As the calendar gets ready to flip from April to May, Kyle Larson’s life is about to get much busier with his first Indianapolis 500 attempt just weeks away. Larson announced on Sunday before the NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover that he would be missing practice and qualifying for NASCAR’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway in due to when qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 is schedule to take place.

Along with that announcement came the surprise news that a former NASCAR champion and Daytona 500 winner would be piloting his Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro at North Wilkesboro. That championship-winning driver is the newly retired Kevin Harvick. 

Larson and Harvick announced the news during the pre-race show for Sunday’s Dover race on NASCAR on FOX.

BACK IN A CUP CAR. @KevinHarvick will drive the No. 5 car for @KyleLarsonRacin in All-Star Race practice at North Wilkesboro. 😎🏁 https://t.co/JEEOIN3Ssj pic.twitter.com/HG5WocEqb3

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 28, 2024

“We’ve been trying to find drivers to replace me in the seat for practice and looked at lots of resumes. We decided to go with Kevin Harvick,” Larson said on the NASCAR on FOX pre-race show.

“When Rick (Hendrick) called a couple days ago and said ‘Hey, I need a favor’ I know when the conversation starts like that, usually you have to say yes,” said Harvick. “It’s going to be fun.”

Practice and qualifying for the NASCAR All-Star Race will take place on Friday, May 17. The heat races for the All-Star Race are scheduled for Saturday, May 18. “Fast Friday,” which is the final practice session before qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, is also scheduled for May 17, with qualifying scheduled to take place on May 18 and May 19. 

While there is a chance that Larson may not be back in time for Saturday’s heat races, he should be back at North Wilkesboro in time for the main-event on Sunday evening. 

Larson, who won the first All-Star Race to be held at North Wilkesboro Speedway last year, announced in January of 2022 that he would be attempting the Memorial Day Double in 2023 and 2024. Larson is looking to become the fifth driver to attempt the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double this year. The last driver to do so was Kurt Busch in 2012. 

Larson completed his Rookie Orientation program last October and was second-fastest in a two-hour rain-shortened test session at the historic 2.5-mile facility in early April.

Harvick is expected to pilot the No. 5 machine only on Friday, May 17 during that day’s practice session and qualifying session on the newly repaved North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Harvick finished 18th in last year’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro. Harvick also competed in the CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car feature at North Wilkesboro Speedway earlier that week in 2023 and finished 11th.

The CARS Tour is scheduled to return to North Wilkesboro Speedway once again during NASCAR’s All-Star Week with a doubleheader on Tuesday, May 14, and Wednesday, May 15. 

Harvick’s Kevin Harvick Inc. driver, Brent Crews, is the most recent CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car winner heading into this Friday’s race at Ace Speedway in North Carolina live on FloRacing.