KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kyle Larson began what will become a busy month of May on a small dirt track nestled in a crook of the Missouri River, where he started outside of the top 10 in his sprint car Friday night and managed to climb to third place by the finish.

By the end of the month, Larson hopes to have made some history.

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion is trying to join Tony Stewart as the only drivers ever to complete “the double,” finishing every lap of the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Several have tried over the years, most recently Kurt Busch in 2014, but the task has proven to be among the most grueling in all of motorsports.

“I mean, for sure I’m excited,” Larson said Saturday, shortly before hopping into his No. 5 for Hendrick Motorsports and qualifying for the Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway. “I’m not like, overly anxious at the same time. I think I’ve known it’s been coming for a couple of years now, and just, you’ve got to be ready to get out there and get going.”

Larson also said he’s not thinking about Memorial Day weekend quite yet.

There is a lot more racing to do first.

He was running his sprint car again Saturday night at nearby Lakeside Speedway, then will try to improve on his finish Sunday from a year ago at Kansas, where Denny Hamlin bumped him out of the way on the last lap to snatch victory.

Larson also has NASCAR’s throwback weekend coming up at Darlington, and another sprint car race at Kokomo Speedway in Indiana on May 13, the night before he steps into his Arrow McLaren ride to practice for the Indy 500.

“It’s starting to set in what’s coming ahead,” Larson admitted. “You’ve got to do rookie orientation for the first time and you get there, and that was the first moment of like, ‘Holy (expletive), I’m actually in an IndyCar right now.’ But I think since then, you know, I’m kind of just more ready to finally get going.”

Larson already has a Cup Series win from Las Vegas in March, and he has a series-leading five top-fives, including a second-place run at Dover last weekend. He has led at least one lap in eight races and his 570 laps led are 35 more than any other driver.

That consistency has helped Hendrick Motorsports join Joe Gibbs Racing in dominating the Cup Series this season. Hendrick has five wins and Hamlin gave Gibbs its fourth last week at Dover, and it’s hard to believe the two power teams won’t be at the front again on Sunday; they are tied for the most wins at the track with eight apiece.

Hamlin is certainly looking forward to another duel.

Especially if it goes the way the spring race did at Kansas a year ago.

“It was a fierce battle,” he recalled. “We were the best two guys. He got out to a lead there and I remember just chasing him down there toward the end, when he was getting loose. But it’s so race to race. I can’t go back. We have a different car, new tire coming into this race. There’s not much I can put together other than how can I attack this track to get speed?”

CHARTER CHATTER

Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing along with Michael Jordan, lamented the state of charter negotiations Saturday. Charters provide guaranteed starting spots and other financial benefits to their owners, but are due to expire after 2024. Owners want them to become permanent, so they can more easily attract long-term sponsors and investors. They also want more revenue, a bigger voice in NASCAR decisions and a share of new business opportunities, such as gambling revenue.

“Why is this such an important thing?” Hamlin asked. “We’ve had 11 teams go out of business since 2016. That’s not good. And certainly if we continue on the trend of a couple stakeholders doing really well and others not, that will continue.”

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Jimmie Johnson will be driving the No. 84 car for Legacy Motor Club for the second straight week as part of his abbreviated Cup Series schedule. The three-time Kansas winner finished 28th at the Daytona 500, 29th at Texas and 28th last week at Dover.

“This year has been more challenging for us in a lot more ways that we anticipated,” Johnson admitted, “but I do think we’re getting closer to a consistent pace that we hope to have week-in and week-out.”

FORD’S FOCUS

The season has so far been dominated by Chevrolet and Toyota, leaving Ford still looking for its first Cup Series win. But its cars were fast at Talladega, and Noah Gragson and Ryan Blaney finished sixth and seventh last week at Dover.

“Right now our program, I feel — if we were an 18th-place team last year, I think we’re closer to a 10th-place team,” said Gragson’s crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer. “And 10th-place teams can win races.”

ODDS AND ENDS

Hamlin is the 9-2 favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Larson and William Byron are next at 5-1. … Ricky Stenhouse Jr. signed a multiyear extension this week to continue driving the No. 47 for JTG Daugherty Racing. … Corey Heim is driving the No. 43 again in place of Erik Jones, who was cleared to return by NASCAR, but is sitting out one more week as he recovers from a crash at Talladega. Jones sustained a compression fracture in his back in the wreck.

TONIGHT

Expect a mostly cloudy evening with a chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms before midnight, cooling down to a low around 63°F. Winds from the north-northeast around 7 mph keep things breezy enough to whisk some of the clouds away.

TOMORROW

Indianapolis will see isolated showers amidst partly to mostly cloudy skies, with a high near 76°F. The south-southwest winds at 13 to 18 mph might just add an extra sway to your outdoor decorations. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo responsibly as the skies might sprinkle a little.

TOMORROW NIGHT

As the festivities wind down, so does the chance of rain, dropping to 30%. Expect mostly cloudy skies with a low around 66°F. The south wind at 6 to 8 mph will continue to provide a gentle reminder of the passing day.

MONDAY

Start the week with your umbrellas at hand! Showers are likely, with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. The day will be mostly cloudy with a high near 73°F and south-southwest winds at 15 to 25 mph, increasing the likelihood of a wet commute.

MONDAY NIGHT

The showers persist into the night, mainly before 2 AM, followed by a possible thunderstorm. It’ll be mostly cloudy with lows dipping to around 58°F. South-southwest winds at 8 to 13 mph bring a persistent dampness into the night.

TUESDAY

A tempestuous day with showers and thunderstorms likely throughout the day. The high will reach up to 80°F, accompanied by gusty south winds at 15 to 30 mph. A great day to keep the rain gear handy, as these storms could bring about significant rainfall.

TUESDAY NIGHT

The unsettled weather continues with a 60% chance of early night showers before clearing up. Expect partly cloudy skies and a low around 63°F. Winds will shift slightly to the northwest at around 7 mph.

WEDNESDAY

The heart of the week brings a high near 84°F under partly sunny skies, a perfect setup for those planning midweek outings. Southwest winds at 9 to 11 mph will add to the pleasant conditions, despite the 50% chance of thunderstorms later in the day.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy with a slight chill as the low drops to around 64°F. South winds continue at about 10 mph, keeping the air fresh and the night alive.

8 DAY FORECAST

Looking ahead, Thursday offers a chance of showers with highs in the mid-70s. Friday will see isolated showers but cooler, with a high near 68°F. The weekend appears dry with highs in the mid to upper 60s, setting the stage for a calm and pleasant weekend.

(MIRROR INDY) — Indianapolis has a tasty list of food festivals that can’t be missed, like homemade meatballs at Holy Rosary’s huge Italian Festival and near-endless suds and wing sauces at Chicken & Beer Fest.

Dig a little deeper into America’s culinary crossroads and you’ll find a feast of hidden-gem and culturally diverse spring and summer events that tempt your appetite, spark your curiosity, and fill your soul. 

Noon, May 11, 4141 S. East St., Indianapolis. Free entry.

Mangos are so beloved and important in the Philippines that Filipinos call them “golden fruit” and “fruit of the gods.” Indulge in all the velvety sweetness of the country’s national fruit in desserts like mango floats, mango ice candy and mango ice cream. There are savory mango dishes and mango drinks, too, all at The Philippine Cultural Community Center. 

8 a.m.-1 p.m. June 30, 11717 42nd Street Indianapolis. Free, but reservations required.

Pack mints and enjoy all the magic of everything garlic at this hands-on harvest festival. Get right in there and help loosen the soil. Then, learn how to cure bulbs you pulled from the ground. Everyone who helps gets to take home five pounds of garlic. The day includes lunch and an optional light breakfast.

June 22 and 23, 500 W. Washington St., Indianapolis. Free entry for kids; $20-$25 for adults.

Indigenous communities that existed before colonization in what is now Indiana included the Kickapoo, Lenape, Miami, Piankashaw, Potawatomi, Shawnee, Wea and Wyandot or Wyandotte. Learn about the foods of native cultures past and present as well as music, dance, storytelling and hands-on artmaking at the family-friendly event featuring more than 140 vendors. 

Noon, May 25, 8902 E. 38th St., Indianapolis. Free for all.

Twelve Black-owned food trucks vie to be named best of the best at Community Alliance of the Far Eastside. Judges consider execution, appearance and taste. Keep your own score for the People’s Choice award. Entrants include 2023 People’s Choice champion House of SoulRollz, famous for egg rolls full of collards and smoked turkey. The 2023 juried winner, Good Vegan/Bad Vegan, will be there, too, with dishes like its “chicken” and waffles, raw tacos and award-winning buffalo “chicken” ranch fries. 

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 14, 3350 N. German Church Road., Indianapolis. Free for all. 

Savor India’s delicious feast of regional flavors and world influences at this Hindu Temple of Central Indiana festival. Experience Mumbai street food, like the spicy vegetable dish pav bhaji, served with soft rolls. Try Indo-Chinese stir-fried hakka noodles. Also discover South Indian dishes, for instance the fluffy rice cakes called “idlis” and milky sweet filter coffee. Indian music and dance happen as vendors sell everything from fashion to trinkets. 

2-4 p.m. May 5, June 2, July 21, Aug. 4, Sept. 8, and Oct. 12; 2424 Doctor M.L.K. Jr. St., Indianapolis. Free entry, but tickets required.

This on-going celebration at Ujamaa Community Bookstore is a chance to learn about Afro food origins and experience the culinary art of local chefs. Flanner House’s director of food justice Candace Boyd Simmons, also co-host of the Black Girls Eating podcast, curates the culinary book list. Reservations are required. Space is limited.

11 a.m.-4 p.m., June 9, Stage Door Irvington, Bonna Ave., Indianapolis. Free entry, but $20 to attend talks.

Savory mushroom tacos, anyone? How about mushroom-infused drinks? The magical and tasty world of mushrooms provides an unforgettable experience combining culinary delights with education and entertainment. The immersive speaker series delves into growing, foraging and cooking mushrooms, as well as their medicinal properties. The event is free, but the speaker series costs $20, and tickets are limited.

Noon, May 5, 3585 Commercial Drive, Indianapolis. Free for all. 

Tucked in along the south side of Indiana Discount Mall, next door to the Saraga off Lafayette Road, Indy Taco Fest maintains a small-community feel. Family-run food trucks and vendors serve real-deal tacos but also tamales, gorditas and more. 

5 p.m. to midnight, May 31 and June 1, 6000 W. 34th St., Indianapolis. Free for all.

Food drawing from the global culinary traditions of the Circle City’s ethnically diverse West Side takes center stage at this International Marketplace neighborhood party. Papusas, brats, elotes and tortas are some of the foods you may encounter alongside family-friendly games and live music by local artists. 

Noon, Sept. 21, 4141 S. East St., Indianapolis. Free for all.

According to legend, a man trying to comfort his neighbors invented Chinese, stuffed dumplings almost 2,000 years ago during a freezing Han Dynasty winter. Whatever their origins, dumplings spread far and wide, including to the Phillipines, where the pork-stuffed variety are known as siomai. Steamed buns are called “siopao.” If you’re the person who lives for dim sum, this tasty gathering at The Philippine Cultural Community Center is for you.