Kyle Larson, the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion, recently expressed his support for the idea of hosting both stock car racing and IndyCar events at the same venue. This comes after the successful NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader at the Phoenix weekend, where the IndyCar event, the Good Ranchers 250, was held a day ahead of the Cup Series event, Straight Talk Wireless 500.
Team Penske had a strong showing in the IndyCar event, with David Mualukas securing the pole position and his teammate Josef Newgarden emerging victorious in the 255-mile race. On the Cup Series side, Joey Logano took the pole position, and Ryan Blaney claimed the win in the 312-lap race. The events provided exciting racing action, with Larson himself admitting to enjoying the Good Ranchers 250 on television and praising Newgarden for his performance.
In an interview, Larson expressed his excitement about the prospect of more crossover events between NASCAR and IndyCar. He mentioned the possibility of racing on street courses or road courses in the future and highlighted the thrilling nature of short oval racing. Larson commended the IndyCar drivers for putting on great races and expressed his eagerness to see more collaboration between the two series.
Meanwhile, Larson also sent a message of encouragement to fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver Corey Day ahead of the Phoenix race. Day had faced controversy after being involved in incidents at previous races, including wrecks with other drivers. Larson reached out to Day, urging him to stay positive and not be too hard on himself. He reminded Day that he had the support of his fellow drivers and encouraged him to keep his head up and continue improving as a race car driver.
Corey Day currently sits in eighth place in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series drivers’ standings, with solid performances at EchoPark Speedway, COTA, and Phoenix Raceway. Despite the challenges he has faced, Larson’s message of support and encouragement serves as a reminder of the camaraderie and sportsmanship within the racing community.
Overall, the NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader at Phoenix showcased the excitement and competitiveness of both series, with drivers like Kyle Larson and Josef Newgarden leading the way. As the season progresses, fans can look forward to more thrilling races and potential crossover events that bring together the best of both worlds in motorsports.
