It’s a busy weekend in the motorsports world. Apart from the NASCAR triple-header at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which includes the crown jewel Coca-Cola 600, there is plenty of other racing action to look forward to. Bowman Gray Stadium is hosting some sportsman and modified races, and the Indianapolis 500, also known as ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’ will also take place at the Brickyard on Sunday afternoon. And there’s one man who will be attending it all.
Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s newly appointed president, will be catching up with all the motorsports action from Memorial Day Weekend. Is there something brewing behind the scenes that is prompting him to hit the road? It certainly looks like it.
NASCAR boss Steve O’Donnell is making the most of his weekend
NASCAR underwent a significant shakeup at the end of March. In a dramatic turn of events, Steve Phelps was appointed as the Commissioner of NASCAR and will now oversee all aspects of America’s top motorsport, including the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and all 15 NASCAR-owned or operated tracks. Meanwhile, Steve O’Donnell, who was previously serving as Chief Operating Officer, took over the role of NASCAR President and will oversee all three national series, along with media and track operations, as well as grassroots properties.
With plenty of motorsports action taking place this weekend, Steve O’Donnell will hit the road to catch up on all the major events. Revealing his plans, journalist Adam Stern tweeted, “@NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell will have a busy Memorial Day Weekend, attending sportsman and modified races tonight at Bowman Gray Stadium before leading a small group of execs for a quick trip to the #Indy500 tomorrow morning, and then flying to Charlotte for the #Coke600.”
O’Donnell’s attendance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is understandable. Apart from it being one of the biggest motorsports events in the world, Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson will be participating in ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’. The California native will hope to become the only driver after Tony Stewart to be able to complete ‘the Double,’ which means finishing every single lap at the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
.@NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell will have a busy Memorial Day Weekend, attending sportsman and modified races tonight at Bowman Gray Stadium before leading a small group of execs for a quick trip to the #Indy500 tomorrow morning, and then flying to Charlotte for the #Coke600. pic.twitter.com/ULCXifWSv4
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) May 24, 2025
The NASCAR president may want to witness history in the making. There might also be a bigger agenda involved in catching up with sportsman and modified races at the Bowman Gray Stadium. Rumors have been circulating about the inclusion of the short track on the calendar after the overwhelming fan reception at the Clash this year, and Steve O’Donnell might be keen to see how the quarter-mile asphalt oval fares at the grassroots level, which will help make his decision.
Could we see the iconic venue, find a place in the stock car racing calendar? Time will tell. It might all depend on whether Steve O’Donnell is sufficiently impressed by the venue and the quality of racing at Memorial Day Weekend.
When Kyle Larson milked a cow ahead of the Indy 500
Kyle Larson made the most of his Indianapolis 500 debut. Last year, rain marred his double attempt, where he was able to complete the race at Indianapolis, but by the time he jetted to Charlotte, the race was already green-flagged and was stopped as well, with rain following him and eventually ending the race. Larson couldn’t turn a single lap at Charlotte, but his experience at Indianapolis was something he would never forget, as he did much more than just turn laps.
Kyle Larson also milked a cow called ‘Indy’, which is a part of the race’s tradition where the rookie drivers milk cows to increase their chances of winning. Seems like the California native was leaving nothing to chance. The tradition seemed to have worked a charm for him, too, as Larson was awarded the Rookie of the Year at the end of the race for qualifying 6th and running in the top 10 before a speeding penalty dropped him back, and he could only manage an 18th-place finish. Nonetheless, a successful rookie outing for Larson, who saw the funny side of milking a cow.
Describing the experience in 2024, a thoroughly amused Larson went on to say, “She was ready to release some milk, so it wasn’t too difficult. Everything about the Indy 500 there is a lot of tradition, and this is a fairly new tradition. It’s neat to be here with the other rookies and get to do something fun and funny.” Joining him were fellow rookies Kyffin Simpson, Linus Lundqvist, Marcus Armstrong, Christian Rasmussen, and Tom Blomqvist, each of them taking a turn to fulfill the bizarre custom.
As for 2025, Kyle Larson will be starting 19th, and he needs every advantage he can get his hands on ahead of his ‘double’ attempt. Will Mother Nature play along this time around and help fulfill the NASCAR driver’s lifelong dream? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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