“He’s still got his real job to do!” Dale Earnhardt Jr. Doesn’t want Kyle Larson to Attempt Indy 500-Coke 600 Double Again

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. gives reasons for why Kyle Larson shouldn’t attempt the iconic double duty again.

“He’s still got his real job to do!” Dale Earnhardt Jr. Doesn’t want Kyle Larson to Attempt Indy 500-Coke 600 Double Again

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Larson (Via IMAGO)

Last Sunday witnessed Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson making his second ever start at the Indy 500, as part of the double duty attempt and fumble the bag just like he did in 2024. He crashed out early in a re-start and exited the race early, to the disappointment of everyone involved. After the back-to-back poor runs, Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t want the veteran to make another attempt.

In the recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast, the JR Motorsports co-owner shared his thoughts on the situation. Though he doesn’t want Kyle Larson to attempt the double again, Dale Earnhardt Jr. knows being the competitor he is the No:5 Chevy driver wants to be satisfied until he gets a chance to do the double again and at least get close to accomplishing his goals.

I don’t want him to do it again… To me? He hasn’t done The Double. He’s not going to be satisfied until he can get to the finish line with great results in both races. I’m sure that he feels like he didn’t even get close to accomplishing it. You know, he fell far short. So, there’s probably something in there, his competitiveness is probably saying, ‘I’m not satisfied. I’m going to do it again.’

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download podcast.

The veteran detailed how demanding the double duty is with all the commitments that comes with it for a whole month, while he has focus on his NASCAR Cup Schedule in the same time. Junior feels it’s not worth it for the stock car racing drivers to race in the event, considering it takes so much away from their real job.

But the pure logistics of it? The month is a pain in the a**, between Indy and NASCAR. He’s still racing in other Cup races during that first part of the month. He’s still got his real job to do. He has to answer the questions, ‘Which race is more important? What matters more? What happens if this? What happens if that happens?’ It’s like man, it’s just not worth it.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

Kyle Larson also made comments that shares similar feeling after the race, where he highlighted how demanding the double duty schedule is and how is considering racing at Indy 500 in the future when he has no NASCAR commitments. NASCAR champions like Kevin Harvick also urged him the do the same and not attempt the double duty again.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. claims Kyle Larson would have won Coke 600 if not for Indy 500

Kyle Larson returned to Charlotte after the Indy wreck, with the primary goal of winning the Coke 600 as redemption. But his plans didn’t materialize owing him crashing out twice in the race, despite having one of the fastest cars and ending his day as the worst finishing HMS Chevy, not even finishing the 600 miles.

Kyle Larson (via McLaren)
Kyle Larson (via McLaren)

Talking about the performance, Dale Jr. pointed out that Larson wasn’t his 100% for his charlotte race, even though he was running pretty strong at moments. The Hall of Famer believes if it wasn’t a double duty weekend, Kyle Larson would have easily won the 600 miles race gives HMS had a good car, as William Byron finished P2.

I felt like the dude got there and was smoked. He was absolutely flying in that car. And I think if he’s not at Indy — he busted his a** at the top of three and four, on the bumps. If he’s not at Indy, I think he’s more plugged in, tuned in, more sharp and self aware of all of the things he needs to be careful of and avoid to be able to win a 600 mile race at Charlotte.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

The comments from Junior are something many pundits in the racing community agrees with it and why most of them doesn’t want the NASCAR star man to attempt racing there again. It would be interesting to see how the everything is going to playout for Kyle Larson is the coming races and what will his decision be about future double attempts.

Also Read: Larry McReynolds Proclaims “Kyle Larson Wasn’t 100%” for Coke 600 After Indy 500 Wreck