'We embrace the double': NASCAR grants Kyle Larson a Cup waiver

Weather in Indianapolis and Charlotte fouled up Kyle Larson's attempt to drive the Indy 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. NASCAR has decided that shouldn't prevent him from pursuing the Cup championship.

Larson, who has won two Cup races this season, received a waiver Tuesday to remain eligible for the season title. NASCAR rules state that, without a waiver, a driver must compete in every race to be eligible. They have been granted previously when drivers are recovering from injuries.

Elton Sawyer, senior vice president of competition, said Larson made every effort to drive in both races.

Kyle Larson:'I hope it’s not the last opportunity I have to try the Double.'

“We embrace the double,” Sawyer said. “We think it’s great. We want to see other drivers have that opportunity. So, we just have to make sure that we’re looking out, first and foremost, for the fans that, again, buying a ticket that we’re here in Charlotte and felt like Kyle did and the team gave every effort to be able to get here and he was ready to go and had his helmet on (before the rain).”

The Indy 500 was delayed 4 hours by rain, and Larson finished 18th at about 7:45 p.m. ET. He flew to Charlotte, where the Cup race was well underway. He was in uniform and ready to sub in for Justin Allgaier when rain washed out that race after 249 of 400 scheduled laps.

Larson and team owners (IndyCar's Arrow McLaren and NASCAR's Rick Hendrick) decided the driver would remain in Indy despite the rain delay. Last week, some NASCAR drivers pondered whether he should receive a Cup waiver because "he decided the Indy 500 was more important than the Coca-Cola 600."

Sawyer said NASCAR considered many resolutions, including a points penalty, before granting the waiver.

“There were different views from different people. Everyone had a view on it," Saywer said. "The ultimate decision we wanted to get to was the right decision, and we feel like we got there.”