Denny Hamlin has taken the win and the US$1 million prize in the non-championship NASCAR All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
It was the first All-Star win for Hamlin, his Joe Gibbs Racing team and Toyota.
The race was run over five separate segments; the first four of 25 laps. The average finishing position set the starting spots for the final 10-lap dash for the million dollar prize.
At the end of each segment cars would then come to pit road for service, with Hamlin making a two tyre call after the second segment. It proved important as he was able to keep position and started off the front at the final round of stops.
His cause was helped further when second place man Brad Kesolowski was caught for speeding on the pit lane and had to re-start off the rear.
However, it was not clear sailing for Hamlin who had series champion and points leader Kevin Harvick on his bumper. As he drove into Turn 1 with three laps to run, Hamlin moved up a lane in the corner and Harvick lost his momentum.
If that was the on-track move that made the difference, his pit crew also deserved plenty of credit as they gained him five spots at the final stop.
Kurt Busch ran third, followed by Jeff Gordon (making his final All-Star appearance), Matt Kenseth and an impressive Kyle Busch, who was making his first start in a NASCAR Sprint Cup of the year after breaking his right leg and left foot in an XFINITY Series race at Daytona on Feb. 21.
RESULTS: Sprint All-Star Race – Charlotte Motor Speedway
POS.
CAR #
DRIVER
MAKE
START
LAPS
LAPS LED
FINAL STATUS
1
11
Denny Hamlin
Toyota
1
110
26
Running
2
4
Kevin Harvick
Chevrolet
20
110
0
Running
3
41
Kurt Busch
Chevrolet
16
110
24
Running
4
24
Jeff Gordon
Chevrolet
9
110
0
Running
5
20
Matt Kenseth
Toyota
17
110
0
Running
6
18
Kyle Busch
Toyota
19
110
0
Running
7
5
Kasey Kahne
Chevrolet
5
110
11
Running
8
22
Joey Logano
Chevrolet
11
110
0
Running
9
2
Brad Keselowski
Ford
3
110
49
Running
10
88
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Chevrolet
7
110
0
Running
11
47
AJ Allmendinger
Chevrolet
13
110
0
Running
12
15
Clint Bowyer
Toyota
4
110
0
Running
13
16
Greg Biffle
Ford
2
110
0
Running
14
43
Aric Almirola
Ford
8
110
0
Running
15
48
Jimmie Johnson
Chevrolet
12
110
0
Running
16
1
Jamie McMurray
Chevrolet
14
110
0
Running
17
19
Carl Edwards
Toyota
10
110
0
Running
18
31
Ryan Newman
Chevrolet
18
110
0
Running
19
14
Tony Stewart
Chevrolet
15
110
0
Running
20
10
Danica Patrick
Chevrolet
6
78
0
Running
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