(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Hendrick Motorsports clarifies Kyle Larson plan for North Wilkesboro amid Indy 500 prep

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated May 15, 2025 7:10 PM ET

When Kyle Larson is bouncing back and forth this week between North Wilkesboro and Indianapolis, he will be incredibly busy. Justin Allgaier is the substitute for the NASCAR Cup Series points leader, and Allgaier will practice and qualify the car. Hendrick Motorsports is skipping one thing, though.

Instead of having Justin Allgaier race in one of the two heat races that serve as qualifying on Saturday, Hendrick is skipping it. The No. 5 team will be a DNS for the heats. That means Kyle Larson will start the All-Star Race from the rear.

In 2023, Larson got a penalty that sent him to the back of the field after speeding on pit road. Well, he charged right back through it and took the win. However, that was on the old asphalt. It will be difficult to replicate on a more or less freshly paved surface.

Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reported on the decision from Hendrick Motorsports. A bold move from the team. If anyone can do it, it’s Kyle Larson, right?

Hendrick Motorsports says it will skip the heat races for its No. 5 car Saturday at North Wilkesboro. Justin Allgaier will practice and qualify Friday. And team will start in the back for the all-star race with Larson.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 15, 2025

Larson is going to be doing practice sessions and then going into qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 this week. He has to balance that with being at North Wilkesboro and handling his NASCAR duties there.

Should Kyle Larson qualify for the Fast 6 and it causes any kind of issues with the All-Star Race, he does plan to make the NASCAR race over staying in Indy for qualifying. So, no matter what goes on at Indy this week, we will see Larson in the No. 5 car, at the back of the pack, on Sunday.

Kyle Larson wants $1,000,000 over the Indy 500 pole

There are few pole positions as special as the Indianapolis 500. It comes with prestige and at high risk. The speeds these racers are going to qualify at the top of the field are absolutely insane.

Even though the pole at Indy would be a massive deal, Kyle Larson knows where he would rather be – North Wilkesboro. There will basically be just over an hour between Fast 6 qualifying and the All-Star Race at Wilkesboro on Sunday. That is a tight window to make work.

If Larson makes the Fast 6 again, it sounds like he will just take P6 and move on to the All-Star Race. Not a bad idea.

“I think that I would miss the Fast 6 and go to the All-Star Race,” Larson explained to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports a couple of weeks ago. “It’s important to race in, it’s a lot of money on the line, so sure it’d be great to you know, have an opportunity to get the pole, but I’d rather race for a million dollars and start sixth [at Indy]. We’ll see. I mean, you never really know how it’s going to go. Gotta make sure our car’s fast enough to even worry about all that anyways.”

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: