The Open
We spent some time waiting for the track to dry before we could finally get the show on the road. When they finally got underway Scott Riggs lead all but the very first lap of the first twenty lap segment.
When NASCAR threw the green flag for the final ten lap segment Scott Riggs again checked out. There was no doubt about this one as Riggs clearly had the rest of the field covered. Riggs' win qualified him for the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge.
The fans also got the opportunity to vote one driver from the Open into the Challenge. In a bit of a surprise Kyle Petty was voted in. I'm happy too see Kyle Petty get some attention and collect a well-deserved bonus pay day.
Segment One
After a lot of pomp and circumstance they were finally ready to get to work. Kasey Kahne had the pole for the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge and set the early pace. Then Jimmie Johnson took over the top spot and flexed his muscle.
Kyle Busch won the race off of pit road when the teams took their mandatory green flag pit stops. Tony Stewart was reeling him in in second place but Kyle Busch's car came to him and he drove away. With just five laps to go in the first, 40 lap, segment the sky opened up again and NASCAR threw the red flag.
When they got back to green flag racing Kyle Busch got away on the restart and coasted home to win the first segment and $75,000.
Segment Two
Through some random process it was determined that they would invert the top ten. Ryan Newman started on the pole next to Mark Martin. Martin took the lead briefly but Kasey Kahne blasted through to take the lead before Michael Waltrip spun.
On the ensuing restart the All-Star Challenge saw a massive incident similar to "The Big One" like we see at Daytona and Talladega. Kasey Kahne got loose while leading and slipped up into Mark Martin. This wiped out the front row and collected a bunch of the field on the backstretch. Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray, Jeremy Mayfield and others were all involved. This was a mess that eliminated a lot of fast cars.
When they went back to green Kevin Harvick had survived the mess to take the lead over Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth. When the second segment ended Kevin Harvick had collected the $75,000 win. Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards finished second and third. This set the stage for the final 20-lap $1,000,000 segment.
The Final Segment
Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson restarted side-by-side as this made for TV format has double-file restarts. Harvick and Johnson ran side by side as neither driver gave an inch. This was great racing. Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth wrecked so Johnson and Harvick again restarted side-by-side.
Jimmie Johnson was able to get clear on the restart and took the early lead in this final segment. Kevin Harvick was second and Jeff Gordon was running third. They got spread out during this final run and there were no changes in the top spots.
Top Five
- Jimmie Johnson
- Kevin Harvick
- Jeff Gordon
- Carl Edwards
- Ryan Newman
Next Week
The NEXTEL Cup drivers race again at Lowes Motor Speedway this weekend as the Coca-Cola 600 will run under the lights on Sunday night. This is the longest race on the circuit. Last year they set a record number of cautions but the track has been repaved since then. We saw some good racing in the All-Star Challenge tonight and next week has the potential to be another classic 600.
