All of the confusion over whether Kyle Larson should receive a playoff waiver for skipping the Coca-Cola 600 is finally starting to calm down. NASCAR said on Tuesday that he will be let off the hook and will be eligible to race for the 2024 Cup Series Championship. Dale Earnhardt Jr. wishes the rule book was clearer on the topic for similar situations in the future.
The racing icon went on an episode of “Dale Jr. Download” after the verdict was announced, and he pointed out anomalies in the book by comparing Larson’s waiver to Chase Elliott’s waiver from last year. Elliott waived for a considerably more heinous reason than Larson did. He had been suspended for a race following an intentional crash with Denny Hamlin.
Dale Jr. stated, “If you are suspended and have to miss a race, that is part of the punishment. Instead of suspending Chase and eliminating his chances of competing every week – where they’ll have to get a waiver – they should’ve probably punished him points or something else, or imposed a monetary fine.”
He also defended Larson, claiming that he had done nothing to justify a ban and had simply had bad luck with the weather. The fact that Larson made every effort to go to Charlotte after the rain delay in Indianapolis to turn a few laps in the Coca-Cola 600 lends credence to Dale Jr.’s claim.
“Every situation is different”: NASCAR explains its decision to grant Larson a playoff waiver
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s VP of Competition, announced the waiver during a teleconference on Tuesday. He stated that they did not want fans to come watch Larson race in the playoffs and were unhappy. He felt Larson’s failure to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 and potentially earn playoff points was sufficient punishment.
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