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NASCAR Monday Mash-Up: A deflating Double Duty attempt

JHby: Jonathan Howard05/27/24Jondean25
Christopher Bell Coca-Cola 600 victory lane
Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Memorial Day Weekend was billed as potentially a historic one in motorsports with IndyCar and NASCAR connected by the Double. Kyle Larson was unable to compete in both races due to weather and it left the racing world feeling let down.

When Kyle Larson qualified P5 for the Indy 500 and then threatened to win the All-Star Race right after, it was an appetizer of what was to come. Just a small taste, an amuse bouche if you will.

Instead, we were treated to a disaster of a Sunday. Four-hour delay in Indy, Larson then does well for over half the race. A pit lane speeding penalty cost him a lap and all of his track position and he finished P18. Then, he never turned a lap in the Coca-Cola 600.

Nick Sanchez wins for Chris Showalter’s 700th start

Car/truck chief Chris Showalter has competed in every NASCAR Truck Series race ever. The race at Charlotte on Friday was his 700th all-time in the series.

His driver Nick Sanchez not only won the race, but dedicated the win to Showalter. It was enough to bring tears to his eyes.

Corey Heim DQ after Truck Series race

Once again, Corey Heim was a major player in the Truck Series race. He had two bad pit stops that cost him track position, and ultimately the win. The final pit stop was costly in more than one way.

After the race, it was found that Heim was missing three or more lug nuts. That is a serious safety violation and one that comes with just one punishment – disqualification. Heim wouldn’t have won even if he had passed Sanchez.

Dale Jr. applies for No. 8 DEI front trademark

Another interesting bit of news from last week was Dale Jr. applying for a new trademark. Specifically, he is applying for the Dale Earnhardt Inc. No. 8 font that he made famous early in his career.

Dale Jr. would be able to produce all kinds of throwback merch. He could also put the number on his race cars in the Xfinity Series and CARS Tour. Very exciting stuff.

Austin Hill gets pissed at everyone

If you watched the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, then you saw the fit that Austin Hill threw on the track. Not with just one driver, but two.

Hill spent multiple laps flipping off Sammy Smith for racing him hard. Then, he wrecked Cole Custer until the back half of his car barely existed. Not the best look for Hill who finished P25.

Chase Elliott wins BETMGM 300 after starting P30

In the end, it was Chase Elliott who was victorious in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. It was a good showing from a lot of Cup drivers. Ty Gibbs, Kyle Busch, and Noah Gragson were all in this race as well.

Busch and Gibbs were looking like the cars to beat. Thanks to an extra set of tires crew chief Greg Ives held onto, Elliott had the rubber to beat everyone in the end.

Ty Gibbs earns first career pole award in Cup, sweeps weekend

A big win for Ty Gibbs in qualifying. Finally, after coming so close so many times, Gibbs picked up his first career pole award in the NASCAR Cup Series. He also picked up the Xfinity pole award.

This is a big stepping stone for Gibbs. He was a car that could have competed for the win on Sunday if the race went the full 600 miles. Could this be a turning point for the 54 team?

Kyle Larson forced to decide between NASCAR, IndyCar

Early on Sunday, it was clear what was going to happen. The bad weather was going to hit Indianapolis right around the green flag time. So, things were pushed back…four hours.

Larson had to make a choice at that point, stay for the 500 or go to the NASCAR race and do the 600. He stuck with starting his first Indy 500 ever.

Larson puts up good fight, penalty costs him top-5

Good news, Kyle Larson ended the Indy 500 on the lead lap. Bad news, he had a pit lane penalty that cost him a potential top-5 finish.

This was a great showing for the NASCAR champion. He showed that stock car drivers are incredibly talented. He was easily one of the top-5 drivers on the day, even with his penalty. Tough pill to swallow in the end, finishing P18. Josef Newgarden won in a thrilling finish.

Denny Hamlin rips into Chris Buescher for pit road issues

This race wasn’t really long enough to have much drama. However, one thing that kept coming up, Denny Hamlin and Chris Buescher on pit road.

Buescher couldn’t get into his pit box without impeding Hamlin’s exit. It was enough to send the JGR driver off the deep end on the radio.

NASCAR gets hit with rain as Larson lands

Justin Allgaier started the Coca-Cola 600 for Larson. He did a good job, too. It was the third stage and Allgaier had worked his way to P13.

Larson was landing in the helicopter right as the caution flag came out for rain. Soon after, the red flag was dropped by NASCAR and the race was on hold.

Christopher Bell wins, NASCAR calls race early due to track conditions

The lightning was bad enough. Then, the skies opened under the red flag and dumped tons of rain on the track. That cleared up eventually, though.

Drivers were ready to get back to it, fans were ready – hell I was ready to stay up to cover it. NASCAR couldn’t get the track dried well enough to race on it, at least not at a reasonable hour for them. So, it was called short. Christopher Bell is the winner. Larson never recorded a lap and took a hit in the standings.