Motorsports

Larson Doubles Down with Second Hendrick 1100 Attempt – Speedway Digest

Published

7 months ago

May 16, 2025

Few feats in motorsports demand more grit, stamina and sheer determination than “The Double” – the daring attempt to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Sunday, May 25, Hendrick Motorsports standout Kyle Larson will once again chase 1,100 miles, looking to conquer what the team has dubbed “The Hendrick 1100.”

Larson first attempted the challenge in 2024, but rain dampened the effort, delaying the start of the Indianapolis 500 and ultimately ending his chance at completing all 1,100 miles. This year, Larson returns hungrier than ever with eyes set on redemption and a place in motorsports history.

“I love to race. I love to compete in big events and I love to try new things to challenge myself,” said Larson. “I try to stay focused on making this the best experience I can and getting my car to drive the best it can while also enjoying the moment.”

RACING’S ULTIMATE TEST

Attempting the feat is more than just showing up. It’s a high-speed, high-stakes marathon that pushes drivers to the limit. From mastering two completely different race cars to navigating the travel from Indianapolis to Charlotte, here’s what makes the challenge such a rare and exciting pursuit:

Two Different Worlds: The day kicks off at the Brickyard with the Indianapolis 500 – open-wheel racing’s crown jewel – before the spotlight shifts to Charlotte Motor Speedway for NASCAR’s toughest test at the Coca-Cola 600 – the sport’s longest and most demanding race. Each event requires a vastly different approach from the precision and aerodynamics of an Indy car to the endurance and strategy required in a stock car.

Physical, Mental Stamina: Two races. One day. Covering 1,100 miles of racing in one day is no ordinary Sunday. It’s a full-day grind that tests the human body like few other athletic endeavors. From switching cars and teams to tight turnarounds, the challenge goes far beyond just racing laps.

Logistical Madness: With nearly 600 miles separating the two tracks, pulling off the Hendrick 1100 requires a flawless timeline. Helicopters, private jets and split-second coordination are essential to get the driver from track to track while practice, qualifying and media obligations fill the days leading up. While difficult, each inconvenience only makes the payoff event sweeter upon completion.

LEGENDS OF “THE DOUBLE”:

Over the years, only a handful of elite drivers have dared to take on the epic motorsports crossover. Here are the notable names of the bold drivers who chased the ultimate challenge.

John Andretti (1994): As the pioneer of “The Double,” Andretti became the first to try the challenge, finishing 10th at Indy before mechanical issues led to a 36th-place finish at the Coca-Cola 600.
Tony Stewart (1999, 2001): Stewart, the gold standard of “The Double”, In 2001, he finished sixth at the Indy 500 and third at the Coca-Cola 600, becoming the first driver to ever complete all 1,100 miles.
Robby Gordon (1997, 2000, 2002-2004): Gordon attempted the feat multiple times, with mixed results. His best effort came in 2002, completing both races and finishing eighth in Indy and 16th at Charlotte.
Kurt Busch (2014): In his only attempt, Busch impressed with a sixth-place finish at Indy but retired early from the Coca-Cola 600 due to engine failure.
Kyle Larson (2024): Larson reignited interest in “The Hendrick 1100” with his attempt last season. After an 18th-place finish at the Indy 500, his quest to complete the full 1,100 miles fell short after rain brought the NASCAR affair to an early conclusion. This year, he’s back with experience and unfinished business.

Larson Doubles Down

With the full force of Hendrick Motorsports behind him and a renewed drive to finish what he started, Larson is all-in on 2025. No stranger to Charlotte Motor Speedway with one 600 win and two ROVAL™ victories, Larson knows what it takes to win at America’s Home for Racing.

“Last year wasn’t as fun and exciting as people might think,” said Larson. “I was super bummed because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to race in both. I didn’t get to enjoy the pre-race stuff or anything, but hopefully this year it goes better with the weather and I can just enjoy the whole experience.”

TICKETS:

Fans can purchase Coca-Cola 600 weekend tickets, online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in all weekend for just $10.

MORE INFO:

Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway and get the latest news by following on X and Instagram, or becoming a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app..

CMS PR

Link

Motorsports

Kyle Larson opens door to 24 Hours of Daytona comeback – Motorsport – Sports

Published

9 minutes ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson has a laundry list of racing achievements across a plethora of series, including 32 Cup Series wins, 17 O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series wins, four Craftsman Truck Series wins, and two attempts at “Double Duty” between the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600.

However, one of his most prestigious wins arguably came in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona three times from 2014 through 2016, winning the title, and with it a Rolex, in 2015 with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Larson won in the Ford Riley DP alongside co-drivers Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan — both of whom are IndyCar champions — and Jamie McMurray, a fellow NASCAR Cup Series race winner.

Larson has yet to return to the wonderful world of the SportsCar Championship, having focused on NASCAR, his Sprint Car series, High Limit Racing, and occasional Midget races over the past decade.

However, now with his children quickly growing up and forging their own racing careers, Larson suggested it may be time to revisit IMSA. Should he do so, he may end up facing a familiar competitor in Connor Zilisch, who is set to compete in the race in 2026.

Sign up to our NASCAR newsletter here.

“I think at this stage in my career, yeah, I would do it again,” he said on the ‘Dinner with Racers’ podcast. “I had fun those three years I did it. I didn’t want to keep doing it every year.

“And the offseasons have only gotten busier. There’s more races and stuff. I go to Australia now, Chili Bowl and West Coast Midget races. It’s just a lot and I, kind of, want time off.

“But it’s been so long since I ran it that you almost get to the point where you forget a little bit about it, right? And I just remember having a blast doing that race, so I just want to go there and relive it.

“And have my family there with me again because Owen, I think, was just born the year we won it and he’s gonna be 11 now this year. So have my kids a part of it would be cool.”

Larson and his wife, Katelyn Sweet, now have three children, Owen, Audrey, and Cooper, with both Owen and Audrey having followed in their dad’s footsteps in beginning to forge their own racing careers of late.

But while Larson later reiterated that he would “definitely” want to give it another shot, he’d understandably “want to be in the best car.”

He went on to add, “It ranks really high on my list of wins for sure. It’s such a unique win too, I’m the fourth string guy on the team, probably back then, but I just remember I’ve never won a race with a teammate, so it’s a really special, unique sort of win.”

While Larson’s NASCAR team, Hendrick Motorsports, has yet to compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Chip Ganassi remains a constant in the series, although it has yet to win again at Daytona in the renamed Grand Touring Prototype class.

Link

Motorsports

5 possible additions to the Daytona 500 lineup (to guarantee disappointment)

Published

25 minutes ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Early in the NASCAR Cup Series offseason, JR Motorsports confirmed that they plan to make another attempt at the Daytona 500 after successfully qualifying in their first attempt this past February.

For the second year in a row, Justin Allgaier is set to pilot the No. 40 Chevrolet. He finished in an impressive ninth place in the team’s first ever Cup appearance in 2025.

A week ago, it was then announced that Jimmie Johnson is also set to return for another shot at the “Great American Race”, a race he’s won twice, after recording his best finish in any Cup race since 2017 with his third place effort in 2025. For the fourth straight year, he is set to drive the No. 84 entry for the Legacy Motor Club team he co-owns.

Johnson is widely expected to get the world-class driver provisional, which is the same provisional that locked Helio Castroneves into the 2025 race for Trackhouse Racing after he was unable to successfully qualify on speed or Duel result. It led to the Daytona 500 field consisting of exactly 41 cars for the first time since 1993.

According to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, Live Fast Motorsports have also confirmed that team co-owner B.J. McLeod is set to drive the No. 78 Chevrolet. The team have yet to qualify for the race since selling their charter after the 2023 season, despite McLeod’s attempts in 2024 and 2025.

All of these confirmations mean that there are already three non-chartered (open) cars on the entry list even before the calendar turns to 2026. And with just four total (five if Johnson gets the provisional and doesn’t qualify) spots open alongside the 36 chartered cars, there will likely once again be several drivers who fail to qualify.

Who else could be added to the entry list? Here are five strong candidates.

Garage 66

Some sources have already reported that Garage 66’s Daytona 500 entry is confirmed, with Casey Mears expected to drive the No. 66 Ford. Mears returned to the Cup Series for the first time since 2019 in 2025, though he hasn’t run the Daytona 500 since 2019.

Garage 66, formerly MBM Motorsports, haven’t successfully qualified for the race since 2020, with a total of five DNQs since then.

23XI Racing

23XI Racing have not fielded an extra Daytona 500 entry since Travis Pastrana ran the race in 2023, but that is expected to change as they continue to put together a partial schedule for development driver Corey Heim, who is somehow still without a full-time ride in any national series for 2026, in the No. 67 Toyota.

The 2025 Truck Series champion ran four races for the team this past year, and he twice finished higher than all three of the team’s full-time drivers.

Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing are another team that haven’t fielded an extra Daytona 500 in quite a few years (2019), but that is expected to change in a month and a half.

Xfinity (O’Reilly Auto Parts) Series superspeedway ace Austin Hill, who tried but failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 in 2023 with Beard Motorsports, is expected to get the nod to drive the No. 33 Chevrolet in 2026, after running two superspeedway Cup series for Richard Childress’ team toward the end of the 2025 campaign.

Beard Motorsports

Speaking of Beard Motorsports, they have regularly competed in Cup Series superspeedway races, including the Daytona 500, every year since 2017, and that isn’t expected to change in February.

Anthony Alfredo drove the No. 62 Chevrolet for the team in both 2024 and 2025, though he failed to qualify for the race in 2025. Beard Motorsports have never failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 in back-to-back years, however. Will Alfredo return, or could newly crowned Xfinity Series champion Jesse Love, who also ran two races in the No. 62 car this past year, get his first crack at Daytona?

NY Racing Team

The team that returned to the Daytona 500 for the first time in 2015 with the late Greg Biffle behind the wheel of the No. 44 Chevrolet in 2022 are expected to be back again, despite failing to qualify with J.J. Yeley in both 2024 and 2025.

It would be quite the story if Yeley, or whoever drives the car, can get into the race for the first time since Biffle’s final Daytona 500 appearance.

Possible but not expected: No. 91 Trackhouse Chevrolet, No. 01/No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford, No. 50 Team AmeriVet Chevrolet, No. 56 Tricon Garage Toyota

All things considered, it’s looking like there will be eight drivers going for four (or possibly) five spots, meaning that at least three will be going home disappointed after failing to qualify.

Daytona 500 qualifying is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, followed by the Duel qualiyfing races on Thursday, February 12. The 68th running of the “Great American Race” itself is set to be shown live on Fox from Daytona International Speedway starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 15.

Link

Motorsports

K1 Speed champions get new route into Porsche series

Published

2 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Porsche Motorsport North America is adding an indoor-karting pipeline to its driver development ladder through a new multi-year partnership with K1 Speed, the companies announced. The agreement is aimed at turning K1’s points-based monthly racing structure into a more direct on-ramp for standout drivers to reach Porsche Sprint Challenge North America or Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West.

The arrangement has a public-facing branding component and a competitive incentive. Porsche Motorsport branding will be displayed across all 72 K1 Speed karting centers in the United States, while K1 Speed decals will appear on the front bumper of cars competing in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West, and Porsche Endurance Challenge North America.

At the sporting level, the companies plan to select two drivers from among the top racers who reach K1 Speed’s national competition, one from the teen class and one from the adult class. For those two drivers, the entry fee for a future season in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America or USA West will be waived, according to the announcement.

‟K1 Speed hosts thousands of motorsports enthusiasts each year and all of us at PMNA look forward to connecting with them,” Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America, said. ‟Whether they are casual fans of motorsport or are searching for a path into professional racing, we are excited to introduce them all to the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid and the opportunities that it offers.”

K1 Speed said its arrive-and-drive model and monthly race series create an accessible starting point, with points earned locally and top finishers advancing to state and then national-level competition. ‟It’s an immense honor for K1 to partner with Porsche Motorsport North America to provide up-and-coming American racers with an extraordinary opportunity,” said David Danglard, CEO and Founder of K1 Speed and K1 Circuit. ‟We built K1 on the belief that future champions start here, and this partnership with Porsche creates a pathway to take them from our indoor tracks to the country’s greatest circuits.”

Link

Motorsports

The Longest NASCAR Team Losing Streaks Entering the 2026 Season

Published

2 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

What’s Happening?

Despite fielding two, three, and even four cars throughout a NASCAR season, teams competing in the sport’s highest level can fall into a winless drought. Some of these teams have long histories, while others are just getting started. Here are the longest team losing streaks in NASCAR entering the 2026 season.

To qualify for this list, you must be a NASCAR Cup Series team competing full-time in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and have won a race during your time in the sport.
Teams will be added to this list on a week-to-week basis based on the time since their most recent win. Teams that have not won in 35 or fewer races will not be featured on this list, but will be added should they fail to win race 36.
Teams like Legacy Motor Club (formerly Petty GMS Racing) and Hyak Motorsports (formerly JTG-Daugherty Racing) will be featured on this list, with the most recent wins in their organization’s history used as their most recent win.

41 Races – Hyak Motorsports

Last Win: 2024 YellaWood 500

In 2025, new ownership reshaped what was once JTG-Daugherty Racing into HYAK Motorsports. Though the team had a new look, it maintained its driver, 2023 Daytona 500 Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr, alongside the Iconic No. 47. Unfortunately, the team was unable to find victory lane for the first time since 2022, finishing no better than fifth.

44 Races – RFK Racing

Last Win: 2024 Go Bowling at the Glen

RFK Racing had a tough 2025 season, failing to find victory lane for the first time since 2021, while fielding three full-time entries for the first time since Roush-Fenway Racing did so in 2016. While they may not have won a race, the team’s three-car roster showed promise, with hopes that a successful campaign in 2026 could result in a return to form.

76 Races – Kaulig Racing

Last Win: 2023 Bank of America ROVAL 400

Kaulig Racing fielded two full-time drivers for the first time since 2023 last season, and despite the return of the team’s winningest driver, A.J. Allmendinger, the two-car operation failed to win a race for a second year in a row. This year, the team is in limbo as they prepare for a deeper relationship with a new OEM in the coming years.

84 Races – Front Row Motorsports

Last Win: 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard

This past season will be remembered as a year of transition for Front Row Motorsports, which reshuffled its deck after losing Michael McDowell after the 2024 season. The team moved veteran Todd Gilliland to the No. 34, pushing a returning Zane Smith into the No. 38, and expanded to a new car, the No. 4, with Noah Gragson. This inconsistency showed on track, with the team missing out on a win for the second straight season.

117 Races – Legacy Motor Club

Last Win: 2022 Cook Out Southern 500

Despite all the hardships the team has endured since Petty GMS reformed into Legacy Motors Club, LMC had a banner year for both of its entries in the NASCAR Cup Series. Though they did not win a race, the team found themselves sitting just outside the gates at Darlington with both their drivers finishing in the top five.

234 Races – Spire Motorsports

Last Win: 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400

Spire Motorsports is continuing its search to find victory lane as a multi-car operation, and extended its lengthy losing streak to six seasons. Even then, most fans forget that the win with Justin Haley happened, as the team has evolved into a competitive team with a development program since that race in 2019.

This list will be updated race to race as the season continues.

Link

Motorsports

Red Bull CEO certain Verstappen will end his F1 career with team

Published

3 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Despite ongoing speculation about Max Verstappen’s long-term future in Formula One, Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has little doubt about where his star driver belongs.

“There is a deep sense of mutual respect and loyalty,” Mintzlaff told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. “For me, there is no question that Max Verstappen will finish his career at Red Bull.”

Verstappen, 28, entered the 2025 season as a four-time reigning world champion but endured an uncharacteristically slow start. The early struggles fueled speculation that performance clauses in his contract could open the door to a potential exit, even as Red Bull’s leadership remained confident the partnership would endure.

At the end of July, Verstappen said he would stay with Red Bull through the 2026 season, ending rumors that he might leave to drive for Mercedes.

That commitment soon showed on the track. Verstappen won six of the final nine races after managing just two victories over the first 15. The late surge nearly delivered a fifth consecutive drivers’ championship before Lando Norris captured his first title in his seventh season.

“What is important to say is that I am not afraid of any performance clause in his contract,” Mintzlaff said. “What matters most for an athlete is seeing that everyone on the team gives everything for him. I think Max has been impressed by how the results and the atmosphere within the team have turned this year.”

Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull through 2028 but has said he could consider walking away earlier depending on Formula One’s decisions regarding new technical regulations for engines and car design.

“I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times,” Verstappen said after finishing two points shy of the drivers’ title. “I always tried to extract the maximum from it, even on the difficult weekends we’ve had.”

In remarks that appeared to reinforce Mintzlaff’s confidence in the long-term partnership, Verstappen praised the environment at Red Bull.

“I have no regrets about my season,” Verstappen said. “Within the team, we have a great atmosphere at the moment. We’re really on a roll – positive energy, belief and confidence – and that’s exactly what you want heading into next year.”

Link

Motorsports

IHRA has officially purchased Memphis International Raceway and Memphis Motorsports Park — The Capital Sports Report

Published

4 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

The International Hot Rod Association announced on Christmas Eve that it has purchased the former Memphis International Raceway and Memphis Motorsports Park. The closing occurred Dec. 23.

The facility had sat idle before the IHRA bought it. During the recent Performance Racing Industry event in Indianapolis, hints emerged that the Millington, Tennessee, track was being sold to the IHRA.

“This investment honors the legacy of Memphis Motorsports Park while positioning it for a strong future,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said. “IHRA’s acquisition reflects confidence in our region and creates new opportunities for tourism, local businesses, and fan experiences.”

READ MORE: Click here for our latest Racing coverage

⚡️ Level up your game-day experience! ⚡️️ Add some extra thrill to every play by betting with our trusted sports betting partners. Click the link below to get in on the action! 👇

The Capital Sports Report is your source for national sports news, but we need YOUR help to keep going strong! 💪 Just like traditional newspapers, we rely on your support to bring you the best coverage possible. Donations allow us to expand our reach, travel to cover more events, and bring you unique stories and perspectives you won’t find anywhere else. Invest in the future of sports journalism – donate today! You can make a monetary donation here.

Snag some fresh merch and show off your style! Quality threads and unique designs are waiting for you. Shop now and level up your look!

https://the-capital-sports-report.printify.me

Support independent media with Buy Me a Coffee link

The IHRA plans an event there in November 2026. The agreement envisions a multi-use venue for drag racing, stock cars, grassroots motorsports and other events.

“As the Commissioner of District 1, I am thrilled about IHRA’s acquisition of Memphis Motorsports Park,” Shelby County Commissioner Amber Mills said. “This investment strengthens our local economy, puts world-class racing back on solid ground, and gives our families and young people a safe, exciting place to create memories for years to come. Having a national organization like the IHRA committed to the long-term success of this historic facility is exactly the kind of partnership Shelby County needs.”

The track sold in March 2022, with its final event on June 17, 2022. Nothing has happened there in the past three years.

The dragstrip measured an eighth-mile. The road course, which operated from 1987 through 1998, was a 1.770-mile asphalt track; Pete Halsmer holds the 1987 record at 1:05.692.

The venue also featured a D-oval track that was 0.750-mile long with 11-degree banking.

READ MORE: Click here for our latest Sports coverage

The IHRA ran events there from 2011 through 2022. Other marquee events included the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200 (1998, 2001, 2017–2020); NASCAR Nationwide Series Kroger On Track for the Cure 250 (1999–2009); NASCAR Camping World Truck Series MemphisTravel.com 200 (1998–2009); NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series (1988–2009); AMA Superbike Championship (1987); and Trans-Am (1987).

“This is a special place in American motorsports,” IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell said. “This facility has a deep history in drag racing and stock car competition, and our goal is to honor that legacy while building a strong sustainable future. We are committed to bringing meaningful racing back to this property while expanding its role as a destination for a wide range of events that serve racers, fans, and the surrounding community.”

Editorial Note: There are affiliated links on this page. We may receive compensation if you purchase a product through a link on our site. If you enjoy our work and would like to donate to support our coverage, you can do so through this PayPal link https://paypal.me/tcsrmedianj

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, Tumblr, YouTube, and TruthSocial

Check out our videos:

Videos

Keep Independent Journalism Alive! Ad-free experience and Exclusive Premium-plus content.

Join our Paid Substack for additional content for $10 per month. This is ad-free content. We believe that what you read matters and great writing is valuable. Through Substack, writers can flourish by being paid directly by their readers.

Report a Correction or Typo

Link