Rick Hendrick is having the last laugh! The team owner of Hendrick Motorsports was questioned on his decision to authorize the ‘extracurricular activities’ of his NASCAR drivers earlier this year. Particularly in contrast to Hendrick‘s competitive rival, Joe Gibbs Racing. But his #5 driver has crossed the first remarkable hurdle to prove his detractors wrong.

Kyle Larson has qualified for the Round of 8 playoffs of this year’s Cup Series. Prior to the next race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the 2021 champion overcame a crucial barrier to participate in one of the most prestigious motorsport racing events in the country.

Kyle Larson completed the first test for his 500-mile examination in a laudable achievement

Kyle Larson was on ‘double duty’ this week. And not the one he would undertake next year. Larson’s endeavor to become the 6th person in NASCAR history and the second in a decade (after Kurt Busch) to race at the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day was announced earlier this year. In order to attempt that momentous feat, the #5 driver has been juggling IndyCar preparation alongside the ongoing playoff battle. The efforts paid off on Thursday at the Brickyard.

In just over two hours, Larson impressively concluded the 72 laps required to pass the Indy 500 Rookie Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This would enable him to contest in the ‘Hendrick 1100’ next May, the title assigned to his double duty attempt with the aid of his NASCAR team, Hendrick Motorsports, in affiliation with Arrow McLaren.

Larson has been training under the guidance of 2013 Indy 500 winner and Sporting Director of Mclaren, Tony Kanaan. Motorsport journalist Jeff Gluck shared a snippet of Kanaan’s observations on Hendrick’s star driver.

Gluck reported, “Out of his [Kyle Larson’s] generation, he’s the best I’ve seen. He’s just one of the best race car drivers in the world right now and I’m fortunate to get the chance to work with him.”

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In fact, Tony Kanaan had personally witnessed Kyle Larson’s infinite zeal and caliber eight years ago.

Rick Hendrick’s #5 driver convinces team owner to bend historic rule

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Rick Hendrick’s first foray into IndyCar materialized largely due to McLaren’s interest in teaming up with his driver. With unparalleled expertise in multiple formats of racing, Larson won the Knoxville Nationals sprint car event the day before he unveiled the cars he’ll be racing in next year’s Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600. The multitasking wizard repeated the stunt this week.

Kyle Larson won his inaugural High Limit Sprint Car Series two days before this rookie orientation program. Well-versed in the ways of the Wheelman, Tony Kanaan, had teamed up with Larson to win the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2015. And to think Hendrick would not even have signed on Larson a few years ago due to his strict driver policy of not permitting racing events outside of NASCAR.

Fortunately, Larson made Hendrick realize the necessity of enhancing skills through varied competitions. The wise owner also saw an opportunity to market his brand at more diverse forums through his sponsorship of Larson’s non-NASCAR races. This was a contrarian stance taken by Hendrick when several other longtime teams, such as Joe Gibbs Racing, still do not permit dirt or sprint racing for safety concerns, as revealed recently by Joe Gibbs’ #20 driver Christopher Bell.

But Kyle Larson’s soaring career provided sufficient proof to the motorsport mogul Rick Hendrick to adapt to changing times. As its proud outcome, he has the upcoming Hendrick1100 to look forward to, along with the entire racing community.

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