Kevin Harvick Urges Kyle Larson to End Indy 500-Coke 600 Double Dreams and “Focus on the NASCAR Side”

2021 NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Larson was advised by Kevin Harvick to race full-time in IndyCar if he wants to attempt Indy 500 again.

Kevin Harvick Urges Kyle Larson to End Indy 500-Coke 600 Double Dreams and “Focus on the NASCAR Side”

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson (Via IMAGO)

The Memorial weekend witnessed Hendrick Motorsports’ 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson attempting The Double for the second consecutive year. But just like it did in 2024, things went south and Kyle Larson failed to race the whole combined 1100 miles. He crashed out early at IMS and was involved in two separate crashes at Charlotte, causing DNFs in both events.

2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, who has hinted at Kyle Larson’s underwhelming run this weekend, has assessed the situation after the two race outings. Via the Happy Hour podcast, he admitted that now that the two-year Arrow McLaren contract is over, the Chevy driver should shift focus back to full-time NASCAR schedule.

At this point, he just needs to focus on the NASCAR side of it. I think if he went to IndyCar and just ran the IndyCar schedule full-time, he’d go over there and be fine. It’s great that he can do it, but I think it took away from the NASCAR side of it this week with the circumstances. If they would have went like they did last year, I think he would have been confident.

Kevin Harvick said on Happy Hour podcast.

The veteran is right saying the IndyCar detour demanded too much time of Kyle Larson from the IndyCar side and the circumstances affected his confidence in both the events. So, if the veteran ever wants to race in the Indianapolis event again, he should do it either after NASCAR like Jimmie Johnson or take a break from stock car racing and run full-time in the open wheel series.

Kevin Harvick was happy to see Kyle Larson showing his greatness by doing everything he can’t produce a solid race at Charlotte Motor Speedway after the disappointment at Indy. But at the same time the veteran doesn’t want the Hendrick Motorsports driver to go back to attempt the race one more time next year.

But even the best, when the confidence gets knocked down and you know you want to do great things, you can mentally talk yourself into doing things you shouldn’t and step over that line. I’m happy that he did it. I think it was great for racing. I hope it’s the last time.

Kevin Harvick added.

Kevin Harvick feels the Indy 500 crash made Kyle Larson to do too much at Coke 600

The Indy 500 wreck did have significant effect on Kyle Larson’s attitude towards the Coke 600 race. He was desperate for redemption and that resulted in him getting caught in trouble while trying to do things over the limit. This shows even the very best in the business day can be ruined by a lack of focus and dent in confidence.

Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick (Via @SPEEDSPORT/X)

He stepped over the limit a couple times and got himself in trouble, just wanting to rebound and show everybody from the Indy 500 scenario that he was the man. He’s still the man. But even the guys like Kyle Larson can be affected by that confidence piece that goes with the driving, and how you think the process that you go through.

Kevin Harvick said.

Kyle Larson’s comments after the race showed he might be taking the advice from Kevin Harvick and end his double duty dreams. He admitted that if he ever runs Indy 500 again, it might not be in a tight schedule as he experienced now. The back-to-back disappointment also put him a tough situation in negotiations for another double, reducing his chances more.

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