’s efforts

The Hendrick Motorsports star has already proven his mettle in IndyCar. In an Indy Open Test held around a month back, Kyle Larson registered phenomenal speeds. He shot to second on the speed chart with a best lap of 226.384mph, only trailing behind two-time IndyCar champion Josef Newgarden. Hence, Larson’s preparation for the Double Duty is well on track.

Now the grand event is close at hand, with Memorial Day celebrations set to start on May 26th. The 25-time Cup winner waxed confident about his attempt in a recent interview. Journalist Jeff Gluck tweeted about an interaction: “Kyle Larson was asked about the physical demands of driving 1,100 miles in the same day in two different states next Sunday.” Then Larson smiled and responded: “If Tony can do it, I can do it.”

Indeed, Gluck’s concern is pressing, as Tony Stewart went through a tough ordeal. His first 1999 attempt spelled exhaustion and dehydration, and he somehow managed to show up for the two races. “The first year it was terrible. It was a terrible experience,” Stewart said, laughing. “I had no idea what I needed to do, nutrition-wise. I’m not a workout guy. I’m not a nutrition guy. And I realized very, very quickly that day – I learned at the end of the 500, that I had a long day ahead of me still.”

After the Coca-Cola 600 drew to a close, Stewart passed out in his car on pit road. Then one driver, a NASCAR legend, came up to help him. Dale Earnhardt pulled him out of the car, and asked: “Have you had enough yet?”

But as it turned out, Stewart was yet to satiate his desires. Hence he came back in 2001, fully prepared.

Stewart’s second attempt was well-planned

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When Tony Stewart’s health failed him in the first 1999 attempt, he addressed his pressing need. With the help of team owner Joe Gibbs, Stewart focused on his physical training. He had an expert’s help in the process. “The second year we did it in 2001, having a trainer with us for three-and-a-half weeks was a game changer,” said Stewart. “That’s what Joe’s (team owner Gibbs) requirements were. If I was going to do it, I had to have a trainer.”

Stewart’s hard work paid off, as he scripted history in 2001 with lead-lap runs in both races. He finished sixth place in Indianapolis until the rains hit the race. After flying to Charlotte, he drove from the rear to bag a third-place finish.

Hence, Kyle Larson may be diligently following in Stewart’s footsteps and acquiring much-needed physical stamina to endure the 1100-mile-long ordeal.