Larson, Hendrick in talks over ’25 Indy 500 return
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Make no mistake: Kyle Larson wants to run the Indianapolis 500 again next year.
The deal he and Hendrick Motorsports signed with Arrow McLaren Racing was always a two-year deal, but 2025 was an option year that Larson said Wednesday is still being ironed out.
If he had his way, a decision would be made sooner rather than later.
“I would love to. We’re still working on it,” Larson said. “It’s progressing. So I like that, but obviously things can always change.”
Larson was a star at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May, where he qualified fifth but a late-race speeding penalty took him out of contention and he finished 18th. Plus, there was an hours-long rain delay in Indianapolis and the Hendrick camp, after pouring millions of dollars into the effort, decided to leave him at the 500 and deal with the Coca-Cola 600 in Concord, North Carolina, later.
As soon as the Indy 500 ended, Larson jetted off to North Carolina — where he was met by more rain. He ran to his car just as the race was paused for weather, and because it never resumed, he never got the chance to run the 600.
That created a commotion in NASCAR, with many members of senior leadership taking the position that Larson and Hendrick had prioritized the Indianapolis 500 over the 600 and therefore wasn’t owed an automatic waiver to participate in the playoffs.
The situation dragged on for well over a week as the frustrated Hendrick camp was incensed the situation was being hyper-scrutinized when other drivers have received waivers for non-racing incidents. For example, Matt Kenseth missed half the 2018 season, all of the 2019 season and the first four races of 2020, but was granted a playoff waiver when he was hired as a replacement driver for the suspended Larson.
Kurt Busch received a waiver when he was suspended while under investigation for a domestic assault allegation, and Tony Stewart received a waiver after taking a mental health break.
NASCAR eventually gave Larson the waiver — and he opens the playoffs Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway as the points leader — but it is unlikely Rick Hendrick will sign off on another Indy 500 run without a guarantee from NASCAR.
Either way, it’s the chance to complete the 1,100-miles of racing in one day that most interests Larson. John Andretti, Stewart, Busch and Robby Gordon are the drivers to attempt “The Double” prior to Larson, but Stewart is the only one to complete both races in the same day.
In the case of this year, the Indy 500 did go the distance but the Coca-Cola 600 completed only 249 of 400 laps and was essentially over because of rain by the time Larson arrived in North Carolina.
“I would love to because I didn’t get to do ‘The Double’ this year. So that’s really why I wanted to do it,” Larson said. “I obviously wanted to compete in the Indianapolis 500, but more than anything, I wanted to do ‘The Double’ and have a chance at winning one of the two, or both, and I felt like I just didn’t get that opportunity.”
A decision on Indy could come as early as next week.
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Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer
MIAMI — Shohei Ohtani became the first player in baseball history to reach the 50/50 club on Thursday, and he did so in dominant fashion — with three home runs and two stolen bases in a six-hit game that led the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 20-4, postseason-clinching victory.
Ohtani opened the game with a line-drive double off the wall in right-center field against Miami Marlins starter Edward Cabrera, then picked up his 50th steal of the season by swiping third base. A second-inning single was followed by stolen base No. 51. Ohtani then added a two-run double in the third — before getting thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple — and followed with a 438-foot home run into LoanDepot Park’s second deck in the sixth for his 49th home run.
Ohtani came to bat again with runners on second and third and two outs in the seventh inning, prompting many to wonder whether the Marlins would pitch to him. They did — and Ohtani delivered, taking a 1-2 curveball from Mike Baumann and lofting it over the fence in left-center field for his 50th home run of the season.
Ohtani roared as he made his way up the first-base line, then stepped out of the dugout for a curtain call after celebrating with teammates. He then giggled as he made his way back into the first-base dugout the next half-inning — after clobbering a 440-foot home run off Marlins infielder Vidal Brujan.
Ohtani’s three homers, six hits and 10 RBIs all set new career highs. The 10 RBIs set a Dodgers record. He became the first player with three home runs and two stolen bases in a game since at least 1900 and the first player since RBIs became official in 1920 with 10 RBIs and five extra-base hits in a game. Ohtani also became the second player since at least 1901 with six hits in a game, including five for extra bases, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The man who secured a 40/40 season with a walk-off grand slam on Aug. 23 had found another way to reach history in grand fashion.
The best part: The Dodgers’ convincing victory secured them another playoff spot. For Ohtani, it will be his first. The two-way star has played in 866 games without reaching the postseason, the most among active players.
Soon — officially — that will come to an end.
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Dave Wilson, ESPN Staff Writer
With Quinn Ewers still recovering from an oblique injury, Arch Manning will make his first start for No. 1 Texas on Saturday night against UL Monroe, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.
“Quinn has made great strides ever since Saturday night into where he’s gotten to,” Sarkisian said. “But my decision is I’m looking forward to his future as a player, but also the future of the season for us. … And getting him possibly one more week healthier for the long term, I think, is good for us as we’re getting ready for SEC play.”
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Manning, the top prospect in the Class of 2023, has appeared in four games for Texas but had his breakout last week in a 56-7 win over UTSA after Ewers was injured.
Manning, who entered in the second quarter, accounted for five touchdowns. His 75-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo and his 67-yard touchdown run — the longest ever by a UT freshman — marked the first time in school history that a player recorded a run and throw of at least 65 yards in the same game. Only Colt McCoy and Vince Young had done it in the same season for Texas.
Sarkisian said Manning always prepares as if he could start, but it’ll be different operating the game plan from the opening series rather than just being thrown into the fire.
“Arch is more than capable, as I think we all know,” Sarkisian said. “I mean, you go out and you have five touchdowns coming in off the bench, you’ve already proved you can play. Now, it’s about executing the plan, doing it with confidence and fixing some of the issues on the field when they arise.”
Sarkisian said Ewers will be there to help Manning with any of those issues.
“Quinn will obviously have an earpiece in. He’ll hear every play call,” Sarkisian said. “Without question, his support of Arch is critical, and I don’t foresee anything different than that.”
“All the goals [Ewers] had and that we’ve had for him coming into this season are all still there for him. I think we have a national championship-caliber team, and he’s the quarterback of that team. And I think we still have that in front of us to go do that. … This guy’s going to be in New York for the Heisman … and I think he has the ability to be a top-five NFL draft pick.”
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian
Sarkisian said he impressed upon Ewers that resting a week doesn’t change anything. The Longhorns play their first SEC game on Sept. 28 against Mississippi State. After a bye week, they have back-to-back games against No. 15 Oklahoma in Dallas and No. 2 Georgia in Austin.
Ewers is completing 73.4% of his passes this season, throwing for 691 yards and eight touchdowns, with two interceptions.
“All the goals he had and that we’ve had for him coming into this season are all still there for him,” Sarkisian said. “I think we have a national championship-caliber team, and he’s the quarterback of that team. And I think we still have that in front of us to go do that.
“I think with some of the games that we have coming up down the road, this guy’s going to be in New York for the Heisman. And whether he wins it or not, he has the ability to do that, and I think he has the ability to be a top-five NFL draft pick.”
ULM’s defensive coordinator, Earnest Hill, raised eyebrows Wednesday when he referred to his team’s familiarity with Manning, a New Orleans native who attended Isidore Newman for high school.
“We actually have some kids on our team who played against him in New Orleans, and a couple guys done beat him already,” Hill said. “So they don’t hold too much fear against him. They’re not going to hold any fear against him coming up here.”
The Longhorns are 44.5-point favorites for Saturday’s game, according to ESPN BET.
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