The annual race for the top drivers in NASCAR’s top division is not about points or making the playoffs. It IS about putting on a show for the fans and collecting ONE MILLION DOLLARS for winning.
There were 16 NASCAR Cup Series drivers that were locked into the All-Star Race by past performance. Four other drivers could race their way into the main event for Saturday night through the Monster Energy Open or receiving the fan vote.
Clint Bowyer won stage one of the Monster Energy Open to advance to the All-Star Race with Ryan Blaney winning stage to two to earn his spot in the feature race. Daniel Suarez won the final stage and thus the Monster Energy Open to claim the final “race-your-way-in” spot for the All-Star Race.
That left one open spot for the fans to decide and for a second year in a row Chase Elliott was the recipient of the fan voted spot in the NASCAR All-Star Race.
When the green-flag waived to start the Monster Energy All-Star Race it appeared that pole-sitter Kyle Larson would be the car to beat. Kyle won both the first and second 20-lap stages of the race to lock in his spot in the final stage that would have just 10 cars racing for the million dollar prize.
Jimmie Johnson scored the win in the third 20-lap stage to secure his spot in the final 10-lap dash for the cash.
The remaining eight spots in the final stage were determined by the drivers with the highest average finish in the first three stages.
When the green flag waived to start the last 10-lap sprint to the finish, Kyle Busch dove to the inside of the front two cars to go three-wide and take the lead. It was pretty much over st that point as Kyle remained out front to claim the victory and the $1 Million Dollar Payday in the Monster Energy All-Star Race. The win (as pointed out earlier) was Kyle’s first win in the Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway and his first All-Star win as well.
See the complete race results for the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race here.
The drivers and teams will remain at Charlotte Motor Speedway and get back to racing for championship points in this weekend’s traditional Memorial Day weekend race, the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday evening, May 28th.
By: Buck Stevens
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2017 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, takes the green flag to start Stage 3 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Open at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Mountain Dew Chevrolet, Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, and Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Haas Automation Ford, pose with their trophies after qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, take the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, does a burnout to celebrate after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, does a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, celebrates with the trophyduring the Monster Energy NASCAR All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 20: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, celebrates with the trophyduring the Monster Energy NASCAR All Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 20, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
