It’s a weekend filled with on track activities for the Cup Series on this All Star weekend. And NASCAR has just announced that the All Star Race will return to North Wilkesboro next year for the third year in a row.
Practice for the Cup Series begins with one driver at a time for pit road practice to prepare for the pit road challenge.
With Kyle Larson in Indianapolis practicing and preparing to qualify for the Indianapolis 500; Kevin Harvick is sitting in for Larson. With Harvick qualifying the car, Kyle Larson will have to start the race from the back of the field.
Kevin Harvick is normally in the broadcast booth, Larry McReynolds joins Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer in the broadcast booth.
Qualifying is three laps in length and must include a stop on pit road for a four tire change. NASCAR is using only two pit stalls for the Pit Road Challenge with a pit road speed of just 30mph.
While the crews have two versions of tires at their disposal; they must use the harder prime tire for qualifying.
The drivers are throwing a lot of tire dust when the accelerate out of the pit box during practice.
Drivers qualified for entry into the All Race race by being a previous All Star Race winner, a former champion, or a 2023 and 2024 winner. Drivers must also be a full time Cup Series driver.
Qualifying will set the lineup for the two 60 lap heat races on Saturday night. The heat races will determine the lineup for the Main Event on Sunday night.
Once pit road practice is complete, all of the drivers who are in the All Star Race and the Open drivers take to the track for a full 50 minute practice session.
In Indianapolis practicing for the Indy 500, Kyle Larson has reached a speed of 241mph. He had the fourth fastest single lap and the nninth fastest four lap run.
Drivers that are making a practice run on the softer “option” tire saw some significant fall off of over half a second after only 19 or 20 laps.
There are a few rain drops in the area, but infamous “vortex theory” is in effect – according to Darrell Waltrip (DW) the speed of the drivers going around the track keeps the rain storm from falling on the track. The teams do have a wet weather tire they can use if needed.
The three sets of tires are distinguishable by the colour of the sidewalls – yellow is the prime tire, red is the softer “option” tire, and white is the west weather tire.
The drivers are reporting tight conditions in their cars.
Denny Hamlin reports that the track has “rubbered up” during the practice session.
After a rare 50 minute practice session, some of the drivers ran over 100 laps.
The drivers have two chances to make a qualifying run.
Timmy Hill is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run for the Open and posted a time of 19.518 seconds.
Officials at North Wilkesboro are allowing the fans to wave the flags for the drivers.
With a time of 18.299 seconds Austin Dillon will sit on the pole for the All Star Open race. However, the 48 car of Alex Bowman, the 14 car of Chase Briscoe, and the 54 car of Ty Gibbs will be given a second opportunity to make another qualifying run since the track was too wet.
NASCAR has cancelled Open qualifying and erases all of the previous times. The field is set by points, putting Ty Gibbs on the pole with Alex Bowman alongside.
The starting lineup for the All Star Open:
Ty Gibbs
Alex Bowman
Chase Briscoe
Bubba Wallace
Noah Gragson
Austin Cindric
Josh Berry
Todd Gilliland
John Hunter Nemechek
Carson Hocevar
Erik Jones
Ryan Preece
Corey LaJoie
Daniel Hemric
Austin Dillon
Justin Haley
Harrison Burton
Kaz Grala
Zane Smith
Timmy Hill
The bottom has fallen out of the skies; but NASCAR is hoping to get the Pit Crew Challenge in at some point. Track drying is in process.
The Pit Crew Challenge is postponed until Saturday after Craftsman Truck Series qualifying which kicks off a big day of racing.
Saturday morning, the track has been dried and the drivers locked in to the All Star Race are ready to qualify for the race. Qualifying for the All Star Race includes making a four tire pit stop.
Each of the 17 drivers will make three laps and a four tire pit stop for a qualifying run.
The first car on the track is the number five with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel while Kyle Larson attempts to make the field for the Indianapolis 500. No matter where Harvick ends up, Larson will have to start the All Star Race from the back of the field. He had a slow pit stop after a left rear tire issue during the pit stop.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr had a slow pit stop after the jackman had trouble getting the car jacked up.
Joey Logano is the first driver to break the one minute 30 second mark with a time of 1:29.75.
Kyle Busch has been assessed a 10 second penalty for speeding on pit road; which will drop his time to 1:39.79
Ryan Blaney was assess a 20 second penalty for speeding on pit road and a commitment cone violation for a time of Ryan Blaney – 1:49.89
William Byron was charged a 10 second penalty for speeding on pit road.
Chase Elliott was charged a 10 second penalty for speeding on pit road. The was a lug nut issue on the pit stop.
All Star Pit Crew Challenge Qualifying:
Joey Logano – 1:29.75
Brad Keselowski – 1:30.14
Christopher Bell – 1:30.17
Daniel Suarez – 1:30.20
Chris Buescher – 1:30.29
Tyler Reddick – 1:30.67
Ross Chastain – 1:30.76
Martin Truex Jr – 1:30.95
Michael McDowell – 1:30.99
AJ Allmendinger – 1:31.67
Denny Hamlin – 1:31.85
Kevin Harvick – 1:36.33
William Byron – 1:39.54
Kyle Busch – 1:39.79
Chase Elliott – 1:42.52
Ricky Stenhouse Jr – 1: 43.31
Ryan Blaney – 1:49.89
Christopher Bell’s crew wins the pit stop challenge with a time of 13.223 seconds.
Joey Logano sits on the pole for the heat race number one and the All Star Race.
Brad Keselowski will sit on the pole for heat race number two.
The recent rash of storm has caused severe damage around the country and forced the postponement and cancellation of many events including the two heat races that precede the All Star Race; as a result, the field will be set according to how the drivers qualified with Joey Logano on the pole and Brad Keselowski alongside on the front row. The final three starting spots will be added after the Open race – the top two finishers will move on to the All Star Race – and the announcement of the winner in the fan vote will complete the lineup.
The starting lineup for the All Star Race:
Joey Logano
Brad Keselowski
Christopher Bell
Daniel Suarez
Chris Buescher
Tyler Reddick
Ross Chastain
Martin Truex Jr
Michael McDowell
AJ Allmendinger
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson – moved to the back of the field for a driver change
William Byron
Kyle Busch
Chase Elliott
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ryan Blaney
The Open is 100 lap with a break at 50 laps – all laps count – and a mandatory four tire change.
After rains cancelled out qualifying just three drivers shy of completion, Ty Gibbs sits on the pole and will bring the field to the green flag. The drivers who finish first and second will move into the All Star Race. The final spot in the race will go to the winner of the fan vote.
Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Alex Bowman alongside. Gibbs edges out in front for the lead. Drivers are three wide going into turn two.
Lap three, Ty Gibbs has a lead of over half a second on Bubba Wallace; Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, and Chase Briscoe round out the top five.
Lap six, Ty Gibbs has a lead of over a second on Bubba Wallace; Austin Cindric, Alex Bowman, and Chase Briscoe round out the top five.
Lap 12, Timmy Hill is already on pit road with the hood up.
Lap 13 Ty Gibbs has a lead of nearly a second and a half on Bubba Wallace; Austin Cindric, Alex Bowman, and Chase Briscoe continue to round out the top five.
Ap 20, Ty Gibbs has a lead of nearly two seconds on Bubba Wallace; Austin Cindric, Alex Bowman, and Chase Briscoe continue to round out the top five.
Lap 23, Ty Gibbs continues to increase his lead on Bubba Wallace and is now two seconds out in front.
Lap 29, Ty Gibbs has led every lap so far and holds a two second lead on Bubba Wallace.
Lap 32, there are 18 cars on the lead lap with Ty Gibbs dominating the race with a two second lead over Bubba Wallace.
Lap 38, with a near two second lead, Ty Gibbs is out in front; Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric, Alex Bowman, and Chase Briscoe continue to round out the top five. There has been very little movement among the drivers in the front of the field.
Lap 47, ty Gibbs has a lead of over two seconds on Bubba Wallace. The top two positions are the only ones that matter for this race – they are the drivers who will move on to the All Star Race.
NASCAR displays the yellow flag at lap 50 for the mandatory four tire change.
Ty Gibbs wins the race off of pit road with Alex Bowman out second; Bubba Wallace comes out third.
Corey LaJoie and John Hunter Nemechek wer caught speeding on pit road.
Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag restart with Alex Bowman alongside on lap 58. Drivers quickly get three wide. Ty Gibbs leads the race.
Austin Cindric brings out the caution flag when he gets into the wall after some on track contact in a three wide battle.
With two different types of tires, most of the field is now on the softer “option” tire. Only Austin Dillon, Todd Gilliland, John Hunter Nemechek, and Corey LaJoie are on the harder “prime” tire.
Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag restart with 36 laps to go. Alex Bowman challenges Gibbs for the lead but Gibbs gets out in front. Drivers are three wide.
With 32 laps to go, Ty Gibbs has a lead of nearly a second on Bubba Wallace; Alex Bowman, Josh Berry, and Chase Briscoe round out the top five.
Bubba Wallace and Alex Bowman continue some close quarters racing with Josh Berry on their bumper.
Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman, and Josh Berry wert three wide with Bubba taking second from the high line. Ty Gibbs has a two second lead with 24 laps to go.
Lap 77, the top five are Ty Gibbs, bubba Wallace, Josh Berry, Justin Haley, and Alex Bowman.
Twenty to go, Ty Gibbs has a lead of over two seconds on Bubba Wallace; Josh Berry, Justin Haley, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.
Lap 87, Ty Gibbs holds a lead of over two seconds on Bubba Wallace; Josh Berry, Justin Haley, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.
Ten to go, Ty Gibbs has led every lap so far and is dominating the race.
Seven to go, Alex Bowman hits the wall but saves the car and the track stays green.
Five to go, Ty Gibbs holds a lead of over two seconds on Bubba Wallace.
Ty Gibbs takes the white flag.
Leading every lap in the race, Ty Gibbs wins the All Star Open and will move on to the All Star Race. Bubba Wallace will also move over to the main event.
Noah Gragson won the fan vote and will be the final entry into the All Star Race.
Kyle Larson spent his Sunday in Indianapolis trying to qualify his number 17 car for the Indianapolis 500. Not only did he make the field, he was one of the fastest six cars and made a run for the pole. Larson earned a fifth place spot for the Indy 500 and as a rookie driver. Scott Mclaughlin set a new record to sit on the pole for a Team Penske sweep of the front row.
NASCAR has changed the start time of the All Star Race in order to give Kyle Larson time to get to the track. With Kevin Harvick qualifying the number five car, Kyle Larson will have to start the All Star Race from the back of the field.
The race is 200 laps with all laps counting. The drivers must make at least one mandatory four tire change. All of the drivers start the race on the softer “option” tire.
Hall of Fame crew chief Chad Knaus gave a rousing command to start he engines.
Tonight it isn’t about points…it’s all about the MONEY! A million dollar payoff goes to the winner of the race.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Brad Keselowski alongside. Logano gets out in front for the lead. Drivers are already three wide.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr makes contact with Kyle Busch and sends Busch into the wall but the track stays green. Ricky Stenhouse Jr gets into the wall after contact with Kyle Busch and brings out the caution flag on lap two. Stenhouse stops his car in Kyle Busch’s pit stall and tries to have a conversation with Busch’s crew. The safety crew has to chase Stenhouse down to get him to the infield care center for the mandatory visit after a crash.
Once pit road opens, most of the field come down pit road to change to the yellow walled primary tire.
The top five drivers did not make a pit stop.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart and holds on to his lead on lap 10.
The top five are Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, and Ryan Blaney. Kyle Larson is up to 17th place.
Lap 16, Joey Logano has a half second lead on Tyler Reddick; Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Lap 20, Denny Hamlin gets very loose battling with oss Chastain but he saves the car and the track stays green.
Open transfers Bubba Wallace is in 16th and Ty Gibbs is in 13th. Fan vote winner Noah Gragson is in 19th.
Lap 25, Joey Logano has pulled out to a lead of over half a second on Tyler Reddick.
Lap 28, Chris Buescher passes Tyler Reddick for second.
Lap 32, Joey Logano has led every lap so far; Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and Brad Keselowski round out the top five.
Joey Logano has a lead of over a second on Chris Buescher.
Brad Keselowski passes Tyler Reddicki for fourth.
Lap 44, Joey Logano has a lead of over a second on Chris Bueshcer; Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, and Chrisotpher Bell round out the top five. Tyler Reddick has fallen out of the top five as his softer tires are falling off.
Lap 50, Kyle Larson is up to 14th after starting from the back of the field. Joey Logano has a near one second lead on Chris Buescher.
Lap 57, Joey Logano has led every lap so far and holds a one second lead on Chris Buescher; Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, and Christopher Bell round out the top five.
Lap 74, leader Joey Logano is approaching slower traffic.
William Byron gets into the wall and has to come down pit road for repairs.
Lap 77, Joey Logano has a half second lead on Chris Buescher; Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, and Christopher Bell round out the top five. There are 16 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 84, Joey Logano has a half second lead on Chris Buescher as he battles with Bubba Wallace to put Wallace a lap down.
Lap 90, Joey Logano and Bubba Wallace are still battling for Wallace to stay on the lead lap.
Lap 98, Brad Keselowski passes Ryan Blaney for third.
Lap 100, Bubba Wallace held off Joey Logano to stay on the lead lap as the caution flag comes out for the half way mark. Drivers must come down pit road and make a mandatory four tire stop. All four of the tires must be the same colour – no mixing primary and option tires.
Joey Logano wins the race off of pit road, edging out Christopher Bell.
Only Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs did not change to the softer “option” tires.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart with Christopher Bell alongside on lap 108, Logano edges out for the lead but has to battle with Bell to hold on to the lead.
Lap 113, as Joey Logan and Christopher Bell beat and bang for the lead, Denny Hamlin comes up on the inside to make it a three wide battle for the lead. Lap 115, Joey Logano takes the lead with Denny Hamlin in second; Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, and Chris Buescher round out the top five. And just outside the top five in sixth is Kyle Larson!
Ty Gibbs brings out the caution flag on lap 119. Gibbs made some slight contact with Kyle Busch before spinning out.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart with 77 laps to go with Denny Hamlin alongside. Logano gets out in front for the lead. Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Christopher Bell battle for second.
Lap 125 Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher battle for fifth.
Lap 132, Joey Logano has a third of a second lead as Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney battle for second; Christopher Bell and Chris Buescher round out the top five.
Lap 139, Joey Logano has a lead of over half a second on Denny Hamin and Ryan Blaney who continue other battle for second.
Ryan Blaney finally gets past Denny Hamlin for second.
Daniel Suarez and Ty Gibbs ae the only drivers on the track not using the “option” red tire.
Lap 148, Kyle Larson battles Brad Keselowski for fifth.
Lap 150, NASCAR displays the caution flag, teams have the option of making a tire change. Some of the drivers come down pit road for service. Leaders stay out.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart with 42 laps remaining in the race. Denny Hamlin is on Logano’s bumper.
The top five are Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, and Kyle Larson.
Kyle Larson passes Ryan Blaney for fourth.
Lap 162, Kyle Larson passes Chris Buescher for third.
After driving an IndyCar at 235 plus miles per hour, Kyle Larson has brought his number five car from the back of the field to third place and a battle with Denny Hamlin for second.
Thirty to go, AJ Allmendinger, one lap down, is the only driver on the track not using the sofer red tire.
William Byron has returned to the track 14 laps down.
Jut 25 laps remain in the race with Joey Logano having led every lap; he is over half a second out in front of Denny Hamlin; Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Leading 178 laps, Joey Logano has led more laps in an All Star Race than any other driver in the race’s 40 year history.
Lap 182, Chris Buescher battles with Kyle Larson for third.
Lap 185, Joey Logano has a one second lead on Denny Hamlin; Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Ten to go, Joey Logano has a lead of over half a second on Denny Hamlin; Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, and Ryan Blaney continue to round out the top five.
Five to go, Joey Logano continues to lead the race; while Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher battle for third.
Joey Logano takes the white flag.
Dominating the race – leading all but one lap – Joey Logano wins the race and the million dollar prize.
The unofficial results of the All Star Race:
Joey Logano
Denny Hamlin
Chris Buescher
Kyle Larson
Ryan Blaney
Bubba Wallace
Ross Chastain
Chase Elliott
Michael McDowell
Kyle Busch
Noah Gragson
Martin Truex jr
Ty Gibbs
Tyler Reddick
Daniel Suarez
Brad Keselowski
Christopher Bell
AJ Allmendinger
William Byron
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
An aggressive discussion on pit road turns into further aggression when Stenhouse threw the first punch. Later the crew got into the fray.