NASCAR Cup reigning Most Popular Driver, Chase Elliott checked off his first NASCAR All-Star Race win Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway – holding off a late charging NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch in the closing laps for a Million!
BRISTOL – July 15, 2020 – ANTHONY HOLBROOK
Hendrick Motorsports Driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet alternated the lead in the second half of Wednesday night’s 140-lap event before eventually securing .418 second cushion separation between the challengers for the purse.
2020 NASCAR Cup points leader No. 4 Kevin Harvick finished in the sandbox, followed by Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski and 2020 Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. Ryan Blaney displayed a dominating race, leading 72 of the stated 140 lap event finished sixth. Penske teammate Joey Logano, Alex Bowman, Aric Almirola and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top-10.
NASCAR All-Star Race Stage #1
- Ryan Blaney
- Kevin Harvick
- Chase Elliott
- Alex Bowman
- Erik Jones
- Aric Almirola
- Joey Logano
- Brad Keselowski
- Kyle Bush
10) Ryan Newman
NASCAR All-Star Race Stage #2
- Chase Elliott
- Kevin Harvick
- Ryan Blaney
- Brad Keselowski
- Alex Bowman
- Clint Bowyer
- Denny Hamlin
- Joey logano
- Aric Almirola
10) Kyle Bush
NASCAR All-Star Race Stage #3
- Chase Elliott
- Ryan Blaney
- Brad Keselowski
- Kyle Bush
- Kevin Harvick
- Denny Hamlin
- Eric Jones
- Joey Logano
- Alwx Bowman
10) Clint Bowyer
NASCAR introduced a few innovative additions to this years’ abbreviated annual All-Star event.
First a cosmetic glow light representing an automotive manufacture color were introduced to the undercarriage of race cars at the non-points race.
Drivers additionally utilized a new format for re-starts that allowed drivers to direct their choice and pick a lane suitable – outside or inside row to lead the lead to green.
NASCAR All-Star Race Final Results:
1. (13) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 140.
2. (10) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 140.
3. (5) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 140.
4. (9) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 140.
5. (15) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 140.
6. (3) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 140.
7. (12) Joey Logano, Ford, 140.
8. (2) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 140.
9. (17) Aric Almirola, Ford, 140.
10. (1) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 140.
11. (16) Erik Jones, Toyota, 140.
12. (18) William Byron, Chevrolet, 140.
13. (19) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 140.
14. (4) Justin Haley(i), Chevrolet, 140.
15. (20) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 140.
16. (8) Cole Custer #, Ford, 140.
17. (14) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 140.
18. (6) Matt Kenseth, Chevrolet, 140.
19. (11) Ryan Newman, Ford, 140.
20. (7) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 140.
Average Speed of Race Winner:
65.68 mph.
Time of Race:
1 Hrs, 8 Mins, 10 Secs.
Margin of Victory:
.418 Seconds.
Caution Flags:
5 for 13 laps.
Lead Changes:
6 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders:
M. Truex Jr. 0;A. Bowman 1-2;R. Blaney 3-55;K. Harvick 56-61;C. Elliott 62-90;R. Blaney 91-109;C. Elliott 110-140.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):
Ryan Blaney 2 times for 72 laps; Chase Elliott 2 times for 60 laps; Kevin Harvick 1 time for 6 laps; Alex Bowman 1 time for 2 laps.
It was Elliott’s first win at the .533-mile Tennessee short track and he and his father, Bill Elliott, are now the second father-son duo to win the All-Star Race, following Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The next (POINTS) race for the NASCAR Cup Series scheduled next Sunday (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM) at Texas Motor Speedway for the O’Riley Auto 500.