It was Memorial Day Weekend 2001, and Tony Stewart was on a mission. After falling short in 1999, by just 10 laps, he returned for a second shot at the legendary Double Duty. Stewart, driving for Chip Ganassi in the Indianapolis 500 and Joe Gibbs Racing in the Coca-Cola 600, became the first driver to finish all 1,100 miles of Double Duty in a single day. He finished Sixth at Indy and third at Charlotte. Nearly flawless in execution, it was a physical and mental test unlike anything else in sports.

“(Having) completed all 1,100 miles of Double Duty is something I’m really proud of… When you’re done with the 600… you’re very, very content to lay your head on a pillow. And even when you do that, it still feels like it’s not stopped moving yet,” Stewart said. This was no fluke. Stewart had tried the double in 1999, coming close but falling just short at Indy. That first attempt taught him hard lessons about hydration, nutrition, and timing. By 2001, he had prepared meticulously, including bringing a full-time nutritionist.

“The first year, my girlfriend drove me home and I was sick the whole ride,” he admitted. “This time, I was in a lot better shape.” With a new game plan, he didn’t just survive the day—he owned it. From nearly spinning out early in Charlotte to bouncing back into the top three, Stewart’s effort proved what kind of iron man it took to even consider this feat. And he left the motorsports world wondering: Who, if anyone, could ever match that? Fast forward to 2015, and there’s one man bold enough to chase that ghost is Kyle Larson. The Hendrick Motorsports star is preparing for his second attempt at Double Duty. But as Larson eyes greatness, Tony Stewart has some serious warnings.

Tony Stewart’s warning and blessing for NASCAR’s new ace

Last year, Kyle Larson’s double attempt didn’t go as planned. He qualified fifth for the Indy 500 and was a real contender. But a pit road speeding penalty dropped him back in the field. This was after the bad weather pushed the start of the race to late afternoon. Larson chose to stay and finish Indy, which cost him a chance to run the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. He earned Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors but never got to start the NASCAR race.

Justin Allgaier stepped in as a replacement driver in the #5 Chevy, but rain washed out the event before Kyle Larson could turn a single lap, handing the win to Christopher Bell. As the Hendrick Motorsports driver prepares for another shot at the iconic event, Tony Stewart offers his wisdom. “I think Kyle’s got the feat of all 1,100 miles. Kyle should be able to do that, no problem. That’s not as hard as it used to be back in the day,” Stewart said on Rubbin is Racing. He added that Larson’s true challenge will be at Indy, not Charlotte.

“You get him to Charlotte—that’s like, he can do that blindfolded and one hand tied behind his back. He has a shot to win that, no doubt. Indy’s the variable of the equation. He’s the type of guy and the type of talent that, if he doesn’t make any mistakes at Indy… he’s in a good position. But any one mistake—if it’s a pit deal, if somebody screws up and leaves a wheel loose… those are the things that can take you out,” he further added. Stewart noted that IndyCar is much more competitive now than it was in his day. So, if Larson even comes close to what he did, he believes “he’s outperformed what we did.”

Notably, in 2024, Larson proved that he can win the iconic Indy 500 race. He mostly ran as a front-runner until a pit lane violation ruined his race. That said, Larson’s road to the double hasn’t been without hiccups. During an open test at Indianapolis, he made a small mistake that led to a wreck, lightly damaging his No. 17 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. It was a reminder of how unforgiving Indy can be—even for the most skilled drivers. Though the incident was minor, it underscored Stewart’s warning: one slip, even in practice, can change everything at the Brickyard.

Additionally, this time, Prime Video is all-in for Larson’s historic attempt. Not only are they sponsoring both of Larson’s cars, but they’re also producing a feature-length documentary about the entire journey. The film will cover both the 2024 and 2025 attempts, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at Hendrick Motorsports’ drivers’ preparation, struggles, and successes. The #Hendrick1100 campaign, as it’s now branded, has turned into one of racing’s biggest stories.

And Stewart trusts Larson. “I’m a huge Kyle Larson fan… Records are made to be broken… I feel like Kyle is the guy that could legitimately do that—and he could do it this year,” Stewart further added. In those words, Stewart handed off the legacy. Not as a rival, but as a believer. Many drivers have tried the double, but no one could complete each lap like Stewart. The most recent attempt came in 2014 when Kurt Busch participated in both events on the same day, but a wreck in Charlotte ended his double dream.

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Will Kyle Larson ever follow Stewart into drag racing?

For now, Kyle Larson is sticking to ovals and road courses. He’s dominating NASCAR, trying to scale new heights in IndyCar, and continuing to shine on dirt. But one area where he hasn’t stepped in yet is drag racing—the very stage where Tony Stewart is currently making headlines. Stewart, now 53, has done the unthinkable. He’s won in NASCAR, IndyCar, and now NHRA Top Fuel. Larson sees it and respects it, but he’s not ready to follow—at least not yet.

Speaking of this on the ‘Stacking Pennies’ podcast, he said, “I don’t know…it’s not on the table currently. I don’t know. No, I don’t think so. But I’m only 32. I feel like that’s what people do when they turn 50. Let’s go 300 and some miles now. Like, that’s a great time of my life to do that. Maybe once I turn 50 and get old like him. I’ll change my mind.” Still, Larson gave Stewart his flowers.

“Just another awesome thing to add to his resume. Just solidifies him even more as the greatest all-around race car driver ever,” he said. He even sent Stewart a congratulatory message after his NHRA win at Las Vegas. “He hasn’t written me back, I don’t think, but I was like ‘Congrats on the day, legend,’” Larson revealed. While Larson’s not headed to drag racing yet, his journey echoes Stewart’s in many ways.

Both came from dirt. Both chased greatness in multiple disciplines. And both have tried to pull off the Double. Stewart sees Larson as his true successor—not just in NASCAR, but across the racing world. If Larson completes all 1,100 miles, Stewart’s record may fall. But even if it does, one thing’s certain—Smoke won’t mind at all. He’ll be watching like the rest of us, cheering on the driver who may just be the next all-around legend.