May in the 2024 season was supposed to be the month of Larson. But Mother Nature had other plans. As tickets at Charlotte Motor Speedway sold out and NASCAR fans flocked to the Indy 500, their attention was especially on one driver. Kyle Larson was to become the fifth racer to attempt the 1100-mile Double Duty until the weather intruded.
Rain and lightning pounded on both Indianapolis and Charlotte. This caused a 4-hour delay at Indy, stealing Larson’s Charlotte plans. He lamented, “I don’t think they’ve had a delay there [at Indy] in how long?” Not only could Larson properly finish the Indy 500, but also he could not even start at the Coca-Cola 600. Hours after his heartbreak, Kyle Larson further heaves in despair.
Kyle Larson deals with a “horrible” feeling
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The build-up to the Memorial Day weekend spectacle was long and strenuous. 16 months ago Kyle Larson announced he would be running in the two marquee races in two states, and his team swung into action. It was a meticulous coordination between Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR, Arrow McClaren, and many other entities. Hence, a lot of eager faces were looking towards Kyle Larson to cruise to glory at the Double.
That is what stung the No. 5 driver the most. “I hate it for Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, HAG, Hendrick Motorsports, everyone a part of the 5 team, everyone on the 17 indycar for speeding, my family, my friends, my fans, and the documentary crew that has followed along the journey the past 8 months.”
What I thought could be one of the best days of my life quickly turned into one of the most disappointing ones I’ve ever experienced. I hate it for Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, HAG, Hendrick Motorsports, everyone a part of the 5 team, everyone on the 17 indycar for speeding, my…
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) May 27, 2024
He further cemented his stormy emotions, as Mother Nature chose the perfect time to crash all his efforts. “So much time, money, and effort went into this experience and it just kills me to have it all end the way it did. I feel like I let so many people down. We knew all along weather could throw a wrench into things but seeing it come to reality is a horrible feeling.”
Larson was getting ready to hop into the No. 5 and take up from where Justin Allgaier left. But the weather delay extended two hours until NASCAR had to call it a night at 11:30 PM. Kyle Larson had to watch in agony as Christopher Bell claimed the victory at NASCAR’s crown jewel event.
However, Allgaier tried his best to drive in the HMS star’s absence. Despite his lack of experience in Cup, he drove impressively.
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Larson’s double tried to save the Double
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Justin Allgaier is a stellar name in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Driving in the No. 7 JR Motorsports car, he achieved his most recent victory at Darlington. Allgaier’s 24 career victories tie with Dale Earnhardt Jr and Tommy Houston for 10th in series wins. So this stud of a driver was bound to excel in a Cup car as well, as he filled in for Kyle Larson in the Coca-Cola 600.
However, Allgaier did admit to a difficulty in adjustment. “It does give me some time to get acclimated to the car. … This car is still really, really different (than the Xfinity Series car). We’re going to have challenges.”
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Yet he weathered those challenges and placed the car in 13th place when the weather stepped in. Allgaier was focused on his goal, keeping Larson’s dream at the top. “Kyle Larson is the reason that we’re all here, like The Double is so important. Me driving this car, my only job was to keep the fenders on it, keep it as far forward as we can to make sure that we have a great opportunity for Kyle to come back and get back in it.”
Even though Larson could not race any laps, it was a conscientious, remarkable effort frm Allgaier, HMS, and everyone else involved.