So far the 2024 NASCAR Cup series hasn’t had a whole lot to offer. Yes, there were some very close finishes. Furthermore, there was a fight at the All-Star Race, to which NASCAR reacted and handled it quite horrendously. Then, there’s the ever looming possibility that Stewart-Haas Racing may not get more than one year to even attempt to move #4WARD. Something many fans looked forward to, including myself, was Kyle Larson’s attempt at ‘the double.”
For those who don’t watch a lot of motorsports, the double refers to when a driver attempts to pull off one of the more spectacular things an athlete can attempt in all of sports. The Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 fall on the same day. The 500 mile IndyCar race starts in the early afternoon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 600 mile NASCAR Cup series race starts in the evening at Charlotte Motor Speedway . The double refers to a driver attempting to race in both on the same day.
Tony Stewart is the only driver to complete all 1100 miles in the same day. Yes, that’s the same Tony Stewart rumored to be selling all his charters and getting out of the NASCAR Cup series all together. John Andretti, Robby Gordon, and Kurt Busch were the only drivers to attempt the double prior to 2024. In 2024, Kyle Larson added his name to that list.
First Attempt at the Fan Double
Personally, I’ve never attempted to watch all 1100 miles of racing as a fan. Given the uncertain future of my favorite team in the NASCAR Cup series, I figured it would be safe to start looking at being a fan of other teams. Honestly, I’ve never had a whole lot of interest in IndyCar, beyond the oval track at Indianapolis. Still, it was pretty cool to get to watch my favorite driver, Kevin Harvick, practice the #5 car for the All-Star Race, while Larson was at Indy. Ultimately, I figured that since I had the day off work, I’d attempt to watch 1100 miles of racing.
First, I was prepared for overlap in case of any delays at Indy. I planned on watching the Indy 500 on the Peacock app that was installed on my PlayStation 4, which was hooked up to an old flat screen Vizio I’ve had since 2007. Furthermore, I planned on watching the Coca-Cola 600 on Fox via my newer smart TV (also a Vizio). I had the living room set up to where I could shift my line of sight to the left and watch the Indy 500 or to the right and watch the Coca-Cola 600.
After a long third shift at work and despite an unexpected call in, I was able to make it home by 0600 hours. I stocked my refrigerator with energy drinks. Then I finally fell asleep around 0930. In what seemed like no time, my cell phone alarm went off at 1230. By this time, I was really amped up to watch Kyle Larson attempt “the double.” Finally, it was time.
Bad Weather Strikes Twice
As you can see from the X post above, the double attempt didn’t go well for Kyle Larson. It didn’t go well for fans either. Rain postponed the start of the Indy 500. Larson decided to stay and race the 500. Ultimately, if not for a penalty on pit road, you really could say Larson had a great day at Indy. He led laps and ran well. Larson made one simple mistake. He sped on pit road during a green flag pit stop. He finished 18th.
Despite not having been able to start the Coca-Cola 600, Larson was going to attempt to finish it. Justin Allgaier started the 600. The 600 is NASCAR’s longest race, so if time was the only consideration, Larson was going to be able to make it. While he wasn’t going to be able to drive all 600 miles, it appeared as if he was going to get to race at least the entire final stage.
Approximately, half way through the third stage (the 600 mile race is the only cup race to have 4 stages), a yellow was thrown for weather. Apparently, a lightning strike occurred close enough to the track to bring the cars to pit road. This was around the same time that Kyle Larson was arriving at the track. The radar didn’t look bad, but rain began to fall. NASCAR assured the fans that after the short rain, they would attempt to dry the track.
NASCAR Gives Fans Yet another Bad Decision
Ultimately, just as Larson was screwed out of pulling off at least a partial double, so were any fans attempting to watch all 1100 miles. After assuring us that they would attempt to dry the track, NASCAR let Mike Joy, Kevin Harvick, and Clint Bowyer explain that due to humidity they were calling the race after only 249 laps. Yes, the Coca-Cola 600 was technically official over half of the 400 laps were completed.
NASCAR was worried that they wouldn’t get the race restarted before 0100 on 05/27/2024. Despite running on three hours of sleep and countless energy drinks, I was ready for the race to restart. Thankfully, my scheduled days off work are always Sunday and Monday. Furthermore, Monday is Memorial Day, a good number of fans had the holiday off.
The Coca-Cola 600 is a special race specifically because of its length. If there is any race you want to race the full length, it’s the Coca-Cola 600. Add to that the fact that Kyle Larson was attempting “the double,” and you can see why many were frustrated with this decision. Ultimately, what is one of the greatest days in motorsports was ruined both by bad weather AND another bad decision by NASCAR.
might as well call it now pic.twitter.com/DzwSl7Zrp3
— Carson Hocevar (@CarsonHocevar) May 28, 2024
NASCAR Consistently Makes Less and Less Sense
In all honesty, I just don’t understand NASCAR decision making any more. I can theorize all day long. Maybe NASCAR really is so desperate for “parity” that they don’t want any driver to stand out. Perhaps, NASCAR is going out of their way to intentionally thwart the development of “superstars” in their sport. Let’s face it, it takes a superstar level racer to even attempt the double.
NASCAR fans had a chance to see something very rare. I believe most fans would have liked to see the race restart, even if it was after 0100. The rain had stopped. Track dryers were on the track. Then we’re given the excuse that humidity was stopping the drying of the track. It is often said that NASCAR is consistently inconsistent. Thus far in 2024, it seems to me that they’re consistently running their top series into the ground.
Maybe it is time for new leadership in NASCAR. Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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Rich Marvelous Move of the Race: Coca-Cola 600
Horrible decision by NASCAR. I WATCHED A RAIN DELAYED Daytona race in the 80’s or 90’s that restarted 2 or 3 times due to rain. Last restart was about 2:00 AM. And they finished the race. NASCAR Should have COMPLETED THE RACE.
I was at the entire 600 3-day weekend. I paid up for a suite seat. Friday and Saturday had excellent racing. Sunday pre-race was great and emotional. The Sunday racing was very good until it was ABANDONED. I have already adjusted my 2025 plans to not include the full 600 weekend and not recommending it to friends. The only thing for that week in the 2025 currently is shop tours and fan days and the Friday evening races at CMS but that will be the day of decision.