And with that, Kyle Larson’s month of May is underway.
After winning the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history on Sunday at Kansas Speedway, Larson is set to take part in one of the most ambitious racing endeavors in history as he attempts to make his debut in the Indianapolis 500 while also running his usual mix of full-time Stock Car and part-time Sprint Car campaigns.
Larson, 31, will become fifth driver to compete in the Memorial Day Weekend double, running 1100 miles across the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600, the latter of which is the longest race of the NASCAR calendar.
But really, the weekend before that is the most complicated as he will qualify for the Indy 500 on that Saturday and only if he locks in early enough could he then maybe make it back to North Carolina in time to participate in the All-Star Race heat races that set the starting lineup for Sunday.
“I hope to make it back in time for the (heat) race itself. Kind of don’t really know yet. Kind of depends on how the week is going in Indy,” Larson said. “For sure, won’t be able to practice, I know that.”
There is already a contingency plan for that as Kevin Harvick will turn laps in practice for the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 team while he’s qualifying in the Arrow McLaren No. 17 Indy car.
This stretch of NASCAR races are good for him as he is the defending winner of the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro, although the track has since been repaved, and the race will now feature a super soft alternate tire.
He also won the Southern 500 at Darlington in September.
“The way the schedule lines out, for sure it’s just good tracks for us,” Larson said. “We had a good run last week, finished second and then got a win this week, felt like we’d have a good shot. Obviously going to Darlington, I know we’ll have a good shot.
“Then Indy starts, which is really cool. Then it gets kind of hectic for a couple weekends with North Wilkesboro and qualifying and obviously the double, the 500, hopefully getting everything all smooth and getting to the 600 and having a good shot there, with some sprint car races intermixed in all that.
“It’s really fun, honestly. To this point, it just feels normal to me. It doesn’t feel like it’s crazy different than real life typically is for me.”
Friday, May 3
High Limit Racing Sprint Cars at Lakeside Speedway (KS)
Saturday, May 4
NASCAR Cup Series Practice/Qualifying at Kansas Speedway (KS)High Limit Racing Sprint Cars at Lakeside Speedway (KS)
Sunday, May 5
NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway (KS)
Saturday, May 11
NASCAR Cup Series Practice/Qualifying at Darlington Raceway (SC)
Sunday, May 12
NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway (SC)
Monday, May 13
High Limit Racing Sprint Cars at Kokomo Speedway (IN)
Tuesday, May 14
Indianapolis 500 Practice (IN)
Wednesday, May 15
Indianapolis 500 Practice (IN)
Thursday, May 16
Indianapolis 500 Practice (IN)
Friday, May 17
Indianapolis 500 Practice (IN)
Saturday, May 18
11 a.m. – 5:50 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Qualifying (IN)
5:20 p.m. – All-Star Race Heat Race (NC)
Sunday, May 19
3 p.m. Indianapolis 500 Top-12 Qualifying (IN)
4 p.m. Indianapolis 500 Last Chance Qualifying (IN)
5 p.m. Indianapolis 500 Fast 6 Qualifying (IN)
8 p.m. NASCAR All-Star Race At North Wilkesboro (NC)
Monday, May 20
Indianapolis 500 Practice (IN)
Friday, May 24
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Practice (IN)
2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Indianapolis 500 Pit Stop Challenge (IN)
Saturday, May 25
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Indianapolis 500 Autograph Session (IN)
10:30 a.m. – Public Drivers Meeting (IN)
Coca-Cola 600 Practice & Qualifying (NC)
Sunday, May 26
12:45 p.m. – 108th Indianapolis 500 (IN)6 p.m. – Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (NC)
Friday, May 31
High Limit Racing at Lawrenceburg Speedway (IN)
Matt Weaver is a Motorsports Insider for Sportsnaut. Follow him on Twitter.