Tony Stewart, a legend in American motorsports, made history on Memorial Day Weekend 2001 by successfully completing the grueling Double Duty-racing both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, totaling 1,100 miles. Stewart, driving for Chip Ganassi at Indy and Joe Gibbs Racing at Charlotte, finished sixth and third respectively, becoming the first driver to finish every lap of both events in a single day. This achievement was the result of hard-earned lessons from his first attempt in 1999, where he fell short due to issues with hydration, nutrition, and physical preparation. By 2001, Stewart had meticulously prepared, even hiring a full-time nutritionist, and his performance left the motorsports world questioning if anyone could ever match such a feat.
Fast forward to today, Kyle Larson, star driver for Hendrick Motorsports, is preparing for his own attempt at Double Duty. Larson’s first try was hampered by bad weather and a pit road penalty at Indy, which cost him a shot at running the full 1,100 miles. Despite these setbacks, Larson earned Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors and is now preparing for another shot at the historic challenge.
Tony Stewart, both as a mentor and as a competitor, has offered Larson both encouragement and a stern warning. Stewart believes Larson has the talent and stamina to complete the challenge, stating, “I think Kyle’s got the feat of all 1,100 miles. Kyle should be able to do that, no problem. That’s not as hard as it used to be back in the day.” However, Stewart cautions that the true challenge lies at Indy, where the competition is fiercer than ever and one small mistake-be it a pit road error or a mechanical mishap-can end a driver’s day. Stewart stressed, “Indy’s the variable of the equation…if he doesn’t make any mistakes at Indy…he’s in a good position. But any one mistake-if it’s a pit deal, if somebody screws up and leaves a wheel loose…those are the things that can take you out”.
Larson’s journey has already mirrored Stewart’s in many ways. Both drivers rose from dirt racing backgrounds, have excelled in multiple racing disciplines, and have attempted the Double. Stewart now sees Larson as his true successor-not just in NASCAR, but as a multi-talented racer across the motorsports spectrum. Stewart even remarked, “I’m a huge Kyle Larson fan…Records are made to be broken… I feel like Kyle is the guy that could legitimately do that-and he could do it this year.” Stewart’s endorsement is significant, signaling a passing of the torch to Larson as the next possible all-around legend.
While Stewart has expanded his career into NHRA Top Fuel drag racing and achieved victories there, Larson has yet to venture into drag racing, joking that it might be something he considers when he’s older. Nevertheless, Larson has expressed deep respect for Stewart’s achievements, calling him “the greatest all-around race car driver ever” and even sending Stewart congratulatory messages after his drag racing wins.
As Larson prepares for his next Double Duty attempt, the motorsports world watches with anticipation. Stewart, for his part, will be cheering him on, ready to see if his own legendary record will be matched or surpassed by the driver he considers his true successor.
