CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — With NASCAR and the Coca-Cola 600 the promised priority, Kyle Larson will again attempt the Indianapolis 500 next season with the caveat he must leave if rain again ruins his bid to complete “The Double.”
Larson in May became the fifth driver in history to attempt to complete 1,100-miles of racing on the biggest day in motorsports. But the start of the Indy 500 was delayed several hours by rain, and because Hendrick Motorsports had spent so much money on the effort, they decided to keep him at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“It was unfinished business,” team owner Rick Hendrick said. “Weather just cost us a lot.”
Larson was a total star all of May, where he qualified fifth but a late-race speeding penalty took him out of contention and he finished 18th. He was still named top rookie of the race.
By the time Larson arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the 600 had been stopped by rain and never resumed. He never turned a lap, received zero points for the event, and it took a prolonged dispute between Hendrick officials and NASCAR before NASCAR granted Larson a waiver to participate in the playoffs despite missing a race.
In the end, missing the 600 did cost Larson as he fell a single point short of beating Tyler Reddick for NASCAR’s regular-season championship — a title worth 15 additional playoff points. Larson could use those points after an early crash Sunday in NASCAR’s playoff opener erased almost his entire lead in the Cup standings.
“We couldn't control the weather, but it was never intended for us to have to pick and choose, but we did have to make that decision,” Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon told The Associated Press. "It was a group effort, and not necessarily the way NASCAR wanted it to be. But it was his first time doing it, our first time doing it, and I think Indy had to be the priority.
“A second time, it's just not going to be the same case. NASCAR knows he'll be at the 600. We don't want to spot Reddick another entire race.”
Hendrick said that Tony Kanaan, sporting director for Arrow McLaren, would replace Larson in the car at Indy if Larson has to leave for Charlotte. By the reaction on Kanaan's face, that was news to him.
“We're going to run the 600, we will be here for the 600 if that means having to cut the race short in Indy, we will,” Hendrick said. “My commitment is to NASCAR, that's where we're in, that's where we run the for the championship. And so if weather catches us, Tony will get in the car.”
Larson followed John Andretti, Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon and Kurt Busch in attempting both races on the same day. Stewart is the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles and only did it in one of his two attempts.
Larson, who is again partnering with Arrow McLaren Racing, not only wants to complete the full 1,100-miles but wants to win at least one — if not both — of the races.
“I knew as soon as it was over that I wanted to do it again. I didn't get a chance to complete ‘The Double’ and that's important," Larson told the AP. “But I also want to win the Indy 500 and I want to win the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity.”
Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, won the Coca-Cola 600 in 2021 in what was the 269th career Cup victory for Hendrick — the win that passed Petty Enterprises for the most Cup wins in NASCAR history.
The announcement Tuesday was made at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Larson's Cup Series No. 5 Chevrolet and his No. 17 Arrow McLaren Indy car were both displayed. On hand was Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick and McLaren chief executive officer Zak Brown, who flew in from London and came directly to the news conference.
“We have some unfinished business to try to win the the Indy 500 and of course the NASCAR race a couple hours later,” Brown said. “Having a legend in our race car is a privilege and an honor."
The initial deal with Larson was for two years, but 2025 was an option year and Hendrick Motorsports had a three-month window to make the decision. Larson told the AP that he knew before the NASCAR race at Indianapolis in late July that he'd be back for the 500 in 2025.
Brown said McLaren will give Larson as much testing as he needs, but does not plan to enter him in any races besides the Indy 500.
For now, Larson has work to do in NASCAR.
Initially the points leader at the start of Sunday's race at Atlanta, Larson plummeted to 10th in the standings. Four drivers will be eliminated from the 16-driver playoff field following the Sept. 21 race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
NASCAR races this Sunday on the road course at Watkins Glen, New York.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
FILE - Kyle Larson drives through the first turn during the final practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
FILE - Kyle Larson, left, talks with Tony Kanaan following the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Colt Keith hit a two-run homer, Matt Vierling had three hits while driving in the go-ahead run, and the Detroit Tigers rallied from an early four-run deficit to beat the Kansas City Royals 7-6 on Monday night in a crucial game for their playoff hopes.
Pinch-hitter Wenceel Pérez had the tying two-run double for Detroit, which began its final trip of the regular season by moving within 1 1/2 games of Minnesota for the final AL wild-card spot. The Twins lost to Cleveland earlier in the night.
“It was an incredible win because of how we were able to do it,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We didn't do much early, although our at-bats were pretty good. Started to chip away a little bit, a couple of really big swings, and then we held on."
Brenan Hanifee (1-1) earned the win in relief for Detroit, allowing one run and three hits over 2 1/3 innings. Jason Foley finished off a solid bullpen performance, working a perfect ninth to earn his 24th save and second in two days.
“The bullpen has been doing it all year for us,” Keith said, “and they did it again tonight.”
Bobby Witt Jr. hit a grand slam to stake Kansas City to a 4-0 lead, and he added a bunt single for a five-RBI game. But the Royals otherwise kept squandering chances to score, just as they did in their loss to the Pirates on Sunday.
Sam Long (3-2) took the loss for Kansas City, allowing three runs while retiring just two batters in relief of Seth Lugo.
“A lot of stuff happened in that game, clearly. It was an intense back-and-forth, both teams putting everything on the line,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You get out to a lead, you feel pretty good. You know they're not going to go away.”
Indeed, the Royals started their final homestand by taking advantage of what Detroit could not: the bases loaded.
The Tigers packed them in the third before Keith grounded out to second to end the threat. But when Kansas City loaded the bases in the bottom half — a leadoff walk from Adam Frazier, a single by Yuli Gurriel and a bunt single from Kyle Isbel — Witt hit a 1-1 pitch what seemed like a mile high and over the left-field wall for his second grand slam of the season.
Reese Olson, making his first start since straining his right shoulder July 20 in Toronto, was lifted one batter later, after Salvador Perez blooped a single to right. He allowed four runs, four hits and a walk while throwing 50 pitches.
The Tigers still trailed 5-1 in the fifth when they began their comeback, scoring once on Witt's throwing error and twice more when Keith homered to right. And after Witt delivered an RBI single in the bottom half for his 200th hit of the season, Detroit pushed across three more runs in the sixth off Long and John Schreiber to take a 7-6 lead.
“We had trouble putting them away from the very beginning. There weren’t a lot of easy outs,” Quatraro said. "You have got to give them credit the way they battled their at-bats and drove (Seth) Lugo’s pitch count up. Then they continued to put good at-bats up. I thought ours were pretty good, too. We just didn’t get the big hits like they did.”
The Royals had two aboard with one out in the seventh, and the first two on base in the eighth, but failed to score both times.
“That was one of the best games we've played as a team,” Keith said. “I don't think anybody thought that we were out of it."
Tigers: RHP Ricky Vanasco was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to make space for Olson on the roster. Vanasco pitched two scoreless innings in two appearances with the club, earning his first big league win on Sept. 5 in Oakland.
Royals: RHP Chris Stratton, who went on the injured list Saturday, was diagnosed with a Grade-1 flexor strain and will be shut down for at least a week. ... RHP James McArthur left Monday's game after retiring two batters with right elbow tightness.
Detroit: RHP Casey Mize (2-6, 4.47) is on the mound against Kansas City for the second game of the series Tuesday night.
Kansas City: LHP Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.32) faces the Tigers after striking out 12 against them in an 8-3 win on May 22.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch talks to his players on the mound as he makes a pitching change during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Reese Olson throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. hits a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. runs the bases after hitting a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
