NASCAR SVP Elton Sawyer says Kyle Larson's team hasn’t filed playoff waiver request, explains process

NASCAR Senior VP of Competition Elton Sawyer is fielding questions regarding whether Kyle Larson will be granted a waiver for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

After missing the Coca-Cola 600 due to participating in the Indianapolis 500 and the subsequent rainstorm in Charlotte, Larson now requires a waiver to race for the championship in 2024. We’ve seen drivers be granted waivers in the past, but it was mostly due to injuries, not other racing obligations.

Joining SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Sawyer explained what will go into the decision, and when we can expect to find out if Larson will be granted the waiver.

🗣️ “This’ll be a decision that not just one person will make.”#NASCAR’s Elton Sawyer says @TeamHendrick hadn’t filed a waiver request for @KyleLarsonRacin as of Tuesday morning and outlined the process they’ll go through in this instance.

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— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) May 28, 2024

“I haven’t seen a request come through,” Sawyer told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “It’s really not a lot to report on that topic, just based off — we’ll let the process take its course. I’m sure, at some point, they will send in that request, and when they do, we’ll go through, do our due diligence. Meet with our people.

“Again, this will be a decision that not just one person will make, but a group will sit and look at it and discuss it and move forward.”

Continuing, Sawyer elaborated on how Larson’s eventual waiver request will be different from those given in the past, like the medical one Chase Elliott received one for his off-track injury that forced him to miss multiple races last season. However, it didn’t end up making a difference, as Elliott missed the playoffs anyways.

“I think you look at it from the standpoint of, obviously they submit the request,” Sawyer explained. “He has missed a race, so we start — it’s a little bit of uncharted waters for us, because in the past the waivers have been mostly given for a medical reason, so this one is a little bit different, from that aspect, and just a lot of, we’ve had some preliminary discussions, but we haven’t landed.”

Alas, it would be shocking to see Kyle Larson not granted the playoff waiver, but nothing can be done until Hendrick Motorsports requests it, which should happen this week. Time will tell what the governing body rules regarding the No. 5 wheelman.

Kyle Petty breaks down disappointment of Kyle Larson’s rain-soaked Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600 Double

Moreover, Kyle Petty was as dismayed as the rest of the NASCAR world regarding Kyle Larson’s attempt at running both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.

The Hendrick Motorsports star had hoped to pull the double on Sunday, but Mother Nature had other plans. Rain forced the Indianapolis 500 to start late, but Larson chose to stay and finish the IndyCar race, before jetting over to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600, where he was slated to replace Justin Allgaier during the race.

However, just as Larson arrived in Charlotte, the rain began to come down, and with the Coca-Cola 600 already being past halfway, NASCAR decided to call the race for Christopher Bell. That meant Larson missed running any laps in Charlotte, and Petty shared his disappointment in the development on Monday.

“Speaking of great finishes, Kyle Larson, what a letdown. After all the hype, after everything that was built up — Indy, the 600, the double, the one guy who can do it all, Mother Nature intervenes,” Petty stated. “Indy starts late. He stays up there, runs in the top ten all day long. Has a speeding penalty, is relegated to an 18th place finish. Comes to Charlotte just in time to get in the car when the rain comes. So what a letdown for all the hype we saw. Still, Kyle Larson is the man.” 

At the least, Larson earned the respect of his peers for attempting the double, and he can always try again in 2025. Of course, it’s a ton of work and preparation, but the way things worked out in 2024, he may be motivated to give it another shot.