Much like all-star weekends in other sports, NASCAR’s All-Star Race is drastically different than any race of the season. The first of two All-Star Races Saturday — the Monster Energy Open — decided which drivers would be joining 16 others in Saturday night's 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 All-Star race. The three stage winners and the top remaining driver who has a raceable car and the most online fan votes advances.
The honors went to Stage 1 winner Clint Bowyer; Stage 2 winner Ryan Blaney; Stage 3 winner Daniel Suarez and fan vote winner Chase 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 No. 77 car and spilling oil all over the 1.5-mile track. 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.
Saturday night's 70-lap main event for $1 million will start at approximately 8 p.m. ET.
