Dale Earnhardt Jr. knows a thing or two about pressure. He lived his entire life in the shadow of a giant, carrying the weight of the most famous name in motorsports. So, when he speaks up about the current state of NASCAR's biggest stars, people usually lean in. Recently, the Hall of Famer hasn't been holding back. Dale Earnhardt Jr. warns Kyle Larson that his obsession with "The Double"—racing the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day—might be costing him more than just a few hours of sleep. It might be derailed his entire championship momentum.
The conversation has shifted from "can he do it?" to "should he keep doing it?" and Junior is leading the charge on the skeptical side. Honestly, it’s a bit of a reality check for a driver many consider the greatest pure talent of this generation.
The Cost of Chasing History
Junior isn't attacking Larson's ability. Nobody in their right mind would. But on a recent episode of The Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt pointed out a glaring trend. He noted that Larson’s form took a massive nosedive after his grueling attempts at the Indy-Charlotte double. We’re talking about a guy who was lighting up the regular season with three wins in seven races, only to fall into a slump where he barely cracked the top ten.
"It feels like to me that it sort of derailed their momentum," Junior said, referring to Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team. He basically argued that the sheer "s**t" required to pull off that feat—the travel, the simulator time, the mental gymnastics of switching between an IndyCar and a NextGen Cup car—takes a toll. It’s not just physical. It’s the mental bandwidth.
Larson might not admit it. He’s a racer. Racers want to race everything, all the time. But Junior sees the "Sunday s**t" suffering. When you're competing against guys like Denny Hamlin or Ryan Blaney who are 100% focused on one car and one goal, even a 2% distraction is enough to land you in the middle of the pack.
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The "Kyle Larson Rule" and the Waiver Mess
It isn't just about lap times, either. The politics of the sport are catching up. NASCAR recently introduced what everyone is calling the "Kyle Larson Rule." Basically, if you miss a Cup race for a non-medical reason (like, say, staying in Indy because of a rain delay), you lose all your playoff points for the regular season.
Dale Jr. has been vocal about this, too. He's fed up with the waiver system in general. His stance is simple: you show up, you race, you get points. You don't show up? You don't get the points. By trying to be the hero who conquers two worlds, Larson is forcing NASCAR to write new laws that actually make it harder for him to win the title he's actually paid to win.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. warns Kyle Larson about the Xfinity "Ego"
It’s not just the Indy 500 that has Junior raising an eyebrow. There was a moment where Larson went on Kevin Harvick’s podcast and admitted his motivation for dropping down to the Xfinity Series was to "embarrass" the field.
Junior, who owns JR Motorsports—one of the biggest teams in that series—took that personally.
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"I wish he would sign up for some more races now," Junior challenged. "Because I know one race team, one owner, and 160 employees that would love another shot."
Junior’s point was subtle but sharp: Larson picks the tracks where he’s a god (like Bristol or Homestead) and then claims he’s "embarrassing" the regulars. Dale Jr. warned that if Larson really wants to test that theory, he should stop hiding in the elite Hendrick equipment and try winning in a car that isn't a rocket ship. It was a classic "keep your ego in check" moment from a guy who has seen plenty of drivers get too big for their fire suits.
The Aggression Problem
We also have to talk about the "Larson racing style." Lately, he’s been tangling with people. Ryan Blaney at Gateway, Chase Elliott at various points, and the ongoing saga with Denny Hamlin.
Junior has been analyzing the film like a hawk. He’s noticed that Larson is sometimes coming from five car lengths back and just... sending it. While fans love the "Yolo" energy, Dale Jr. warns that this "last lap dive bomb" mentality is starting to erode the finesse that actually makes a driver great.
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- Focus is a finite resource. You can't be the best IndyCar driver and the best NASCAR driver simultaneously when the schedules overlap this heavily.
- Respect is earned, not given. Dropping into lower series and saying you want to "embarrass" people is a fast way to lose the locker room.
- The Playoff Format is unforgiving. With the 2026 rules emphasizing consistency and points more than ever, one missed race or one "hero move" gone wrong can end a season.
Why This Matters for 2026
NASCAR is changing. The playoff format is being tweaked to restore "tradition" and "finesse" over "crashing to advance." Dale Jr. sees the writing on the wall. He wants Larson to be the face of the sport, but he’s worried the face is looking in too many directions at once.
If you're a fan, you want to see the 5 car in victory lane. But if Junior is right, we might see Larson continue to "struggle on plane" until he decides that the Cup championship is the only trophy that matters on Sunday.
What you should watch for next:
- Watch the practice times: If Larson is flying back and forth from dirt tracks or Indy tests, look at his "long run" speed on Saturdays. Junior says that's where the focus shows first.
- The "Waiver" drama: Keep an eye on how Rick Hendrick manages Larson's schedule. There is a high probability they pull back on the "Double" attempts if the 2026 points standings look tight.
- Xfinity entries: See if Larson takes Junior’s bait and signs up for a race at a "driver's track" where the equipment doesn't matter as much. That’s where the real respect is won.
Larson is a generational talent, but even the best can get lost in their own hype. Junior's warnings aren't hate—they're a roadmap for how to stay on top without burning out or ticking off the entire garage.
Actionable Insight: For those following the 2026 Cup season, pay close attention to the "summer slump" period. If Larson is splitting his time with outside ventures, his top-five finishes historically drop by nearly 30%. Betting or fantasy players should look at his performance at tracks like Sonoma and Dover as a barometer for whether Junior’s "derailed momentum" theory is holding true this year.