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Kyle Larson arrives at Charlotte Motor Speedway via helicopter during Coca-Cola 600

JHby:Jonathan Howard05/26/24

Jondean25

Kyle Larson helicopter
Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Better late than never! Kyle Larson has landed via helicopter at Charlotte Motor Speedway and is ready to take over for Justin Allgaier. The NASCAR champion is BACK from his Indy 500 attempt and ready to close out this Coca-Cola 600 now.

Mother Nature made sure that Kyle Larson was unable to complete the true Double. Tony Stewart is still the only driver to run all 1100 miles of the motorsports feat. Larson never had a chance due to the rain.

What’s more, NASCAR dropped a caution flag for rain basically right as Larson’s helicopter landed. We’ll see how much of the Coke 600 Larson is able to complete.

Here is another angle of the helicopter landing at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

It took longer than originally planned. However, Kyle Larson is finally at Charlotte and is ready to get into his No. 5 car and race for a win.

Larson spent the first part of his day at the Indy 500. He performed very well at first. He ran as high as sixth during the race. However, a speeding penalty cost him big time. He went down a lap, had to catch the wave around, and finished P18. Far from his goal heading into the race.

Now that Larson is finally in Charlotte, the storms have caught up to him once again. The red flag is out for the Coca-Cola 600. The delay is going to take a little time, it could be a late night, folks.

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Kyle Larson makes driver swap, confuses fans

You are allowed to make a driver swap on pit road under green or caution. That will not cost you anything but whatever track position you lose doing it. However, making a driver swap under the red flag means going to the rear of the field.

Justin Allgaier earned great track position. For that reason, the Hendrick crew didn’t want him to swap with Larson when the caution came out for rain. Plain and simple, the risk of losing that track position was too much.

Then the red flag came out and more or less forced their hands. Why not swap at that point. The only issue, NASCAR says the swap was made under yellow. That is hard to believe if they were already starting to put car covers on when Allgaier got out of the No. 5.

I’m sure NASCAR has an explanation but this is perplexing. Everyone wants to see Kyle Larson compete and run up front, it makes races more entertaining and interesting. But he may have gotten a freebie from NASCAR here.