May Race Schedule: Kyle Larson’s Bid to Conquer The Double

Kyle Larson is facing one of the busiest schedules of his racing career in May, splitting his time between NASCAR and IndyCar events. The Hendrick Motorsports driver began this intense stretch with a strong win at Kansas Speedway on May 11, proving his readiness for the challenges ahead.

Just a day after that victory, Larson was at Kokomo Speedway in Indiana for a High Limit Racing sprint car appearance, where he quickly advanced from a 17th place starting spot to finish sixth.

With little room to rest, Larson switched focus to his IndyCar responsibilities. He traveled to Indianapolis Motor Speedway to begin preparations for the Indianapolis 500, including rookie orientation and practice sessions scheduled throughout the week.

These sessions are critical as they allow Larson to adjust from the stock car he typically drives in NASCAR to the vastly different open-wheel Indy car, all before one of motorsports’ biggest events.

On May 16, his schedule steered briefly back to NASCAR, with practice and qualifying activities for the NASCAR All-Star Race held at North Wilkesboro Speedway. These overlapped with qualifying draws and practice runs for the Indianapolis 500, further highlighting how Larson must manage multiple schedules, cars, and tracks, sometimes on the same day.

On May 17 and 18, his time is divided with Indianapolis 500 qualifying rounds during daylight and NASCAR All-Star heats and races scheduled in the late afternoon and evening.

Larson’s May highlights include his attempt at “The Double” — racing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25, with just hours separating the big starts. The Indianapolis 500 is set for 12:45 p.m., and the 600-mile NASCAR event at Charlotte Motor Speedway begins at 6 p.m.

To prepare, he’ll participate in additional practice and qualifying runs for each event in the days leading up, including the Indianapolis 500 Carb Day on May 23 and Coca-Cola 600 practice and qualifying on May 24.

Logistics are as challenging as the competition for Larson, who will shuttle between Indiana and North Carolina multiple times across two weeks. Events like the Firestone Fast Six Indy pole qualifying and the NASCAR All-Star Race add to his packed itinerary, making travel planning as essential as race preparation.

Larson is also scheduled for a media tour in New York City on May 20, further packing his calendar.

The effort to complete both races in one day is a rare feat, attempted by only a few drivers in history. Larson’s pursuit of this achievement is a key story for racing fans in May.

If he completes both events, he will join the short list of drivers who have started both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, a challenge that pushes both physical and mental limits. For more details on the history of “The Double,” check out this Wikipedia article.

As the month unfolds, eyes will be on Kyle Larson to see if his talent and determination can carry him through a historic May. With top finishes already under his belt and a demanding slate ahead, the racing world is watching closely to see how this ambitious schedule plays out.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.