Motorsports

Kyle Larson’s quest to run Indy 500, Coke 600 begins, but will it be his last attempt?

Published

8 months ago

May 14, 2025

When Kyle Larson puts his helmet on and climbs into the cockpit of his Arrow McLaren ride today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he will begin his second attempt to run both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.

But might it also be his last attempt? Or the last time by any driver for years to come?

“I hope it’s not the last,” said Larson, who goes into this attempt as the Cup points leader after his win last weekend at Kansas. “I hope this year is not the last time we ever see anybody do it because I think it’s huge for motorsports. It’s huge for IndyCar, probably even bigger for NASCAR. Hopefully the schedules will work out in the future and maybe the rules will change a little bit, too.”

Kyle Larson scores dominating NASCAR Cup victory at Kansas

Kyle Larson earned his third Cup victory of the season.

What was a formidable quest in 1994 when John Andretti became the first driver to compete in both signature races on Memorial Day weekend is now immeasurably more difficult.

The start times at Indianapolis and Charlotte prove challenging even without weather issues. Any Cup driver who would attempt the double seeks a team capable of winning the Indianapolis 500 and such rides are limited. A new NASCAR rule makes an attempt to run both races riskier for Cup drivers.

NASCAR’s action came in response to Hendrick Motorsports keeping Larson at Indy last year despite four-hour rain delay instead of sending him to Charlotte to start the 600. After arriving late to Charlotte, Larson never got into his car before rain ended the 600 early.

Section 12.4.2.1.A of the Cup Rule Book states that “unless otherwise authorized by NASCAR, driver(s) and Team Owner(s) must start and attempt to complete all Championship Races to be eligible for The Playoffs.”

A new part of that section reads: “If a driver does not start and attempt to complete a Race and wishes to remain eligible for the Playoffs, that driver must request a Playoff waiver via the Playoff Waiver Request. If a Playoff waiver is granted for anything other than a medical reason or age restriction, the driver will forfeit all current and future Playoff Points earned prior to the start of the Playoffs. NASCAR’s decision to grant or decline a Playoff waiver request and subsequent loss of Playoff Points is final and non-appealable.”

Larson leads the series with 23 playoff points heading into next weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte via three race wins and eight stage victories. He would lose all those playoff points and any he would earn in the remaining 14 regular season races if he doesn’t start the 600 because of his Indy 500 quest. Losing all those playoff points could cost him a chance to advance in NASCAR’s playoffs and race for a championship.

Hendrick Motorsports already has stated that it will pull Larson from the Indianapolis 500 to ensure Larson is in Charlotte in time to start the 600.

“It’s always been hard to get both races in, but I feel like they’ve made it more difficult for somebody to want to go risk that and compete in the double with how much investment it takes from everybody’s part,” Larson said of the new rule.

NASCAR Cup playoff standings after 12 races shows who has work to do

With six of the 14 races left in the regular season on either road courses or drafting tracks, the standings could change dramatically by late August.

Larson seeks to become only the second driver since 2005 to run in both races in the same day and the fifth overall. Kurt Busch was the last to do so in 2014. Kyle Busch has come close to making an attempt. He said that Joe Gibbs nixed a deal in 2017 when Kyle Busch was at JGR. Kyle Busch also said that he sought the ride with Arrow McLaren before Hendrick Motorsports secured it for Larson.

There’s no guarantee the Hendrick/McLaren partnership continues. This is the second year of a two-year deal to give Larson the chance to run both races.

“I will say to do it this way with this kind of effort where you have your Cup team and the IndyCar team kind of collaborating with the paint scheme and sponsors and partners that are kind of crossing over and documenting it on Amazon Prime, having the level of competition, the capabilities on both sides of this with the Cup car and Indy car as well as the driver being able to be capable of doing it, I don’t know if you’ll ever see that again,” Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, told NBC Sports.

“But if you do, it’ll be a while because it’s a huge, huge undertaking and a lot of coordination and resources to be able to do it.”

Larson admits he’s not sure he would have done it again this year had he been able to compete in both races last year as scheduled. Gordon also said that had things gone well at Indy, Hendrick might not have chosen to make the attempt this year.

NASCAR Cup winners, losers from Kansas after Kyle Larson’s third win of the season

A look at the winners and losers from Sunday’s Cup race at Kansas Speedway.

One person who hopes to see Larson and others attempt it in the future is Tony Stewart, the only driver to compete all 1,100 miles in one day when he finished sixth at Indianapolis and third at Charlotte that night in 2001.

“There’s going to be that special person that comes along, even after Kyle’s generation is over,” Stewart said. “There’s going to be that one special person that that opportunity is realistic and deserved. Hopefully, they will continue having those opportunities to do the double like that.”

Larson finished 18th last year at Indy. Stewart is looking forward to what Larson can do this year and if Larson can finish better than Stewart did in both races.

“He’s more than capable of beating that,” Stewart said of his 2001 performance in both races. “I think anybody that has a record, in the back of their mind doesn’t want it to be broken, but if it’s going to be broken, Kyle’s the guy I want to do it. I think the world of Kyle Larson, we’re good friends. I have so much respect for him as a driver. Anytime he’s racing anything on dirt, I’m a fan and love watching him drive.

“I’m going to be pulling for him during May just because I know his history, he’s a dirt track guy at heart. We have similar backgrounds because of that and you’re always rooting for somebody like that.”

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Motorsports

NASCAR Brings Back ‘The Chase’ Championship Format for 2026 Season – Speedway Digest

Published

50 minutes ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

NASCAR is turning back the clock in 2026, reintroducing “The Chase” as the championship format for its three national series. The move marks a return to the postseason structure that defined the NASCAR Cup Series from 2004 to 2013, following an extensive review process involving team owners, drivers, manufacturers, tracks, broadcast partners, and fans.

The revamped system emphasizes consistency and performance across the entire season while maintaining the drama of a playoff-style finish. Under the new format, the driver with the most points after the postseason will be crowned champion in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Chase will span the final 10 races for the Cup Series, nine for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and seven for the Truck Series.

Several key changes accompany the return of The Chase:

No More “Win and You’re In”: A race victory will no longer guarantee a playoff berth. Drivers must perform consistently throughout the regular season to qualify.
Bigger Points for Wins: Winning a race will now earn 55 points, up from 40, reinforcing the value of aggressive racing and strong team execution.
Points-Based Qualification: The top 16 drivers in regular-season points will make The Chase in the Cup Series, with 12 and 10 drivers qualifying in the O’Reilly Auto Parts and Truck Series, respectively.
Regular-Season Champion Advantage: The points leader entering The Chase will start with a 25-point cushion over second place.
Seeded Points Structure: Drivers will begin The Chase with tiered points, starting at 2,100 for the top seed and descending to 2,000 for the 16th seed.

The changes aim to create a larger sample size for determining champions, increase the significance of every race, and reward season-long excellence while keeping winning central to the sport’s identity.

Chase Seeding Points:

1st: 2100

2nd: 2075

3rd: 2065

4th: 2060

5th: 2055

6th: 2050

7th: 2045

8th: 2040

9th: 2035

10th: 2030

11th: 2025

12th: 2020

13th: 2015

14th: 2010

15th: 2005

16th: 2000

With The Chase returning, NASCAR hopes to blend tradition with modern competition, delivering a format that honors its history and keeps fans engaged through every lap of the season.

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Motorsports

NASCAR To Reinstate The Chase Championship Format Beginning In 2026

Published

1 hour ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Chris Knight

Chris Knight has served as a senior staff writer and news editor for CATCHFENCE.com since 2001.

In his 20-plus years with CATCHFENCE.com, he has covered NASCAR’s top three national series, often breaking news and providing exclusive at-track content, including in-depth race weekend coverage.

He also offers insider coverage of the entire Motorsports platform, including the ARCA Menards Series.

In 2022, Knight became co-owner of CATCHFENCE.com.

In addition to his active duties at CATCHFENCE.com and other Motorsports-related endeavors, he is also a frequent contributor to SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90.

You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Knighter01 or on Instagram, Snapchat, or Threads at @TheKnighter01.

He can be reached by email at [email protected].

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Motorsports

NASCAR brings back ‘The Chase’ for 2026: Postseason announcement touts 16 drivers, 10 races and one points reset

Published

2 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

CONCORD, N.C. – Sometimes to move forward, you have to go back.

NASCAR is doing just that ahead of the 2026 season in the Cup Series, O’Reilly Series (NOAPS) and the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

On Monday afternoon, NASCAR announced the return of “The Chase”, a postseason format used in varying iterations from 2004-2013. The 2026 Cup Series season will feature a 10-race postseason, beginning at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 6, consisting of 16 drivers with just one points reset coming at the end of the regular season. All drivers who qualify for The Chase will remain in the postseason with points accumulating over the final 10 races to declare a champion. The move is a departure from the playoff format instituted in 2014 that included rounds of three races and elimination cutoffs, leading to a winner-take-all championship race.

Gone too is the “win-and-you’re-in” rule, in which any driver who won a regular season race automatically qualified for the postseason. While victories will no longer come with an entry to The Chase, drivers will now score 55 points for a win instead of 40.

Jimmie Johnson won six of his seven NASCAR Cup Series championships under some variation of, “The Chase”. On Monday, NASCAR announced it was returning to the format for the 2026 postseason.

“As NASCAR transitions to a revised championship model, the focus is on rewarding driver and team performance each and every race,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR President. “At the same time, we want to honor NASCAR’s storied history and the traditions that have made the sport so special. Our fans are at the heart of everything we do, and this format is designed to honor their passion every single race weekend.”

RELATED: Check out all of Hendrick Motorsports’ 2026 paint schemes!

The points leader after 26 races will be rewarded with a 25-point buffer over the field after the reset. The Chase will be seeded as follows:

First place: 2,100
Second place: 2,075
Third place: 2,065
Fourth place: 2,060
Fifth place: 2,055
Sixth place: 2,050
Seventh place: 2,045
Eighth place: 2,040
Ninth place: 2,035
10th place: 2,030
11th place: 2,025
12th place: 2,020
13th place: 2,015
14th place: 2,010
15th place: 2,005
16th place: 2,000

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How many races are in The Chase?

The Chase will consist of 10 races in the Cup Series, nine in the NOAPS and seven in the Truck Series.

How many drivers will make The Chase?

The Chase will consist of 16 drivers in the Cup Series, 12 in the NOAPS and 10 in the Truck Series.

When does The Chase start?

The first race of the Cup Series postseason will be held at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 6.

What races are in The Chase?

The 10 races in the Cup Series Chase include stops at: Darlington Raceway, World Wide Technology Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Charlotte ROVAL, Phoenix Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, Martinsville Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Jimmie Johnson won the 2006 NASCAR Cup Series championship under, “The Chase” format, the first of his seven titles.

2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule

Sunday, Feb. 1: The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, 8 p.m. (FOX)
Thursday, Feb. 12: The Duel at Daytona, 7 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, Feb. 15: DAYTONA 500, 2:30 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Feb. 22: Atlanta Motor Speedway, 3 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, March 1: Circuit of the Americas, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, March 8: Phoenix Raceway, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, March 15: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 4 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, March 22: Darlington Raceway, 3 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, March 29: Martinsville Speedway, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, April 12: Bristol Motor Speedway, 3 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, April 19: Kansas Speedway, 2 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, April 26: Talladega Superspeedway, 3 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, May 3: Texas Motor Speedway, 3:30 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, May 10: Watkins Glen International, 3 p.m. (FS1)

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Sunday, May 17: All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, 3 p.m. (FS1)
Sunday, May 24: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, 6 p.m. (Prime)
Sunday, May 31: Nashville Superspeedway, 7 p.m. (Prime)
Sunday, June 7: Michigan International Speedway, 3 p.m. (Prime)
Sunday, June 14: Pocono Raceway, 3 p.m. (Prime)
Sunday, June 21: Naval Base Coronado, 4 p.m. (Prime)
Sunday, June 28: Sonoma Raceway, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, July 5: Chicagoland Speedway, 6 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, July 12: Atlanta Motor Speedway, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, July 19: North Wilkesboro Speedway, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, July 26: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, Aug. 9: Iowa Speedway, 3:30 p.m. (USA Network)
Saturday, Aug. 15: Richmond Raceway, 7 p.m. (USA Network)
Sunday, Aug. 23: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, 3 p.m. (USA Network)
Saturday, Aug. 29: Daytona International Speedway, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)

The Chase

Sunday, Sept. 6: Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, 5 p.m. (USA Network)
Sunday, Sept. 13: World Wide Technology Raceway, 3 p.m. (USA Network)
Saturday, Sept. 19: Bristol Motor Speedway, 7:30 p.m. (USA Network)
Sunday, Sept. 27: Kansas Speedway, 3 p.m. (USA Network)
Sunday, Oct. 4: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 5:30 p.m. (USA Network)
Sunday, Oct. 11: Charlotte ROVAL, 3 p.m. (USA Network)
Sunday, Oct. 18: Phoenix Raceway, 3 p.m. (USA Network)
Sunday, Oct. 25: Talladega Superspeedway, 2 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Nov. 1: Martinsville Speedway, 2 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Nov. 8: Homestead-Miami Speedway, 3 p.m. (NBC)

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Motorsports

Chef Boyardee Joins Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as Primary Sponsor for 2026 NASCAR Season

Published

2 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Chef Boyardee is set to make a significant splash in the world of motorsports as it partners with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 47 Hyak Motorsports team for the upcoming 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The announcement, made by the race team, reveals a thrilling three-race primary sponsorship agreement with the iconic food brand, alongside an associate sponsorship arrangement for the entire season.

Stenhouse expressed his enthusiasm about this new collaboration, stating, “We’re excited to welcome Chef Boyardee to the Hyak Motorsports family. They’re a brand everyone knows, and bringing them into NASCAR is something the entire team is looking forward to.” The team is gearing up to kick off the season with strong representation of Chef Boyardee.

The distinctive branding of Chef Boyardee will first appear on the No. 47 Chevrolet during The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, set for Sunday, February 1. Following this pre-season exhibition, Chef Boyardee will also sponsor Stenhouse at the much-anticipated Daytona 500 on February 15, culminating the primary sponsorship at the Talladega Superspeedway on April 26.

Brynwood Partners, the parent company of Chef Boyardee, has maintained a relationship with Stenhouse spanning over a decade. Henk Hartong, CEO of Brynwood Partners, expressed pride in their continued partnership. “Ricky has been an incredible ambassador for our brands in the 12 years that we have been sponsoring his car in the Cup Series,” Hartong stated. He looks forward to the brand’s return to prominence at Daytona and Talladega, both venues where Stenhouse has previously triumphed.

The partnership promises not just on-car branding but also an engaging strategy to reach fans through various initiatives. Chef Boyardee plans to leverage team assets for integrated fan engagement at the track and beyond, which includes a robust digital and social media campaign, behind-the-scenes features, and fan-oriented activations.

Stenhouse, 38, boasts a career filled with ambition, having achieved four victories in 475 NASCAR Cup Series starts. Notably, he has found triumph at both Daytona and Talladega, contributing to his status as a strong contender. The previous season saw Stenhouse finish 30th in the championship standings after a series of misfortunes, including a well-publicized feud with fellow driver Carson Hocevar, which appeared to have been resolved.

With the new season on the horizon, Stenhouse is eager to bounce back and showcase his potential, buoyed by the support of Chef Boyardee and the Hyak Motorsports team. The upcoming season is expected to be a thrilling ride for both the driver and the iconic brand as they embark on this exciting partnership.

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Motorsports

Chili Bowl Contender Sidelined Due To Medical Issue

Published

2 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

It’s only practice day at the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy, and drama is already brewing.

In a sudden twist, Buddy Kofoid will vacate the seat of the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, Mobil1 No. 71W and sit on the sidelines this week as he focuses on a medical issue.

A perennial contender for the Golden Driller since he debuted in Tulsa in 2020, Kofoid has made five Chili Bowl Championship A-Mains in six tries with KKM. He’s a two-time preliminary night winner, locking-in on three occasions, and he finished a career-best second to Logan Seavey in 2024 – falling 0.392-seconds shy of winning it all.

Fresh off an 18-win campaign in 2025, Kofoid and his Roth Motorsports team challenged David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series championship as the Penngrove, California native solidified himself as one of the best in the sport today.

The 24-year-old Kofoid had just arrived back in America after a successful Australia stretch with Trent Pigdon’s team at Perth Motorplex – winning the Boxing Day Bonanza and a preliminary of High Limit International.

Keith Kunz told FloRacing that a few different drivers were called in regards to potentially filling the seat this week, but it was too late in the game to make anything happen, so Buddy’s No. 71W will sit idle without a driver.

The action officially begins in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Monday with the first preliminary, which includes the Race of Champions. You can watch every prelim night and Saturday’s alphabet soup live on FloRacing.

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Motorsports

Record-Breaking ARCA Menards Series Pre-Race Practice Sets Stage for Daytona Opener – Speedway Digest

Published

3 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Daytona International Speedway was buzzing over the weekend as the ARCA Menards Series hosted its two-day Pre-Race Practice ahead of next month’s season opener. A total of 82 drivers and 49 different racecars turned laps on Friday and Saturday, marking the largest participation since 2012.

Gus Dean, the 2024 Daytona winner, returned to the high banks for the first time since his victory two years ago and wasted no time reminding the field of his speed. Driving the No. 25 Nitro Motorsports Toyota, Dean posted the fastest lap of the weekend at 48.744 seconds, translating to 184.638 mph. His performance capped a dominant Friday session for Nitro Motorsports, which swept the top six spots in a late-day drafting run featuring Dean, Gavan Boschele, Jake Finch, Thomas Annunziata, Isabella Robusto, and Jake Bollman. YouTube personality Garrett Mitchell, better known as Cleetus McFarland, latched onto the draft and ranked seventh overall.

Saturday saw Austin Green rise to the top of the charts with a lap of 49.202 seconds (182.919 mph) in the No. 82 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet. Green is widely expected to be a contender for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series rookie title in 2026. Cole Butcher, the reigning ASA STARS National Tour champion, was second quickest in a storied Rette Jones Racing Ford originally built by Chip Ganassi Racing in 1999—a car that famously led the 2002 Daytona 500 with Sterling Marlin behind the wheel.

Female participation was strong, with eight women taking laps during the two-day session. Robusto led the group in fifth overall, followed by Amber Balcaen in 13th and Taylor Reimer in 16th. Alli Owens returned to Daytona for the first time in 16 years, ranking 19th, while Jade Avedisian made her debut at the track in 25th. Logan Misuraca, Quinn Davis, and Becca Monopoli also logged laps, focusing on single-car runs.

The Road to Daytona program introduced six drivers to the historic speedway, including reigning ARCA West Rookie of the Year Robbie Kennealy, who was the quickest among the group. All six completed roughly 100 miles in single-car conditions under the guidance of veteran Andy Hillenburg.

Joe Gibbs Racing added intrigue with two young talents on track Friday. Giovanni Ruggiero will return in February aiming to deliver the team’s first ARCA win at Daytona, while 16-year-old Max Reaves, a five-time winner in 2025, made his first laps under the mentorship of Bobby Labonte.

Michael Maples Motorsports brought four cars, with Ryan Vargas leading the team in 23rd overall. Team owner Michael Maples ranked 40th.

Despite the heavy traffic, only two incidents occurred, both on Friday. Amber Balcaen spun after a tire failure, forcing her to a backup car, while Bob Martin looped his Toyota moments later. Neither driver was injured.

The ARCA Menards Series returns to Daytona for the 63rd Annual Daytona ARCA 200 on Saturday, February 14. Practice begins Thursday, February 12, followed by qualifying on Friday. The race will air live on FOX at noon Eastern, with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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