Following the well-received NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader at Phoenix Raceway in early March, 2026, defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson expressed his enthusiasm for holding both racing series at the same location. Larson, a Hendrick Motorsports driver, praised the format during an interview, emphasizing the exciting racing action it offers fans.
The weekend featured the Good Ranchers 250 IndyCar race on March 7, preceding the Straight Talk Wireless 500 NASCAR Cup Series race on March 8. Team Penske dominated the IndyCar event, with David Mualukas earning the pole position with a lap time of 41.0530 seconds, while his teammate Josef Newgarden secured the win after a grueling 255-mile contest. Mualukas finished third, adding to Team Penske’s strong showing.
In the subsequent Cup Series race, Team Penske continued its supremacy with Joey Logano capturing the pole and Ryan Blaney taking the victory. The two back-to-back events provided fans with outstanding excitement. Larson admitted he enjoyed watching the Good Ranchers 250 on television and applauded Newgarden’s performance.
“I watched the race on TV. It was a great race. I think any cars on short ovals are really exciting. So yeah, Rasmussen and Newgarden, they’re a lot of fun to watch. So yeah, hopefully we can do more of it in the future. I think it’d be pretty neat to kind of go to their, you know, neck of the woods, maybe with, like, a street course or a road course, you know, and kind of let them be the premier division.”
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
“You know those guys deserve it; they put on great racing, so yeah, we’d love to do it again, but the crossover is great,”
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
Larson’s Strong Performance at Phoenix and His View on the Doubleheader Format
In addition to endorsing more IndyCar-NASCAR doubleheader events, Kyle Larson achieved his first podium finish of the 2026 season at Phoenix Raceway during the Cup Series race. Starting from second on the grid, just 0.12 seconds behind pole-sitter Joey Logano, Larson ended the 312-lap race in third place behind Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Larson’s consistent performance highlights his adaptability and skill across demanding race weekends featuring different racing series. His support for mixing IndyCar and NASCAR events suggests a growing appreciation for combined race weekends that engage fans with diverse motorsport disciplines.
Encouragement for Corey Day Amid a Challenging Start to the Season
Amidst the action at Phoenix, Kyle Larson also offered support to fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver Corey Day, who has faced controversy early in the 2026 season. Day’s aggressive racing led to on-track incidents at EchoPark Speedway and Circuit of the Americas (COTA), involving multiple JR Motorsports drivers, including Justin Allgaier, Carson Kvapil, and Connor Zilisch.
Recognizing Day’s struggles, Larson shared an encouraging message on social media to help the young driver stay focused and positive during this difficult period.
“I haven’t really talked to him a whole lot, but just like, ‘Hey man, you’re doing great. Obviously you’ve had a rough couple weeks and all that, and you’ve taken in a lot of advice, but keep your head up.'”
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
“I think (that’s) important to do when you’re 20 and you’re getting a lot of advice and you’re beating yourself down, I’m sure, for how you’ve handled things. So just trying to like, ‘Hey, we all believe in you. You wouldn’t be here if we didn’t. And keep your head up. You’re a great race car driver. You’ll figure it out,” he added.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
Currently, Corey Day ranks eighth in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series standings with 118 points. Despite setbacks, Day has recorded two top-five finishes at EchoPark Speedway and COTA, and a top-ten at Phoenix Raceway across his first four starts this season.
Implications of Larson’s Support for Doubleheaders and Emerging Talents
Kyle Larson’s positive remarks on the NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader format point to potential growth in combined motorsport events, offering fans a richer and more varied race weekend experience. His suggestion to explore venues such as street or road courses for future doubleheaders indicates a willingness to expand beyond traditional oval tracks.
Moreover, Larson’s mentorship of young drivers like Corey Day underscores the importance of experience and guidance in shaping future racing talents. Balancing fierce competition with sportsmanship, Larson’s outlook reflects a hopeful vision for NASCAR’s evolving landscape this season and beyond.
More #IndyCar and #NASCAR doubleheaders?
Kyle Larson supports it.
He's one of quite a few who enjoyed the crossover at @phoenixraceway, and has an idea of where else he'd like to see it happen. pic.twitter.com/2UuPJ6AI53
— Jess Peters (@_Jess_Peters_) March 9, 2026
