Clint Bowyer, Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suarez and Chase Elliott booked their spots in the NASCAR All-Star Race.
The first of two All-Star Races Saturday – the Monster Energy Open – decided which drivers would be joining 16 others in the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The goal: Win one of the three stages (20 laps, 20 laps, 10 laps) to earn a spot in the race. The three stage winners and the top remaining driver who has a raceable car and the most online fan votes advances.
The honours went to Stage 1 winner Bowyer; Stage 2 winner Blaney; Stage 3 winner Suarez and fan vote winner Elliott in a race that featured just one caution flag.
Caution-free for the first two stages, the final 10-lap stage featured a red flag after Erik Jones tried to make a pass in the grass and winded up damaging his car and spilling oil all over the track.
"I got a good run and tried to go to the top and there wasn't any room on the top so I went to the bottom and couldn’t really see behind the 24 [Elliott] where the grass began," Jones told Fox Sports. "So just hoped there was enough pavement down there to make a move and get clear, but unfortunately there wasn't and that was the end of our day."
Suarez held the lead for the final three laps to qualify for his first All-Star Race.
Pole-sitter Bowyer led all 20 laps in Stage 1 to earn a spot in the All-Star Race, his eighth career main event start.
Similarly, Blaney led all 20 laps in Stage 2 while Suarez led nine laps to win the final stage.
