The hot topic around NASCAR in the past few days has been the status of a potential waiver for Kyle Larson, who missed a start in last week’s Coca Cola 600 because of weather delays at the Indy 500.
NASCAR rules require drivers to start all championship events in order to be eligible for the playoffs.
Opinions have ranged far and wide over whether Larson should be granted a waiver, and fellow NASCAR driver Joey Logano drew scrutiny early this week after making comments to the effect that a decision isn’t as cut and dried as many would like it to be.
Logano specifically called it a “gray” area.
But he has since clarified his comments after receiving backlash from many Kyle Larson supporters and even one Associated Press racing writer.
“If anyone listened to what I said yesterday, I never picked a side,” Logano tweeted. “I was pointing out the tough decision that NASCAR is in. Since words have been twisted yet again… here’s what I think…
“What Larson did for Motorsports was amazing, and he should get the waiver.”
Kyle Larson currently sits in third in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, just six points off the lead currently held by Denny Hamlin (492). Martin Truex Jr. (487) is sandwiched between the two one point ahead of Larson.
The talented driver of the No. 5 car has made 13 starts this season and has won two races, as well as notching six top-five finishes. He leads the circuit with seven stage wins, as well as total laps led, at 649.
Needless to say, he stands an excellent shot at becoming the Cup Champion … if NASCAR grants the waiver. Chalk up one more driver in his corner, with Logano offering his support of the waiver.
Joey Logano calls waiver issue ‘gray’ area
The following is what Logano had to say on Sirius XM radio about the Kyle Larson waiver situation, in its entirety:
“This is about the grayest rule we have in our sport,” Logano said. “It can be black and white, but it’s not. And so, it’s pretty gray. It’s one thing if you get hurt in the racecar. That’s black and white, in my opinion. If you’re driving a Cup car, you get hurt in a NASCAR cup car, the waiver makes sense to me to where you can still compete in the playoffs if you make the playoffs. If you get in a car accident driving down the road, does that deserve a waiver? Maybe, if you weren’t speeding down the highway, driving like an idiot. The scenario that happened last year, Chase Elliott gets hurt snowboarding. Do you get a waiver there? Pretty gray, pretty gray. I don’t know. I don’t know the right answer, but we all know what happened.
“This scenario — let’s be honest here. Super cool. What Kyle Larson did running the double — awesome. He got backed into the worst position possible for the scenario that happened, right? Because of the rain and delay of the Indy 500, all that. But he chose — he decided the Indy 500 is more important than the Coca-Cola 600. He made that decision, or his people, whoever, he is part of it. He put IndyCar ahead of NASCAR, that’s the facts, right or wrong. I don’t know. Waiver or not. I don’t know. I’m not here to make that decision, but the facts are, he thought IndyCar racing was a bigger race than NASCAR racing that day.
“I don’t know where you go with that. Don’t know where you go. I don’t know where to add to that either. I don’t want to make anyone mad sitting here. I’m just spitting the facts here of that’s what happened. I’m not taking anything away from what Larson did. I thought it was the most badass thing that anyone can do, to try to run both those races in one day.”
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