It’s one of the biggest races on the circuit. There are no points involved, no playoff points are awarded, and there are no special considerations for final positions…only a big check, and the right to be called an All Star racer.
Weather has caused NASCAR to cancel qualifying for the Monster Energy Cup Series Open. The starting line up will be set according to car owner points.
The starting line up for the Monster Energy Open:
Aric Almirola
Erik Jones
Alex Bowman
Chase Elliott
Paul Menard
William Byron
Daniel Suarez
Darrell Wallace Jr
AJ Allmendinger
David Ragan
Charis Bueacher
Michael McDowell
Matt DiBenedetto
Ty Dillon
Corey LaJoie
Ross Chastain
Landon Cassill
Gray Gaulding
BJ McLeod
Reed Sorenson
Timmy Hill
Practice was rained out so the drivers never got the opportunity to practice coming down pit road and to know how the track handles…and now the 17 drivers headed for the All Star race have to make three laps around the track and a four tire change pit stop. The one advantage for the drivers is that there is no speed limit on pit road; however, there are five second penalties for pit road infractions like pitting outside the box, loose lug nuts, uncontrolled tires, and crew members over the wall too soon. Crew members cannot come over the wall until after the car has come to a complete stop.
The teams will alternate between pit boxes 16 and 18 with all teams using the NASCAR issued air guns.
After taking some time off and being out of a car for five months, Matt Kenseth takes the pole for the All Star race in only his second race back.
The starting lineup for the All Star Race after qualifying:
Matt Kenseth
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Clint Bowyer
Kevin Harvick
Martin Truex Jr
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Austin Dillon
Joey Logano
Denny Hamlin – tire violation
Jimmie Johnson
Jamie McMurray – lug nut infraction
Ryan Newman – lug nut infraction
Kasey Kahne – lug nut infractions
Kurt Busch
Kyle Larson
First up is the Open…a race that is only 50 laps in length with stages one and two lasting 20 laps each and stage three lasting only 10 laps but only the green flag laps will count.
Aric Almirola brings the field down for the green flag start of the race and edges out in front for the lead.
Lap two Aric Almirola leads the race with Erik Jones in second, Alex Bowman in third, Paul Menard in fourth, and Chase Elliott in fifth.
Lap five Aric Almirola continues to lead the race; Alex Bowman, Erik Jones, Paul Menard, and Chase Elliott round out the top five.
Lap six, there is a bit of smoke coming from one of Chase Elliott’s tires.
Lap seven Aric Almirola has led every lap so far with Alex Bowman in second.
Lap eight Alex Bowman challenges Aric Almirola for the lead but Almirola holds on to lead the race.
Lap 10 Aric Almirola continues to lead the race with Paul Menard in second, Alex Bowman in third.
Lap eleven Alex Bowman retakes second place over Paul Menard with Aric Almirola still in the lead.
Lap 12 Alex Bowman passes Aric Almirola for the lead as the two swap back and forth with Alex Bowman eventually taking over the lead of the race on lap 14.
Lap 15 Alex Bowman is in the lead with Erik Jones in second; Aric Almirola, Chase Elliott, and Paul Menard round out the top five.
Lap 16 Erik Jones and Alex Bowman battle for the lead with Alex Bowman holding on to the top spot.
Three to go; the top five are Alex Bowman, Erik Jones, Chase Elliott, Paul Menard, and Bubba Wallace.
Alex Bowman and Erik Jones have never competed in the All Star Race.
Alex Bowman wins the stage and will run in his first All Star race…if he passes the lug nut test.
Alex Bowman passes the lug nut test and is in the main event.
Erik Jones is the only driver who did not come down pit road for service.
Taking only two tires, William Byron wins the race off of pit road.
Erik Jones brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two and it isn’t long before the drivers are three wide across the track.
Daniel Suarez passes Erik Jones for the lead of the race.
Lap three the top five are Daniel Suarez, Aric Almirola, Paul Menard, AJ Allmendinger, and Chase Elliott.
David Ragan made a big save to keep the track green when his car got loose.
Lap five Daniel Suarez is still in the lead with Chase Elliott in second; Aric Almirola, AJ Allmendinger, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Lap eight Daniel Suarez continues to lead the race with Chase Elliott in second but gets passed by Aric Almirola.
Lap 10 Daniel Suarez leads the race as drivers battle for second behind him.
Lap 12 the top five are Daniel Suare, Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, Paul Menard, and Bubba Wallace.
Lap 12 Chase Elliott challenges Daniel Suarez for the lead.
Lap 13 Chase Elliott passes Daniel Suarez for the lead of the race.
Lap 15 Daniel Suarez retakes the lead of the race with Chase Elliott in second.
Lap 16 the top five are Daniel Suarez, AJ Allmendinger, Chase Elliott, Paul Menard, and Bubba Wallace.
Lap 17 Daniel Suarez holds on to his lead with AJ Allmendinger in second. Paul Menard hit the wall but the track stays green.
Daniel Suarez holds off AJ Allmendinger to win stage two…and a spot in the All Star race.
Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three and edges out for the lead of the race.
Bubba Wallace leads the race with Chase Elliott in second, Erik Jones in third, Aric Almirola in fourth, and Chris Buescher in fifth.
Cars are battling for position, getting three and four wide.
Bubba Wallace holds on to the lead with Chase Elliott in second with only five laps to go.
The top five are Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, Erik Jones, and Paul Menard.
As the laps wind down, Bubba Wallace loses his lead to Chase Elliott who is passes by AJ Allmendinger for the lead.
Chase Elliott takes the white flag but AJ Allmendinger puts on a crossover move on Erik Jones and wins stage three and the race to earn his way into the All Star race.
The final starting spot in the All Star race will be the driver chosen in the fan vote.
Chase Elliott wins the fan vote for the third year in a row.
The final starting lineup for the All Star race:
Matt Kenseth
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Clint Bowyer
Kevin Harvick
Martin Truex Jr
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Austin Dillon
Joey Logano
Jimmie Johnson
Jamie McMurray – moved to the back of the field for an engine change
Ryan Newman
Denny Hamlin
Kurt Busch
Kyle Larson
Kasey Kahne
Alex Bowman
Daniel Suarez
AJ Allmendinger
Chase Elliott
The All Star race is an 80 lap race with four stages, 30, 20, 20, and 10 laps with only green flag laps counting.
Matt Kenseth brings the field down for the green flag start of the race and runs nose to nose with team mate Ricky Stenhouse Jr before Stehnhouse edges out to take the lead.
Lap two Matt Kenseth takes the lead.
Lap three Kevin Harvick takes over the top spot as Kurt Busch brings out the first caution flag of the race after getting loose and spinning out.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap six but Kevin Harvick takes the top spot to lead the race.
Lap seven, the top five are Kevin Harvick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Blaney, and Martin Truex Jr.
Lap nine Kevin Harvick leads the race with Ricky Stenhouse Jr in second but gets passed by Martin Truex Jr; Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 10 the top five are Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex, Ricky Stenhouse, AJ Allmendinger, and Joey Logano.
Lap 12 Kevin Harvick continues to lead the race with Martin Truex Jr in second; AJ Allmendinger, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 14 Martin Truex Jr and Kevin Harvick swap the lead with Harvick taking the top spot; Joey Logano, AJ Allmendinger, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 15 Kevin Harvick holds on to his narrow lead on Martin Truex Jr with Joey Logano in third, AJ Allmendinger in fourth, and Ryan Blaney in fifth.
Lap 20 Kevin Harvick has a half second lead on Martin Truex Jr; with Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and AJ Allmendinger rounding out the top five.
Joey Logano and AJ Allmendinger are rim riding and almost crash.
Lap 23 Kevin Harvick has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second on Martin Truex Jr with Kyle Busch in third.
Lap 25 the top five are Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch, AJ Allmendinger, and Joey Logano.
Lap 27 Kevin Harvick continues to lead the race with Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr battling for second.
Kevin Harvick wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Kevin Harvick
Martin Truex Jr
Kyle Busch
AJ Allmendinger
Joey Logano
Jimmie Johnson
Chase Elliott
TKyle Larson
Ryan Blaney
Daniel Suarez
Kyle Busch wins the race off of pit road.
Taking the outside lane, Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two, but it is Martin Truex Jr who gets out in front for the lead.
Kyle Busch passes Truex on lap two to take the lead.
Lap three the top five are Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson, and Jimmie Johnson.
Lap four Daniel Suarez and Kyle Busch battle for the lead, and swapping it back and forth before Kyle Busch finally takes the top spot.
Lap seven Kyle Busch leads the race with Jimmie Johnson in second; Kevin Harvick, Daniel Suarez, and Kyle Larson round out the top five.
Lap eight Kyle Busch leads the race with Jimmie Johnson in second; Kevin Harvick, Daniel Suarez, and AJ Allmendinger round out the top five.
Lap eleven, Kyle Busch holds on to the lead with Daniel Suarez in second; AJ Allmendinger, Martin Truex Jr, and Jimmie Johnson round out the top five.
AJ Allmendinger hits the wall but the track stays green.
Lap 13 Kyle Busch has a narrow lead on Daniel Suarez with Martin Truex Jr in third, Kyle Larson in fourth, and Jimmie Johnson in fifth.
Lap 16, Kyle Busch is in the lead with Daniel Suarez in second.
Lap 17 the drivers are beating and banging as the vie for position.
Kyle Busch holds on to win stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Kyle Busch
Daniel Suarez
Kyle Larson
Martin Truex jr
Chase Elliott
Jimmie Johnson
Joey Logano
Kasey Kahne
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski wins the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.
Brad Keselowski brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three; the drivers get three wide across the track.
Lap two Martin True Jr gets credit for leading.
Lap three, Brad Keselowski is out in front with Martin Truex Jr in second.
Lap four Brad Keselowski takes the lead of the race with Kyle Larson in second.
Lap six Kasey Kahne brings out the caution flag after getting into the wall.
Martin Truex Jr brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 10 but it is Brad Keselowski that takes the lead of the race.
Lap eleven Martin Truex Jr retakes the lead.
The drivers are getting three wide across the track.
Lap 12 the top five are Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch, and Joey Logano.
Lap 14 Martin Truex Jr leads the race with Kyle Larson in second; Daniel Suarez in third.
Lap 14 Kyle Larson is in the lead
Lap 15 Martin Truex Jr retakes the lead with Kyle Larson in second.
Lap 16 Martin Truex Jr is in the lead with Kyle Larson in second, Daniel Suarez in third.
Lap 18 Alex Bowman brings out the caution flag when he crashes and hits the wall. No stage can end under caution, so there will be an overtime run for the end of stage three.
Jimmie Johnson was caught speeding on pit road.
Kyle Larson brings the field down for the overtime shootout of stage three but Daniel Suarez takes the lead of the race.
Going four wide the drivers get into a big crash. Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, Clint Bowyer, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, and Martin Truex Jr were all involved in the crash with most of them out of the race.
Denny Hamlin will bring the field down for the second attempt at overtime to end stage three and gets out in front for the lead.
Kyle Larson passes Hamlin to take the lead of the race with Daniel Suarez in second.
Daniel Suarez takes the lead.
Kevin Harvick makes a last lap pass on Daniel Suarez to win stage three.
The top 10 at the end of stage three:
Kevin Harvick
Daniel Suarez
Kyle Larson
Ryan Blaney
Joey Logano
Denny Hamlin
Chase Elliott
Austin Dillon
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Jimmie Johnson
Kevin Harvick will bring the field down for the final stage – a 10 lap green flag shootout for the $1 million prize.
Kevin Harvick brings the field down for the green flag and goes nose to nose with Daniel Suarez before eventually edging out Suarez for the lead.
Lap two, Kevin Harvick holds on to his lead over Daniel Suarez; with Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Jimmie Johnson rounding out the top five.
Lap four, Kevin Harvick has a quarter second lead on Daniel Suarez.
Halfway home, Kevin Harvick continues to lead the race but Daniel Suarez in second is running the fastest laps on the track.
Ryan Blane gets sideways and hits the wall but the track stays green.
Joey Logano gets into the wall and then hits Kyle Larson sending Larson on an off road excursion through the grass and bringing out the caution flag with only two laps remaining in the race.
Taking the outside lane, Kevin Harvick brings the field down for the green flag restart and a two lap shootout. After Daniel Suarez edges out Kevin Harvick for the lead, Harvick retakes the lead and takes the white flag.
Kevin Harvick wins the race…and the million dollars!
The unofficial results of the All Star race:
Kevin Harvick
Daniel Suarez
Joey Logano
Denny Hamlin
Chase Elliott
Jimmie Johnson
Kyle Larson
AJ Allmendinger
Kyle Busch
Kasey Kahne
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Austin Dillon
Jamie Mc
urray
Matt Kenseth
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Newman
Martin Truex Jr
Kurt Busch
Clint Bowyer
Brad Keselowski
Alex Bowman