Kyle Larson's Indianapolis 500 qualifying attempt could derail NASCAR All-Star plans

DOVER, Del. — Kyle Larson ran into his first speed bump in his busy May.

Larson next month will become the fifth driver in history to attempt to complete “The Double” and run 1,100 miles in one day, starting with the Indianapolis 500 in an Indy car and then flying to Charlotte to drive in the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest race of the year.

But ahead of the milestone attempt, Larson will stay in Indianapolis on May 17 to practice for the 500 rather than travel to North Wilkesboro Speedway to practice and qualify for the NASCAR All-Star race.

He is expected to qualify for the Indy 500 on May 18 before — barring any complications — he travels to North Carolina to compete in an All-Star heat race later that night. The All-Star race at North Wilkesboro is May 21, hours after the top 12 cars on the starting grid is set in Indianapolis.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to run a heat race,” Larson said. “I hope to make it back in time for the race itself. Kind of don’t really know yet. Kind of depends on how the week is going in Indy. For sure, won’t be able to practice, I know that.”

Larson’s next time on the track at Indy won’t be until May 14, when IMS opens for Indy 500 preparations. Larson is running an entry co-fielded by McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports, his NASCAR team and Rick Hendrick’s first entry into the Indianapolis 500.

“I need to get as much laps in Indy as possible,” Larson said. “The plane will be ready for me to go whenever it’s free for me to leave.”

Kyle Busch wins pole

Kyle Busch turned a fast lap of 162.191 mph on Saturday and won the pole for the Cup series race at Dover Motor Speedway.

Busch earned his first pole win of the season and No. 34 overall in 689 NASCAR Cup Series races. Busch is winless in the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in 10 Cup races this season.

“I would certainly love for (the pole) to be a huge one to get our season rolling and back in the right direction,” Busch said. “I feel like the last couple of weeks, the discussions at RCR have kind of been, let’s get some sort of reset going here.”

Busch is joined by Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney on the front row for Sunday’s 400-mile race on the concrete-mile track.

Busch was one of four Chevrolets in the top 10, Blaney led the three Fords, and three Toyotas were also inside the first five rows.

Busch won the pole in last season’s race at Dover and led 25 laps before he finished 21st. He has three career Cup wins at Dover. He is looking to extend his streak of 20 straight seasons with at least one win in the series.

“The next box to check that’s highest on the list is to get a win this year to just continue that streak,” Busch said. “From there, you’re never settled or never happy with just one. You want to have more.”

Busch has 63 career Cup victories.

Jimmie’s back

Jimmie Johnson races in Dover for the first time since 2020. Johnson has won a track-record 11 times, and the mile-concrete track remains the site of his last Cup victory in June 2017.

Johnson returned to NASCAR last season with an ownership stake in Legacy Motor Club and only races sporadically each season. He finished 28th in the Daytona 500 and was 29th earlier this month at Texas Motor Speedway.

Dover leaned into the anticipation of his return by selling a ticket package that included a meet-and-greet with Johnson and team ambassador Richard Petty.

Legacy fields cars this season for John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones. Jones is out at Dover with a back injury.

“The reason we run the third car — the reason that I’m out here — is to help our two primary cars,” Johnson said. “It is not to help me. It is upon me to study, learn, ask the right questions, listen in. I don’t want to take anything away from the 42 or 43 programs. I’m really here to help.”