NASCAR is currently debating whether Kyle Larson deserves an exemption for missing the Coca-Cola 600. Bubba Wallace isn’t sure. But it’s not the first time the 23XI Racing driver himself has needed an exemption.
During a 2022 playoff race in Las Vegas, Bubba Wallace intentionally wrecked Kyle Larson from behind with a right hook. Wallace was then suspended for the next race, but received an exemption.
After missing the Coca-Cola 600 at the Indy 500 due to bad weather, which derailed his bid for the double, Larson now needs permission from NASCAR to compete in the championship. Before the Enjoy Illinois 300, Wallace was asked by Kenny Wallace on Trackside Live about the hottest topic of debate in NASCAR.
He gave an interesting answer. “They gave all of them exemptions, right? But what I see is, I don’t know what the mindset of the people that make the decisions is, right?” Wallace asked the crowd. “He made a decision.
He made the decision to go to the Indy 500. He knew the weather was bad, he knew all that, and he worked hard to get there, but he made the decision. That’s all I have to say about that.”
When Bubba Wallace says “he made the decision,” I tend to agree with him. I also think this could be a reference to his own suspension. Some, maybe even Denny Hamlin, said the same thing about Wallace’s decision to squash Larson in Las Vegas two years ago.
Personally, it’s easy to grant Kyle Larson a waiver. Chase Elliott’s failure to make the postseason last season hurt the playoffs. Larson’s attempt at a double brought attention to the sport, and for that he deserves a waiver.
The decision to pull one of the most talented drivers out of the championship race in early June would be detrimental to the sport of NASCAR. I understand that Bubba Wallace has his own feelings about the situation. But there’s no doubt that not having Larson will hurt NASCAR in the playoffs. Will this lead to the driver potentially missing future races? I doubt it. The Indy 500 is a very special event. A double is a very special case.
When people talk about this bad precedent, I ask: Who else needs this exemption? NASCAR has very few drivers with the ability and willingness to attempt a double.
Kyle Larson’s situation is unique and deserves an exemption. Let’s just accept this and stop talking about it.
Report: NASCAR giving ‘serious consideration’ to denying Kyle Larson playoff waiver: ‘It would be a disaster for NASCAR’
It seems like a foregone conclusion to many, but NASCAR has yet to decide whether Kyle Larson, who missed the Coca-Cola 600, will receive a playoff exemption.
In fact, some in NASCAR are reportedly interested in denying Larson an exemption. Kyle Larson is second in points this season, has two wins, and is arguably the favorite to win the championship in 2024.
He is considered the most talented driver in the Cup Series, and perhaps in North America. However, NASCAR is considering denying him a place in the championship. On their podcast, “The Teardown,” reporters Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic discussed the possibility of NASCAR denying Larson a waiver. “This is a very real issue,” Gluck said of Larson’s waiver decision. “I’ve seen so many people speculate over the last week. … Sorry, but no, this hasn’t been announced yet because they don’t know, and not only don’t they don’t know, but they are seriously considering not granting Kyle Larson a waiver.” Let me say it again: Not granting Kyle Larson an exemption is being seriously considered. “That doesn’t mean they won’t do it. My perspective is that cooler heads would probably prevail.
But there’s no question that there are people within the NASCAR racing department who are actually opposed to an exemption for Kyle Larson, and the discussions are ongoing, so we just don’t know. They’re just stalling it, they’re not. They’re just trying to figure out if they’re actually going to do this or not.”
Jordan Bianchi added:
“And there’s no rush to make a decision. I think it’ll come sooner than later, but there’s no deadline, they have to make a decision within a week or two. To be honest, they could run this all summer if they wanted to.”
Ultimately, NASCAR will make the decision. They can take one of two paths.
First, ignore the part about following the rules and doing whatever you want. Then give Larson the go-ahead and put this behind him.
Last season we saw what happened when Chase Elliott wasn’t in the NASCAR playoffs. The ratings went down. It felt like a star was missing from the sport. He made it to the final eight in the Owners Championship, but that’s not what fans care about.
Leaving Kyle Larson out would be the worst in many ways. He was penalized almost 60 points for missing the Coca-Cola 600, but he’s still second in the points standings.
Now imagine Larson becoming the regular season champion, and maybe the wins leader. Then he’s not allowed to participate in the playoffs.
That would be a disaster for NASCAR.
