Kyle Larson Dismisses Coca-Cola 600 Desires for Indy 500 Dream with Honest 5-Word Confession

Kyle Larson and Hendrick Motorsports will have to make a tough choice. Either run the Indy 500 or the Coca-Cola 600 race. Larson was scheduled to attempt “the Double” but the weather at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has decided to play spoilsport. And if push comes to shove, Larson and the entire HMS team just might opt to run the Indy 500 race over the historic NASCAR event.

It would be a surprise to see the team make this particular call, as Larson has previously stated that he prioritizes NASCAR races above everything else. Had this been a midget or Sprint car series event, Larson wouldn’t have to think twice about his priorities. But an opportunity to compete in the Indianapolis 500 is just too good for him to pass on.

Indy 500 has been on Larson’s wish list for a long time

Kyle Larson is one of the few NASCAR drivers who can race in anything that runs on four wheels. NASCAR has always been his priority, but he’s known to run in different disciplines of racing in different equipment. Alongside his passion for competing in sprint and midget cars, his ultimate goal was to run the iconic Indy 500 someday. He even came close to living his dream during his time at Chip Ganassi Racing, however, a controversial exit from the team in 2020 further delayed his dream project.

So given that now he’s in the right place at the right time after all these years of struggle, he wouldn’t want to miss out on it. Even if it means snubbing the NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Sharing his emotions and thoughts about competing in the Indy 500, Larson in an interview said, “I mean, it’s been a build-up for over a year, so we need to run it and I want. I feel like I’ve got a really good shot to have a good run and potentially win, so I want to be here.”

However, Kyle Larson did clarify that a decision to choose between the two events doesn’t entirely rest on his shoulders. “Well, I mean it’s not just my decision; I think it’s everybody within Hendrick, Rick Hendrick, Hendrick Motorsports, and all that. I think we’re all part of the decision. Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews, and there’s been so much time and investment on to this to make this Indy 500 happen,” he explained.

Not only does the weather infringement make things tricky for Larson, but it also puts NASCAR in a tough spot.

Does Larson need a waiver, or will he make it to Charlotte in time?

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A waiver is essentially an exemption made by NASCAR officials for drivers who are unable to run the Cup Series races. Thus reinstating the driver’s eligibility to make it into the playoffs, as drivers are expected to run all 26 regular season races to be eligible for the knock-out rounds according to their rule book.

Luckily, Larson, with his two wins already in the first 13 starts this season, has booked his spot in the final 16. But, his fate could lie in the hands of NASCAR, as he might decide to stay at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and complete his race. We have seen NASCAR provide a waiver to drivers before, owing to their medical conditions or injuries. It is expected that the governing body will provide Larson with a waiver, but nothing can be said for certain, as he could make it to Charlotte in the nick of time.

Hendrick Motorsports has put JR Motorsports Xfinity star Justin Allgaier on standby. And if Larson decides to stay at Indy, Allgaier will be starting the Coca-Cola race from the rear.