The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series reached the All-Star break this past weekend. It was a hot one in Charlotte, as race day temperatures nearly reached one hundred degrees leaving the track surface hot and slick. NASCAR likes to test out different packages in the All-Star Race and this year they added a few features that could possibly be used with the Gen-7 package that will be released in a couple of years.
Before the All-Star race kicked off, those who were not eligible to make it in, raced in a fifty-lap open for their chance to race in the All-Star event. The open race had three stages with each stage winner making it on to the main event. William Byron, Bubba Wallace, and Kyle Larson all raced their way into the All-Star race, and Alex Bowman won the fan vote to make his way into the feature.
The All-Star race was an 85-lap race that contained four stages. Clint Bowyer was the pole sitter, but he could not take command on the restart. Kevin Harvick passed him up for the lead and Kyle Busch was giving chase. Busch made a pass for the lead halfway through the first stage. Shortly after, Erik Jones cut a tire and had some debris fly out from underneath his car. This brought out the first caution of the race. Everyone pit under the caution besides Brad Keselowski. This was a bold move that did not pay off. Keselowski did not a get a good jump on the restart and he fell way back in the field. Busch continued to lead and won the first stage of the race.
Kyle Busch began the second stage jumping out to the lead. Ryan Newman spun through the infield grass early in the stage. After the caution, Kevin Harvick passed up Kyle Busch to continue to lead the race. Joey Logano pursued Harvick but did not have enough to chase him down. Harvick continued to inch further out into the lead. Harvick won the second stage by more than a one-second margin.
Clint Bowyer won the race off pit road between stages. He maintained the lead on the restart with Logano in a close second place. On lap 52, Logano passed Bowyer for the race lead. Shortly after this pass for the lead, Kyle Busch made contact with Austin Dillon with Dillon having nowhere to go, and running into Erik Jones to bring out the caution. Logano continued to lead under caution, and he went on to lead and won the third stage of the race.
Only 15 laps remained after the third stage of the race. Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Erik Jones, and Kyle Busch all stayed out under caution. Everyone else migrated down pit road for fresh tires. After two early cautions, the final restart was held with eleven laps remaining. Kyle Larson held the race lead and he battled Chase Elliott on the restart. Kyle Larson had the fresher tires and was no match for anyone. Larson jumped out to a decent lead and held on until the end to win the 2019 All-Star Race.
It was impressive to see what Kyle Larson did on Saturday night. At first, it did not look like he would make it into the All-Star race. Other drivers looked faster than him in the open race. It was not until late in the final stage of the race where Larson took the lead and was able to finish the deal.
Kyle Larson has been struggling lately and even though this victory does not give him any points, it is still a good confidence booster. He has been improving his position lately over the past few weeks. He has moved up into fifteenth in points after two top-ten finishes and a top-five finish. This victory will give him something to smile about, and something to return to Charlotte Motor Speedway with high hopes to win the big race. Next week’s race is at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca Cola 600. This is the longest race of the year, and it will put drivers to the test.