Joey Logano Dominates 2024 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro
In a display of dominance, Joey Logano led 199 of 200 laps to win the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, earning the $1 million prize in the process. Starting from pole position, Logano kept Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson at bay, showcasing his skill and the exceptional performance of his Team Penske Mustang.
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Race Dynamics and Key Strategies
Logano opted to run the entire race on softer option tires, avoiding the more durable prime tires. This choice paid off as he crossed the finish line 0.636 seconds ahead of Hamlin, with Chris Buescher securing third place by passing Larson on the penultimate lap. Reflecting on his victory, Logano said, “A lot of fun when you’ve got a car this fast. The Shell/Pennzoil Mustang, it’s just so great to get in Victory Lane. All of our sponsors and everyone who stuck with us to get a win, it feels nice. It’s been a while. I wish it was for points, but a million bucks is still a lot of money, and I feel great about that.”
Kyle Larson’s Eventful Day
Kyle Larson’s day was filled with logistical challenges, having to travel from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he qualified fifth for the upcoming Indianapolis 500, to North Wilkesboro. Despite starting from the rear due to a driver change (Kevin Harvick qualified the No. 5 Chevrolet while Larson was at Indy) Larson made a remarkable charge through the field. He pitted for fresh option tires during a planned caution at Lap 151, moving from 10th to challenge Hamlin for second place before fading in the closing laps. Hamlin acknowledged the difficulty in overtaking Logano, stating, “I needed more of an advantage to pass, for sure. I would run to him, and then you couldn’t pass. I would lose a little bit of air there, and I would try to give my car a break and then run to him again — just have to be so much faster to get around. Hats off to the track, NASCAR, and Goodyear for giving (two tire choices) a try. Hopefully, we learned something here for future short tracks.”
Early Race Drama
The race saw early fireworks as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. collided with Kyle Busch, leading to Stenhouse’s car hitting the outside wall and eliminating him from the race. Stenhouse, visibly upset, drove his damaged car to pit road and confronted Busch’s crew chief, Randall Burnett. The confrontation culminated in a brief fistfight between the crews. Hamlin commented on the incident, saying, “At least we had an exciting fight in the end — something to talk about.”
Strategic Decisions and Final Standings
Logano’s crew chief, Paul Wolfe, made the pivotal decision to stay on the option tires throughout the race. Wolfe’s strategy proved successful, as Logano explained, “Well, we did the first 100, so why wouldn’t it last the second 100? That was our thought, so it was definitely an aggressive strategy, but it worked out good.”
The final standings saw Logano take the top spot, followed by Hamlin, Buescher, and Larson. Ryan Blaney finished fifth, with Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell, and Kyle Busch rounding out the top ten.
All-Star Open Highlights
In the 100-lap NASCAR All-Star Open, Ty Gibbs and Bubba Wallace secured their spots in the main event by finishing first and second, respectively. Noah Gragson earned his place through the Fan Vote. Gragson praised the fans, saying, “I can’t say enough about the fans. They’re badass. They keep us motivated each and every weekend to come out and do our jobs. When times aren’t great, the fans always pump us up and we feed off their energy. I appreciate everybody’s support and we’ve got 200 laps to go chase a million bucks.”
As the NASCAR Cup Series moves to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, Logano’s impressive performance at North Wilkesboro sets a high bar for the rest of the season.
NASCAR Official Extended Highlights | 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race from North Wilkesboro
Final Standings: 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | 1:00:00.000 | – |
| 2 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | 1:00:00.636 | 0.636 |
| 3 | Chris Buescher | Roush Fenway Keselowski | 1:00:01.000 | 1.000 |
| 4 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | 1:00:01.500 | 1.500 |
| 5 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | 1:00:02.000 | 2.000 |
| 6 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | 1:00:02.500 | 2.500 |
| 7 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | 1:00:03.000 | 3.000 |
| 8 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | 1:00:03.500 | 3.500 |
| 9 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | 1:00:04.000 | 4.000 |
| 10 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | 1:00:04.500 | 4.500 |
RELATED: Official race results | At-track photos
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