AP motorsports writer takes issue with Joey Logano, 'idiocy' of Kyle Larson waiver argument

Jenna Fryer, motorsports writer for The Associated Press, took issue with Joey Logano’s take on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Wednesday in which he said that Kyle Larson “put IndyCar ahead of NASCAR” this past weekend.

Larson intended to race in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, but storms in Indianapolis delayed the start of the 500 by four hours. Larson chose to remain in Indianapolis and missed the start of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Logano said that Larson’s situation falls into a gray area and makes it tough to decide whether or not he deserves a waiver from NASCAR to remain eligible for the Cup Series playoffs.

Fryer responded to Logano’s take on X, making light of Logano’s boss, Roger Penske, prioritizing the IndyCar Series over NASCAR this past weekend as well. Penske, in addition to owning three full-time Cup Series charters, owns IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway through Penske Entertainment Group. Fryer also noted that Larson made an attempt to race at Charlotte before NASCAR called off the final 151 laps due to weather.

Hey Joey, your boss put IndyCar ahead of NASCAR, too. https://t.co/TiXlORqtXK

— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) May 29, 2024

“He showed up in Charlotte. NASCAR called the race. He didn’t choose not to get in the car,” Fryer wrote. “NASCAR had zero problem asking Rick Hendrick to spend millions and devote a bulk of his staff to take NASCAR to Le Mans. Now people want to question how Hendrick spent his money and used his people because it wasn’t a NASCAR project? Larson brought global attention to motorsports for two weeks. Why is that so triggering NASCAR, its drivers and fans?”

Kyle Larson in search of waiver to remain playoff eligible

Per NASCAR’s guidelines, “Unless otherwise authorized by NASCAR, driver(s) and Team Owner(s) must start all Championship Events of the current season to be eligible for The Playoffs.” Since Larson didn’t start the Coca-Cola 600, he isn’t playoff eligible without a waiver. NASCAR notably handed one out to Chase Elliott last season. Elliott missed six races after fracturing his tibia in a snowboarding accident.

Larson, who slipped to third in the points standings after missing the Coca-Cola 600, has yet to file a playoff waiver request, NASCAR senior vice president of competition Elton Sawyer said Tuesday.

Fryer offered additional thoughts, including why NASCAR would want to keep a driver the caliber of Larson out of the playoffs. She said that NASCAR would be petty if they denied Larson a waiver.

“What benefit to NASCAR or motorsports is it to keep Larson out of the playoffs?” Fryer asked. “Maybe a benefit to the drivers he won’t be able to eliminate, but a guaranteed drop of interest in the playoffs without him in it. Denying Larson a waiver would be the pettiest of NASCAR.”