The racing began with the Monster Energy Open, the opportunity for drivers not eligible for the All-Star Race to earn a spot in the main event with a shot at winning the $1 Million Dollar prize.
Alex Bowman won stage one in the Open to advance to the evening’s main event with Daniel Suarez following suit in stage two. AJ Allmendinger won the third transfer spot available in the Monster Energy Open by winning the third and final stage to claim the win for the entire race.
The fans again got to vote to advance a fourth driver to the main event and for the third consecutive year it was Chase Elliott getting that spot from the fans.
It was time for the main event, the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race. There were no championship points on the line, no playoff points to be claimed, no “win and you’re in” scenario to be considered for this race. It was plain and simply a race to claim bragging rights that came with a one million dollar prize.
The race was full of passes and risks take to be in position to win the big prize. Kevin Harvick was the winner of the 30 lap stage one. Kyle Busch found a way to be the winner of the 20 lap stage two. Kevin Harvick found his way back to the front to claim the 20 lap stage three win. Again, winning these stages gained the drivers no bonus or playoff points. Bringing the cars back together for a re-start after each stage just created a better show for the fans, the main reason for the NASCAR All-Star Weekend.
The final stage of the race was a ten lap shoot out to claim the victory. The drivers made moves that in a normal race they might not have done because of the fact they would not sacrifice points if it didn’t work out and they all had one simple goal, win the big money prize. Kevin Harvick got the lead on the final re-start of the race to claim his second All-Star victory and take home the One Million Dollar prize that came with the win.
You can see the complete race results for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race here.
The NASCAR drivers and teams will remain at Charlotte Motor Speedway for this week’s Memorial Day Weekend tradition, the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday, May 27th.
By: Buck Stevens
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2018 NASCAR All-Star Race
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Country artist, Cole Swindell, performs prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 19: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, leads Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, during a restart during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, and Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, celebrates after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Crew members of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford climb the catch fence after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 19: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, celebrates with his wife, DeLana, and crew members in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
