{"id":46051,"date":"2024-05-19T23:03:55","date_gmt":"2024-05-20T04:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=46051"},"modified":"2024-05-19T23:06:56","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T04:06:56","slug":"joey-logano-dominates-fiery-nascar-all-star-race-at-north-wilkesboro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/19\/joey-logano-dominates-fiery-nascar-all-star-race-at-north-wilkesboro\/","title":{"rendered":"Joey Logano dominates fiery NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MAY 19: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer<\/em><\/p>\n

NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C.\u2014It was a study in domination and impeccable strategy.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates with the one million dollar check in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Leading a NASCAR All-Star Race record 199 of 200 laps, pole winner Joey Logano kept Denny Hamlin and peripatetic Kyle Larson at bay on Sunday night in winning the 40th<\/sup> running of the event and collecting the $1-million top prize.<\/p>\n

Running the entire race on softer option tires\u2014and eschewing the more durable prime tires at repaved and revitalized North Wilkesboro Speedway\u2014Logano beat runner-up Hamlin to the finish line by 0.636 seconds, with Chris Buescher passing Larson for third place on the next-to-last lap.<\/p>\n

The All-Star Race victory was the second for Logano and the fifth for Team Penske, which also won with Kurt Busch (2010), Ryan Newman (2002) and Ryan Blaney (2022).<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cA lot of fun when you\u2019ve got a car this fast,\u201d said Logano, who is winless in 13 NASCAR Cup Series points events this season. \u201cThe Shell\/Pennzoil Mustang, it\u2019s just so great to get in Victory Lane. <\/p>\n

\u201cAll of our sponsors and everyone who stuck with us to get a win, it feels nice. It\u2019s been a while. I wish it was for points, but a million bucks is still a lot of money, and I feel great about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though Logano spent the race at the front of the field, Larson drew his share of attention, too, as he shuttled between 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the historic 0.625-mile short track.<\/p>\n

After qualifying fifth for next Sunday\u2019s Indianapolis 500\u2014the first leg of a planned double with the Coca-Cola 600 next Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway\u2014Larson left Indy on a helicopter at 5:44 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

After transferring to a private jet registered to HMS Holdings and arriving at Wilkes County Airport, Larson took a helicopter to nearby North Wilkesboro Speedway and landed on the track property at 7:15 p.m.\u2014to loud applause from fans in the grandstands.<\/p>\n

Larson started from the rear of the field because of a driver change, given that Kevin Harvick had qualified the No. 5 Chevrolet while Larson was at Indy.<\/p>\n

During a planned caution at Lap 151, Larson pitted for option tires that had spent only one green-flag lap on his car and charged through the field from 10th<\/sup> at the restart to challenge Hamlin for the runner-up spot before fading in the closing laps.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 Nexlizet Ford, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Larson ran out of steam, and Hamlin was frustrated by his inability to make a move on the race winner.<\/p>\n

\u201cI needed more of an advantage to pass, for sure,\u201d Hamlin said. \u201cI would run to him, and then you couldn\u2019t pass. I would lose a little bit of air there, and I would try to give my car a break and then run to him again\u2014just have to be so much faster to get around.<\/p>\n

\u201cHats off to the track, NASCAR and Goodyear for giving (two tire choices) a try. Hopefully, we learned something here for future short tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fireworks started early on Sunday. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. went up the middle to create a three-wide scenario mid-pack and angered Kyle Busch on the outside when the cars collided. Busch retaliated on Lap 2 and turned Stenhouse\u2019s Chevrolet into the outside wall, eliminating Stenhouse from the race.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates with the one million dollar check in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Stenhouse drove his damaged car to pit road, parked it in Busch\u2019s stall and expressed his displeasure to Busch\u2019s crew chief, Randall Burnett. After the race, Stenhouse vented his pent-up rage in a brief fistfight with Busch, which also involved crews from the two teams.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least we had an exciting fight in the end\u2014something to talk about,\u201d said Hamlin, always the curmudgeon.<\/p>\n

Under the caution for Stenhouse\u2019s wreck, five drivers\u2014Logano, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Buescher and Blaney\u2014stayed on the track on the softer option tires, while the rest of the field came to pit road and switched to the prime tires.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by James Gilbert\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Preserving track position proved to be the winning move for the No. 22 Team Penske Ford. When crew chief Paul Wolfe saw the car\u2019s performance on the option tires, he chose not to change to primes at the 100-lap halfway break.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we did the first 100, so why wouldn\u2019t it last the second 100?\u201d agreed Logano. \u201cThat was our thought, so it was definitely an aggressive strategy, but it worked out good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blaney came home fifth, followed by Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell and Busch.<\/p>\n

Toyota drivers Ty Gibbs and Wallace transferred into the main event by finishing first and second, respectively, in the 100-lap NASCAR All-Star Open.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Noah Gragson, driver of the #10 Overstock.com Ford, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 19, 2024 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

For Gibbs, the victory was a cakewalk. Starting from the pole, the driver of the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Camry led every lap and crossed the finish line 1.572 seconds ahead of Wallace, who had to hold off charging Josh Berry and Justin Haley to secure his spot in the show.<\/p>\n

Berry was third in the Open, less than a half-second behind Wallace, with Haley trailing in fourth. Berry\u2019s Stewart-Haas Racing teammate, Noah Gragson, finished fifth but transferred into the All-Star Race by winning the Fan Vote.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say enough about the fans,\u201d Gragson said after learning he had been voted into the race. \u201cThey\u2019re bad-ass. They keep us motivated each and every weekend to come out and do our jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen times aren\u2019t great, the fans always pump us up and we feed off their energy. I appreciate everybody\u2019s support and we\u2019ve got 200 laps to go chase a million bucks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The chase came up short. Gragson started at the back of the 20-car field and finished 11th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

NCS Race Winner – Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) –<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

NCS Race Winning Team – Paul Wolfe (Crew Chief, No. 22 Team Penske Ford); Michael Nelson (President of NASCAR Operations, Team Penske) –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/NWSNCSMichaelNelsonPaulWolfe51924.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series Race – NASCAR All-Star Race<\/strong><\/p>\n

North Wilkesboro Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

North Wilkesboro, North Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, May 19, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

                1. (1)  Joey Logano, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                2. (11)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                3. (5)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                4. (12)  Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                5. (17)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                6. (19)  Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                7. (7)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                8. (15)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                9. (9)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                10. (14)  Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                11. (20)  Noah Gragson, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                12. (8)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                13. (18)  Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                14. (6)  Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                15. (4)  Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 200.<\/p>\n

                16. (2)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 200.<\/p>\n

                17. (3)  Christopher Bell, Toyota, 200.<\/p>\n

                18. (10)  AJ Allmendinger(i), Chevrolet, 198.<\/p>\n

                19. (13)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 186.<\/p>\n

                20. (16)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, Accident, 2.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  93.809 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 19 Mins, 57 Secs. Margin of Victory:  .636 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  4 for 27 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  2 among 2 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   J. Logano 1-103;B. Keselowski 104;J. Logano 105-200.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Joey Logano 2 times for 199 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C.\u2014It was a study in domination and impeccable strategy. Leading a NASCAR All-Star Race record 199 of 200 laps, pole winner Joey Logano kept Denny Hamlin and peripatetic Kyle Larson at bay on Sunday night in winning the 40th running of the event and collecting the $1-million […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":46055,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[154,16,774],"class_list":["post-46051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-joey-logano","tag-nascar","tag-north-wilkesboro-speedway"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/GettyImages-2153754446-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1775&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-bYL","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46051"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46051\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46071,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46051\/revisions\/46071"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}