NASCAR on Tuesday announced some big news regarding Kyle Larson.
NASCAR announced that Larson has been granted a waiver that makes him eligible for the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs.
NEWS: @KyleLarsonRacin has been granted a waiver and maintains his eligibility for the #NASCARPlayoffs. pic.twitter.com/bUOPgxCzez
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 4, 2024
Larson became ineligible for the playoffs after he didn’t race in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte two weeks ago. Larson drove in the Indianapolis 500 earlier the same day and was hoping to complete the famous racing “Double,” but poor weather delayed the start of the Indy 500 by about four hours, making it impossible for Larson to arrive in Charlotte for the start of the Coca-Cola 600.
Justin Allgaier drove the No. 5 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports in the Coca-Cola 600. Though Larson flew from Indianapolis to Charlotte following the conclusion of the Indy 500 and was ready to race, he never got a chance to drive in the Cup Series race because it was called early due to the weather.
There were ongoing questions since that race about whether or not Larson should be granted a waiver of eligibility for the playoffs. NASCAR ultimately decided to grant the 31-year-old a waiver.
“There was a lot of discussion internally. … We ultimately landed at giving Kyle a waiver,” NASCAR executive Elton Sawyer said in a statement. “Essentially our decision-making was, although we had the inclement weather in Indianapolis as well as Charlotte, Kyle made every attempt to get to Charlotte. He was standing in the pit box with his helmet on ready to go.
“Unfortunately we had weather in Charlotte as well, and were unfortunately not able to get the race going again. That’s how we landed on our decision.”
