For years, Kyle Larson has built a reputation as NASCAR’s most versatile driver. His 2025 campaign carried the weight of one of racing’s most ambitious undertakings: running the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. To date, Tony Stewart remains the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles in one day. Larson’s 2025 effort mirrored his 2024 attempt, which was disrupted by weather delays. This time, his bid ended in crashes—spinning out after 91 laps at Indy and later caught in a wreck at Charlotte—halting his run in both events.

Instead of a career highlight, the grueling “Double Duty” attempt became a turning point in Larson’s NASCAR playoffs. As whispers of an “Indy hangover” swirled by midsummer, his form in the Cup Series reflected the toll. What had promised to be a breakthrough season devolved into a stretch plagued by inconsistency and bad luck, with unforced errors and mechanical issues dogging his races. Even his sprint car outings suffered. Behind the scenes, the question loomed: had the Indy gamble backfired, derailing not just a weekend but his entire 2025 campaign? Larson recently addressed those concerns, acknowledging the challenges openly.

Admission of a hangover before the NASCAR playoffs

When pressed about the “Indy hangover” theory, Larson conceded the results spoke for themselves. “Judging by how I ran since Indy, I’d agree with it,” he admitted, before stressing that motivation was never the issue. The acknowledgment was striking, given his insistence that the team had worked to rebound. “Definitely, we took a dip in performance on the Cup side. Even my sprint car stuff there for a few weeks was off a little bit.” The blunt confession framed a reality Larson could no longer downplay. His Double Duty experiment had come at a tangible cost to his NASCAR playoffs.

He went further, painting the struggles as a period of trial that tested both him and his crew. “It’s been a rough couple two and a half months maybe,” Larson explained. “But I think through it all, we’ve become stronger as a team because we’ve been through a lot.” While he struck a hopeful tone about “implementing” lessons into the playoffs, the subtext was clear. The attempt at racing’s hardest doubleheader left him and Hendrick Motorsports scrambling to regain ground in the Cup championship, with consistency proving elusive just when it mattered most.

The consequences of Larson’s candid admission ripple across the garage. NASCAR history shows how rare and taxing the Double Duty truly is, noting only one driver who has been able to beat the odds. Larson’s effort ended with crashes in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600, a blow that hurt confidence and drained momentum. Now, his honesty highlights the balancing act between personal ambition and the demands of a grueling Cup season. With NASCAR playoffs looming, the question remains whether the hard-earned lessons of 2025 will fuel redemption. Or will it stand as a cautionary tale?

Kyle Larson Loaded and Ready for Darlington Playoffs

The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs open at Darlington Raceway with the Cook Out Southern 500, one of the season’s most demanding races. William Byron enters as the betting favorite after securing the regular-season title, but he holds only a narrow lead over his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson in the odds.

Darlington’s punishing layout has long separated contenders from pretenders as the field resets for the postseason. Byron’s consistency under pressure makes him a natural pick, but Larson carries strong momentum and pedigree at this historic venue. Listed at +550 to win compared to Byron’s +500, Larson arrives firing with solid momentum into the Round of 16.

The No. 5 driver has excelled at Darlington, having won the Southern 500 in 2023. Last year, he led a dominant 263 laps before finishing fourth. Over 15 career starts at the “Lady in Black,” Larson has amassed seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes, proving his ability to thrive on one of NASCAR’s toughest tracks.

With a playoff win guaranteeing advancement to the Round of 12, Larson’s odds reflect his past success and his potential to capitalize early. Darlington’s opener could mark a turning point in his championship run, making Larson one of the most closely watched drivers this weekend.