Associated Press motorsports journalist Jenna Fryer says make no mistake: Kyle Larson wants to run the Indianapolis 500 again next year.
The deal he and Hendrick Motorsports signed with Arrow McLaren Racing was always a two-year deal, but 2025 was an option year that Larson said Wednesday is still being ironed out.
If he had his way, a decision would be made sooner rather than later.
“I would love to. We’re still working on it,” Larson said. “It’s progressing. So I like that, but obviously things can always change.”
Larson was a star at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May, where he qualified fifth but a late-race speeding penalty took him out of contention and he finished 18th. Plus, there was an hours-long rain delay in Indianapolis and the Hendrick camp, after pouring millions of dollars into the effort, decided to leave him at the 500 and deal with the Coca-Cola 600 in Concord, North Carolina, later.
As soon as the Indy 500 ended, Larson jetted off to North Carolina — where he was met by more rain. He ran to his car just as the race was paused for weather, and because it never resumed, he never got the chance to run the 600.
That created a commotion in NASCAR, with many members of senior leadership taking the position that Larson and Hendrick had prioritized the Indianapolis 500 over the 600 and therefore wasn’t owed an automatic waiver to participate in the playoffs.
The situation dragged on for well over a week as the frustrated Hendrick camp was incensed the situation was being hyper-scrutinized when other drivers have received waivers for non-racing incidents. For example, Matt Kenseth missed half the 2018 season, all of the 2019 season and the first four races of 2020, but was granted a playoff waiver when he was hired as a replacement driver for the suspended Larson.
Kurt Busch received a waiver when he was suspended while under investigation for a domestic assault allegation, and Tony Stewart received a waiver after taking a mental health break.
NASCAR eventually gave Larson the waiver — and he opens the playoffs Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway as the points leader — but it is unlikely Rick Hendrick will sign off on another Indy 500 run without a guarantee from NASCAR.
Either way, it’s the chance to complete the 1,100-miles of racing in one day that most interests Larson. John Andretti, Stewart, Busch and Robby Gordon are the drivers to attempt “The Double” prior to Larson, but Stewart is the only one to complete both races in the same day.
In the case of this year, the Indy 500 did go the distance but the Coca-Cola 600 completed only 249 of 400 laps and was essentially over because of rain by the time Larson arrived in North Carolina.
“I would love to because I didn’t get to do ‘The Double’ this year. So that’s really why I wanted to do it,” Larson said. “I obviously wanted to compete in the Indianapolis 500, but more than anything, I wanted to do ‘The Double’ and have a chance at winning one of the two, or both, and I felt like I just didn’t get that opportunity.”
A decision on Indy could come as early as this week.
NHRA and Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) announced today they have renewed their licensing agreement to develop collectible die-cast vehicles under the iconic Hot Wheels brand.
This licensing partnership will continue to expand die-cast versions of classic hot rods, including a 1976 Chevy Chevette and a 1971 Ford Mustang Funny Car. NHRA fans of all ages can tap into the history, power and speed at the heart of both brands with this seamless collaboration.
“The partnership between NHRA and Hot Wheels continues to be a perfect match,” said Jeffrey Young, NHRA Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “NHRA is committed to delivering exciting licensed products to race fans and through our collaboration with Mattel, we’ve been able to extend the excitement of NHRA racing well beyond the race track.”
The NHRA Licensing Program continues to expand focusing on lifestyle products such as apparel and accessories, toys and home décor, as well as items for the garage for the auto enthusiast like automotive accessories, automotive tools, appearance and other automotive related products.
For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
Between the action-packed racing of America’s No. 1 motorsport each weekend, NASCAR Studios will provide fans additional entertainment and insights throughout the 2024 NASCAR Playoffs with the launch of three new shows: NASCAR Inside the Playoffs (truTV and Max), NASCAR Daily (YouTube) and Drop the Jack (YouTube and podcast platforms).
“NASCAR fans are the most passionate in the world and we want to deliver them quality options for additional entertainment, insight and analysis,” said John Dahl, NASCAR Senior VP of Content. “These new shows are a great complement to our existing options for NASCAR fans today, with popular media talent, industry insiders and rising voices eager to entertain and educate race fans however they prefer to consume content.”
"This is going to be so much fun,” said Spake, who adds to a remarkable national broadcasting resume that spans more than two decades and multiple sports for networks including SPEED, ESPN and FOX Sports. “I get to talk about the sport I have been a part of for 20 years in two totally different settings, alongside some of my greatest friends and most respected peers in the industry. The fans have been so good to me over the years, and I’m excited to take them further inside the action of the postseason while staying up to speed on some of the fun and entertaining things unfolding away from the track.”
A rundown of the three new shows is below:
NASCAR Inside the Playoffs
Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. ET on truTV and streaming on Max – Debuts Thursday, Sept. 5
NASCAR’s partnership with TNT Sports gets a head start before 2025 broadcast rights begin with the new weekly studio show NASCAR Inside the Playoffs, which will dissect the evolving postseason action through an unfiltered lens. The show is hosted by beloved veteran broadcasters Shannon Spake and Steve Letarte, along with up-and-coming media talent Dylan ‘Mamba’ Smith. A rotating fourth voice of current and former drivers will join each week, beginning with two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch in the first two episodes. Jordan Bianchi, NASCAR reporter for The Athletic, will join to cover breaking news.
NASCAR Daily
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. ET on YouTube and podcast platforms – Debuts Monday, Sept. 9
Balancing breaking news with entertaining conversation, Spake will infuse her perspective while welcoming regular guest appearances from drivers, industry personalities and other contributors in episodes running approximately 10 minutes every weekday morning. The show will also introduce a rotation of recurring segments that put a spotlight on different aspects of NASCAR and the fan experience, including checking in on the latest social media chatter, and a weekly sports betting segment featuring analyst Erica Renee Davis.
Drop the Jack
Thursdays, 3 p.m. ET on YouTube and podcast platforms – Debuts Thursday, Sept. 5
A new addition to the NASCAR podcast universe, Drop the Jack provides some of the Cup Series’ best pit crew athletes and other industry veterans a platform to engage in compelling conversations about the full spectrum of life at and away from the race track. Mamba Smith – a former full-time aspiring NASCAR driver turned rising media personality – will help guide these entertaining and emotional discussions with pit crew athletes Derrell Edwards, Michael Hicks, Jorden Paige and Paul Swan along with special guests.
Execution of all three shows will run through the new NASCAR Productions home in Concord, N.C. NASCAR opened its new 58,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art production facility earlier this year as it continues to invest significantly in original content and live production capabilities for the league and its stakeholders.
Harry Conklin, Bob East, Bobby East, Junior Knepper, Ken Schrader and Jimmy Sams are the newest inductees into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, class of 2024.
The announcement was made during the recent USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship event at Sun Prairie, Wisconsin’s Angell Park Speedway, the home of the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
Harry Conklin notched 15 Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association championships as a car owner for drivers Jimmy LaManna, Steve Troxell, Sammy Sauer, Randy Roberts, Kenny Lewis and Gary Taylor. In a career spanning six decades, his cars won 140-plus Rocky Mountain features, including the inaugural Belleville Nationals with driver Eddie Jackson in 1978.
Bob East virtually owned USAC Midget racing throughout the 1990s and 2000s. As a constructor, his Beast midget chassis earned countless victories on both dirt and pavement at virtually every notable event in the sport. Under his role as chief mechanic for Steve Lewis’ and Terry Klatt’s teams, East earned 12 USAC National Midget titles and 150 wins.
His son, Bobby East, was one of the most prolific drivers of his era and a USAC National Midget champion in 2004. In 2001, he became the youngest USAC National Midget winner, at the time, at the age of 16. Bobby totaled 22 career USAC National Midget wins, including the Hut 100, the Belleville Nationals, Turkey Night, the Night Before the 500 and the Copper World Classic.
Walter “Junior” Knepper-owned cars earned 34 USAC National Midget victories with drivers Bob Wente, Tom Bigelow, Mel Kenyon and son, Steve Knepper between 1968-1997. Junior’s team captured the 1969 Night Before the 500 with Wente, plus the 1988 Belleville Nationals, the 1992 Hut 100, eight MARA titles and a SLARA crown, all with Steve in the seat.
Jimmy Sams was one of the early pioneers of motorsports photography. From the 1930s-1950s, he was a fixture at Kansas City area racetracks such as Olympic Stadium where he operated a photography concession. His images preserved the history of midget racing’s golden era. In the late 1940s, he also served as the president of the Kansas City Midget Auto Racing Association.
Ken Schrader is among the most accomplished race drivers of all time in a wide variety of disciplines. He scored 21 career USAC National Midget wins between 1980-1988 and achieved monumental triumphs with the series in the inaugural 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora in 1981, the Night Before the 500 at IRP in 1983 and on the Springfield Mile in 1984.
Furthermore, longtime Indianapolis Speedrome promoter John Stiles will be recognized with the inaugural National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame Founder’s Award.
The 40th annual luncheon and induction ceremony for the six inductees will be held on Friday, January 17, 2025. The event will be held at Fair Meadow Hall at the Tulsa Fairgrounds in Oklahoma, adjacent to the Expo Center which will be hosting the Chili Bowl Nationals during the week.
For additional information on the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, contact Barb Hellyer at kingdoodlebug@sbcglobal.net.
Journalist John Newby gives the reason behind some of NASCAR's schedule changes
The Craftsman Truck Series schedule features some major changes in 2025, including the addition of three new road courses. As it turns out, NASCAR has a specific reason for switching up everything.
"Really making sure we're doing our part to develop our drivers for the Xfinity Series and eventually the Cup Series, coming through the Craftsman Truck Series as well," explained Jusan Hamilton, managing director of competition operations at NASCAR, during a Thursday press conference.
As Hamilton explained, NASCAR worked directly with Truck Series teams while building the 2025 schedule. The purpose of the collaboration was to help the teams and the series continue to grow.
This is why NASCAR arranged the Truck Series schedule the way it did and why the number of races increased from 23 to 25. The opportunity to further develop drivers was a big reason why NASCAR chose to add Watkins Glen, the Roval, Lime Rock Park, and Rockingham.
The Glen and Rockingham previously had spots on the Truck Series schedule, albeit for brief stints. The series has never competed at the Charlotte Roval or Lime Rock Park.
The Truck teams will take on these new venues while also returning to familiar favorites such as Darlington Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The teams and sponsors will have more opportunities to showcase the third-tier series on Fox-owned channels. The drivers, meanwhile, will continue to face new challenges while preparing for potential moves up the NASCAR ranks.
"This expansion is a testament to the intense competition and continued growth and fan support for that series," Hamilton added. "The increased diversity and track type will without a doubt challenge our up-and-coming drivers.
"The Craftsman Truck Series will go to Lime Rock Park in Connecticut for the first time. Lime Rock is a legendary venue in the northeast, one of the oldest continually operating road course circuits in the U.S. Without a doubt this addition will be one of the most anticipated events on the Truck Series calendar in 2025."
2025 Craftsman Truck Series schedule
Feb. 14 Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 22 Atlanta Motor Speedway
March 14 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 21 Homestead-Miami Speedway
March 28 Martinsville Speedway
April 11 Bristol Motor Speedway
April 18 Rockingham Speedway
May 2 Texas Motor Speedway
May 10 Kansas Speedway
May 17 North Wilkesboro Speedway
May 23 Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 30 Nashville Superspeedway
June 7 Michigan International Speedway
June 20 Pocono Raceway
June 28 Lime Rock Park
July 25 Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
Aug. 8 Watkins Glen International
Aug. 15 Richmond Raceway
PLAYOFFS
Aug. 30 Darlington Raceway
Sept. 11 Bristol Motor Speedway
Sept. 20 New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Oct. 3 Charlotte Roval
Oct. 17 Talladega Superspeedway
Oct. 24 Martinsville Speedway
Oct. 31 Phoenix Raceway
NASCAR’s new in-season tournament, set to debut in 2025, promises to add an exciting dimension to an already fresh Cup Series calendar. The tournament will feature a 32-driver bracket-style format, reminiscent of the NCAA’s March Madness — but for stock car racing.
With the official release of the 2025 Cup Series schedule, the full picture is now in focus.
The tournament will consist of five races, beginning on June 28, 2025, with a Saturday night race at unpredictable Atlanta Motor Speedway. This event will mark the start of TNT Sports’ coverage of NASCAR, embarking on a return to the sport after a decade-long absence. Following Atlanta, the tournament will move to the Chicago Street Course on July 6, then to Sonoma Raceway on July 13, Dover Motor Speedway on July 20 and conclude at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the annual Brickyard 400 on July 27. The tournament winner will receive a $1 million prize.
The seeding for the 32-driver bracket will be determined by the results of the final three races aired on Prime Video before the tournament. Drivers will be seeded based on their best finish in the three races (Michigan, Mexico City, Pocono), with tiebreakers determined by the next-best finish, followed by the season points position.
The Grandview Speedway’s 54th annual Freedom 76 weekend begins on Friday, September 20 with the 11th annual Freedom 38 Sportsman Championship race plus qualifying events, along with practice time for 358 Modified drivers wishing to participate in the Freedom 76.
Friday’s program will be known as Fans for Five Friday as the grandstand admission is just $5, while children ages 9 and under will be free of charge.
On Friday, pit gates open at 3 pm, with grandstand gates opening at 5:30 pm, drivers meeting at 5:30 pm, with the pill draw following the drivers meeting. Warmups are at 6:15 pm, and racing at 7:30 pm. Pit admission on Friday is $40, and no license is required. There is no rain date for the Friday event.
Racers are reminded that the Freedom 38 is open to regular Sportsman division drivers only (track or series), drivers who compete regularly in Modified division competition are not eligible to compete.
On Saturday, September 21, the 54th annual Freedom 76 will be run for the 358 Modifieds. The program includes qualifying heats, consolations, cash dash and the Minuteman 20 leading up to the 76-lap Championship main event.
Pit gates open at 9 am, for inspections, fans will be able to enter the Grandstand areas between 9 am, and 12 Noon to reserve seats with blankets, with grandstand ticket windows opening at 3 pm. Pill draw for position is at 4:30 pm, with the drivers meeting at 5 pm, warm-ups are at 6 pm, with racing starting at 7 pm.
Adult Grandstand tickets on Saturday will be $40, students 10-15 with ID are $20, while children ages 9 and under are admitted free of charge. Pit admission will be $45, and no license is required. There will be no advanced tickets sold for this event, and the rain date is Saturday, September 28.
Those wishing to camp at the Speedway please note: Campers can enter the grounds in the fourth turn area on Saturday, September 14 and remain there until the 21st. However, because there are no hookups, sleeping in the campers can only take place September 20-22.
