In a way, they were both right. “I thought our auto was fast the whole time”, said Logano.
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In a concept largely conceived by Brad Keselowski, the All-Star Race format called for three segments with drivers required to make a two-tire pit stop during each of the first two 50-lap segments, which would then set up an inversion of either nine, 10 or 11 cars prior to the final 13-lap segment. Bolts of lightning created fireballs behind the track, and cracks of thunder had drivers and crew members jumping away from the Sonoco tanks holding the official fuel of NASCAR.
“Lap down cars were pitting with lead lap cars”, Junior said.
Danica Patrick reacts to finishing ninth in the final Sprint Showdown segment but earning one of the two Sprint All-Star Race spots available through fan vote for the main event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. They change it so often that after all these years (Saturday night was my 20th All-Star Race) I don’t even bother trying to figure out the format until I arrive at the track on race day.
“I don’t know how you can get much more compelling racing than what we saw today, so they need to get unconfused and enjoy the racing”.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished third, disagreed. “Gimmicks and all that stuff is going down the wrong path”. He was largely credited for the finished product, and panel members Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch were not fans of it after the race.
On Twitter, Hamlin distanced the driver council from the format. The drivers then will be required to do a minimum two-tire pit stop during the first break and start the second segment the way they come off pit road.
Miller said he was surprised that Kenseth waited so late to pit, because teams were urged not to wait until the last possible moment, and he admitted that NASCAR didn’t have a regulated way to sort the issue out.
It seemed like a good idea at the time. During the caution period between the second and third segment, the first 11 cars had to make a four-tire stop.
Harvick and Busch started on the front row after rain forced the cancellation of qualifying earlier in the evening. “I hate to not to race your way in”. I’m glad it’s my last one.
They got off pit road with a strategy that differed from those of most of their competitors. “I’ve never been this confused in a race vehicle in my entire life”.
Stewart is retiring at the end of the season and was driving in his last All-Star event.
“I’m as baffled as everybody”.
“I still don’t understand”, Kenseth said to Fox Sports. “I don’t understand how the hell they officiated this whole thing from start to finish”.
After Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race you can’t help but to feel a little sorry for Michael Waltrip, Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon.
The win is Logano’s first of 2016, but as a non-championship win, the reward is little more than the substantial million dollar prize and some much-needed momentum for a team that has had competitive speed all year long but hasn’t performed at their peak level in almost two months.
Larson, who received some criticism for racing clean and not doing enough to beat Matt Kenseth on the final lap at Dover, was extremely aggressive coming down the stretch.
NASCAR also introduced rear toe alignment changes meant to decrease the amount of skew, or slant, allowed in a car’s setup. I knew it was gonna be a fun battle, for sure.
Following his teammate’s victory in the first segment, Greg Biffle used a two-tire stop under the first caution and then two-more under the first segment caution and mandatory two-tire stop to get tires. “I did what I can do”.
“We had a good Target Chevy”, Larson said. I knew he was gonna run hard.
“I’m alright. I’m just madder than hell”.
Bayne won the first segment in dramatic fashion by edging out Elliott. Drivers had to pit under green in the 50-lap opening segment before three laps remained. Eleven was chosen. Problem was that there were 13 cars on the lead lap at the time. “We had a really good vehicle until we got our damage there”. Don’t think that I don’t see social media fans.
“That was pretty cool”, Bayne said.
“Without that, I probably wouldn’t have won the race”, Bayne said. Fifteen drivers were already qualified for the All-Star Race heading into the weekend – race winners from 2015 and to this point in 2016, previous All-Star Race winners and past Sprint Cup champions still competing regular in the series.
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(14) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 113. “(Austin Dillon) was a little bit loose and so was I, but I made some adjustments on my driving style and was able to get by him”. Rain at Charlotte Motor Speedway that canceled all on-track activity on Friday resulted in the Sprint Showdown starting grid being set by auto owner points, putting Chase Elliott and Austin Dillon on the front row.
