Latest news with #KyleLarson
NBC Sports
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
Kyle Larson states 'I don't have any desire' to do Indy 500/Coke 600 Double again
HAMPTON, Ga. — A month after becoming just the fifth driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, Kyle Larson says his mind hasn't changed about doing the Double again. 'I feel like I've made it known that I wouldn't do the Double again,' Larson said Friday at EchoPark Speedway. 'I get asked about it all the time. It's just logistically too tough.' This year's Indianapolis 500 was scheduled to start at 12:45 p.m. ET but was delayed about 45 minutes by rain. Larson crashed in the race or he might have been pulled late in the event to make it to Charlotte Motor Speedway to start the 600, which began at 6:30 p.m. ET He led 34 laps at Charlotte before crashing. Dustin Long, After exiting the infield care center, Larson said the 'window of time' between both races 'is too tight … So I don't really think it's worth it.' This year was the last year of a two-year deal between Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren. Larson admitted Friday that 'I will have FOMO from running the Indy 500. Hopefully, someday I can run that again, but I don't have any desire to do the Double again. It didn't go well the last two years.' Last year, Larson stayed in Indianapolis to compete in the 500 after a four-hour rain delay despite Hendrick Motorsports officials saying that the Coca-Cola 600 was their priority. He completed the Indy 500 and arrived well after the Coke 600 started. Larson was in his pit box ready to get into his car when rain ended that race early. NASCAR announced before this season that if a driver misses a race for anything other than injury or age restriction, the only way they can get a playoff waiver is to lose all their playoff points accumulated to that point and any playoff points they earn before the end of the regular season.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
5 drivers to watch in the 2025 Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway
The NASCAR Cup Series is ready for the 2025 Quaker State 400, and it will be a weekend of firsts. EchoPark Speedway, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, will host its first races since the name change, while NASCAR begins the first of five rounds in its inaugural In-Season Challenge. With only nine races left in the 2025 Cup Series regular season, the 36 drivers eligible for the championship must maximize their points and playoff points moving forward. However, EchoPark will be a risky venue for drivers, representing NASCAR's third superspeedway track alongside Daytona and Talladega. Below, we dive into five drivers to watch during the 2025 Quaker State 400 at EchoPark on Saturday night! Shop Quaker State 400 tickets No. 20 Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Christopher Bell won the last Cup Series race at EchoPark in February, barely beating Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson in a three-wide photo finish. Bell has been strong at the venue over the last two seasons, and following a wreck at Pocono Raceway, he will be looking to sweep the season's two races at EchoPark for a fourth win in 2025. No. 22 Joey Logano, Team Penske Joey Logano won the 2024 Quaker State 400 at EchoPark, marking his first playoff win en route to a third Cup Series championship. Logano and Team Penske continue to lead the way on superspeedways, including EchoPark in February, when the organization led 131 of the 266 laps. The driver of the No. 22 car should be strong and competing for another victory. No. 5 Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Kyle Larson has zero superspeedway wins in the Cup Series and enters EchoPark in a slump. Larson hasn't led any laps in the last four races, and despite his struggles on superspeedways, the track gives him optimism for this weekend. The driver of the No. 5 car finished in third place in February and could be knocking on the door for his first superspeedway victory. No. 12 Ryan Blaney, Team Penske There is no better driver at EchoPark than Ryan Blaney in the NextGen car era. Over the last six races at the venue, Blaney has a worst finish of ninth place, earning 36-plus points in each event. The driver of the No. 12 car hasn't won at EchoPark in the NextGen car era; however, his time could be coming soon on Saturday night. Shop Quaker State 400 tickets No. 77 Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Carson Hocevar nearly won his first career Cup Series race at EchoPark in February, and the No. 77 team's performances indicate that a breakthrough is coming soon. Hocevar has been very fast in the summer, and going back to a track where he nearly won in February could be the perfect situation. The driver of the No. 77 car is getting close to victory lane, and the night of the 2025 Quaker State 400 could be the moment. More: How to watch NASCAR live at EchoPark Speedway in June 2025, schedule
Fox News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
NASCAR drivers taken back by wild fan reception at New York's Fanatics Fest
Some of NASCAR's biggest stars were among the high-profile celebrities at Fanatics Fest on Friday in New York. The Big Apple is not exactly a hotbed for auto racing - especially when most of the loudest crowds popped for Derek Jeter, Eli Manning and other New York legends throughout the weekend. However, three of the sport's biggest stars were flabbergasted by the reactions they got from some of the fans in attendance. "I didn't really, honestly, know what I was coming to. So to have people recognize me here is pretty cool," Kyle Larson told Fox News Digital at the event. NASCAR Cup leader William Byron added that he was "surprised" by all the love he got at Javits Center in Manhattan. "I am surprised, man. There were quite a few 24 fans here in the crowd. It's pretty cool, man. We're down the road this weekend at Pocono, looking forward to it, and it's fun being out here and seeing cool people." Denny Hamlin is competing in the Fanatics Games, where fans are going up against pro athletes, including Tom Brady, to win $1 million. Maybe his crowd is a bit different, considering he is going up against Brady, Rob Gronkowski and other stars. At the very least, however, he is not taking it for granted that he is being recognized throughout the event. "It's been overwhelming. Just all the different booths, bringing other sports together, it's just fantastic to see. And having the opportunity to size myself up with other athletes," Hamlin said. "We don't have a huge presence up in this area, but still, you see a lot of NASCAR racing shirts, and when you get autograph requests, it's like, OK, they do recognize you, even in this area." Other celebrities in attendance on Friday included Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Logan Paul, Michael Strahan, Travis Scott and Livvy Dunne. LeBron James, Victor Wembanyana and numerous others made their rounds the rest of the weekend. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR: Larson seeks first win at Pocono
LONG POND — It is hard to believe that for all the success Kyle Larson has had in his NASCAR Cup Series career, he has not yet won at Pocono Raceway. In 13 seasons and 382 races, Larson has 22 poles, 32 victories, 128 top-five and 193 top-10 finishes. He won the 2021 championship and was runner-up in 2023. Advertisement Yet in 17 starts at the 2.5-mile triangular track, he has two poles, five top-five and nine top-10 finishes. Twice he placed second: June 2018 and the second June 2021 race. His nine top-10 finishes are the most by a driver at the track without a win. 'We haven't won here yet, which is disappointing,' Larson said. 'The NextGen Era, we've been decent, but not amazing. Hopefully, this year we can be better. I like this track, I enjoy the uniqueness of it. Hopefully, we can have some good speed.' Larson tried to change that Sunday in the Great American Getaway 400 Presented by He started 24th after qualifying at 169.920 mph Saturday. A sellout crowd was on hand for a third consecutive year. However, morning thunderstorms passing through the area caused the scheduled 2:20 p.m. start to be delayed. Advertisement Perhaps Larson's best chance at a Pocono victory came in the first June 2021 race. He won the three previous races at Charlotte, Sonoma and Nashville and was going for four in a row. He was half a lap away from making that happen when his left-front tire went flat. Alex Bowman passed him to take the checkered flag, while Larson limped home ninth. * Kyle Larson drives during a qualifying session for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Hermanos Rodriguez race track in Mexico City, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) * Kyle Larson walks to his car before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Advertisement * Kyle Larson celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley) Show Caption 1 of 3 Kyle Larson drives during a qualifying session for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Hermanos Rodriguez race track in Mexico City, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Expand He said it is not something he dwells on whenever he returns here. 'I forget about it until I see the highlight,' Larson said. 'But it's not something that you think about. Seeing it makes you wish, 'Dang, I wish I had not got that flat and got the win here finally.' But it's just racing.' Advertisement Through 16 races this season, Larson has one pole (Kansas) and three wins — Homestead, Bristol, Kansas — along with nine top fives and 11 top 10s. He is second in the standings with 537 points, 67 behind leader William Byron. However, he also has four finishes of 32nd or worse, including a 36th place last week at Mexico City. 'I feel like we've had a couple rougher finishes not of our doing,' Larson said. 'But aside from that, I feel like we've been pretty consistent — maybe more consistent than we've been in the past. I've been pleased with our team. Hopefully, we can keep evolving and keep getting our cars better and be ready for the playoffs when that time of year comes.' The three wins have Larson firmly entrenched in the playoffs over the season's final 10 races. However, he said he and his team aren't planning to do anything crazy in the races leading up to the playoffs. Advertisement 'You're trying to make your car better every week for every race,' Larson said. 'I don't think we're the type of team that goes trying off-the-wall stuff to just think about the playoffs. Like, we're running a different setup here than we did last year and that's just to be better at Pocono than we were last year. Hopefully, that can carry over to other race tracks.' Kurt Busch honored Pocono Raceway honored former driver Kurt Busch by having him serve as the Grand Marshal for Sunday's Great American Getaway 400. Busch gave the command for drivers to start their engines. Also, at the start-finish line, Pocono painted 'TY Kurt.' Advertisement During his 23-year Cup Series career, covering 776 races, Busch had 28 poles, 34 wins, 161 top-five and 339 top-10 finishes and was the 2004 champion. He also won five Xfinity Series and four Craftsman Truck Series races. Three of Busch's Cup Series victories came at Pocono: July 2005, August 2007 and June 2016. His win in August 2007 was particularly dominant, as he led 175 of 200 laps. He also has two poles, 14 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes in 41 starts at the track. Unfortunately, it was at Pocono in 2022 that Busch suffered a concussion in a practice crash that ended his career. In May, it was announced that the 46-year old from Las Vegas was part of the 2026 Hall of Fame Class, along with Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick, which will be inducted in January in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Chase Elliott Defends Longtime NASCAR Tradition and Questions Need for Change
Chase Elliott Defends Longtime NASCAR Tradition and Questions Need for Change originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Chase Elliott didn't win on Sunday in Mexico City at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez but did receive special recognition for his third-place finish, joining winner Shane van Gisbergen and second-place finisher Christopher Bell in a unique podium-style finish, not native to NASCAR but more so to Formula 1 and most other motorsports, including IndyCar and dirt tracks across the nation. Advertisement Kyle Larson was questioned about the podium celebrations before last week's race south of the border and suggested incorporating podiums at select NASCAR races, specifically mentioning crown jewels like the Daytona 500 or Coca-Cola 600. On Saturday at Pocono Raceway, the 2020 Cup Series champion was asked for his thoughts on podiums in the future. Shane van Gisbergen celebrates on the podium alongside second-place driver Christopher Bell and third-place driver Chase Elliott after Mexico City Romero/Reuters via Imagn Images 'Yeah, I am not really for it or against it,' Elliott began. 'I am fine with it. I have no problem giving Shane (van Gisbergen) his congratulations and making sure that he is celebrated properly. He won the race. He deserved the right to that. "Me being the second loser, I can certainly get in there and make sure that I can appreciate the job that he did. I guess that is kind of what you are getting at. 'There is no doubt would I have rather that been me? Yeah, no question. It's not normal for us, so I am okay with it. I am okay with doing it. I am okay with not doing it. If that is going to be a new thing, then totally fine and we can start a new tradition. Advertisement "But that has not historically been us. So I just want to make sure our focus is being us as NASCAR and that's OK. We are our own form of motorsports and I think we can stand on our own two feet and we can do our own thing. So, as long as we are not doing it to be like everybody else, I am fine. But if that is the case, I am also good not doing it.' Elliott and his fellow competitors take to the track for Sunday's race with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Prime. Related: Chase Elliott Gets Fans' Attention With Smart Reply to Denny Hamlin Post This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
