AI-assisted summaryThe Route 66 Fun Run is an annual event celebrating the historic highway.The Route 66 Fun Run 2025 takes place May 2-4, starting in Seligman and ending in Topock.The event features a car show, parade and festivities along the route.It is one of Arizona’s most iconic images — like the Grand Canyon or a […]
AI-assisted summaryThe Route 66 Fun Run is an annual event celebrating the historic highway.The Route 66 Fun Run 2025 takes place May 2-4, starting in Seligman and ending in Topock.The event features a car show, parade and festivities along the route.It is one of Arizona’s most iconic images — like the Grand Canyon or a grove of saguaros at sunset. Except this sight has more tail fins.Hundreds of classic cars will travel a legendary highway across northern Arizona on a very special spring weekend. Fun Run is almost here. The Route 66 Fun Run is a rolling party that celebrates the road once known as “America’s Main Street” and Arizona’s role in saving it.The annual event takes place May 2-4 this year. More than 800 registered classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, hot rods, street rods and just about anything drivable starts out in Seligman and journeys southwest to Topock on the California state line.
How Arizona saved Route 66
Route 66, stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles, was established Nov. 11, 1926. But the only reason we can celebrate is because of the work done by a few Seligman residents led by the town barber, Angel Delgadillo.
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U.S. 66 never even got to blow out the candles on its 60th birthday cake. With the expansion of the interstate highway system, the old road was decertified in 1985. All signs were taken down and it was removed from maps. The Mother Road immortalized in novel, song, film and television ceased to exist. America no longer had a Main Street.
How did Route 66 Fun Run begin?
After achieving the historic designation, the association wanted to get the news out. They organized a memorable three-day event called the Historic Route 66 Fun Run Car Rally and Show that took place April 22-24, 1988.
The dedication event attracted 152 entrants. Gov. Rose Mofford cut the ceremonial ribbon and Will Rogers Jr. served as grand marshal. Participants traveled the newly preserved Historic Route 66 between Seligman and Topock for 140 miles — part of the longest stretch of Route 66 still in existence.
historic66az/fun-run. The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the Route 66 Fun Run is a fundraising event whose proceeds go back into the Route 66 community. Sign up and be part of history during the Route 66 Centennial.
Find the reporter at www.rogernaylor.com. Or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorinAZ.
Meet Roger Naylor
Arizona Republic contributor and author Roger Naylor is giving presentations about his books. Here are some scheduled talks. They’re free to attend.
Cottonwood: 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at Cottonwood Library, 100 S. Sixth St. This talk kicks off the Verde Valley Nature and Birding Festival and will be on the book “Awesome Arizona: 200 Amazing Facts About the Grand Canyon State.” 928-634-7559.
Sedona: 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Sedona Library, 3250 White Bear Road. The topic will be the book “Arizona National Parks and Monuments.” 928-282-7714.
NASCAR results: Full finishing order of All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway
Christopher Bell found Victory Lane for the fourth time this season, taking the checkered flag of the NASCAR All-Star Race Sunday at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Bell started second. Brad Keselowski was the pole winner. He placed 22nd. Advertisement Defending champion Joey Logano led a race-best 139 laps before Bell passed him with nine to go. […]
Christopher Bell found Victory Lane for the fourth time this season, taking the checkered flag of the NASCAR All-Star Race Sunday at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Bell started second. Brad Keselowski was the pole winner. He placed 22nd.
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Defending champion Joey Logano led a race-best 139 laps before Bell passed him with nine to go. Logano finished second.
Bell led 28 laps across four stints up front.
Here’s the full finishing order:
May 18, 2025; North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell (20) celebrates winning the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
NASCAR standings: Results from All-Star Race today
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Harrison Burton, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR today: Results of Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro
Bell took the lead from Joey Logano with 10 laps to go, taking advantage of two fresh tires put on his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing following the promoter’s caution on lap 217. Logano held on for second, followed by Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott. While Bell celebrate the All-Star Race win, Chevrolet […]
Bell took the lead from Joey Logano with 10 laps to go, taking advantage of two fresh tires put on his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing following the promoter’s caution on lap 217. Logano held on for second, followed by Ross Chastain, Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott.
While Bell celebrate the All-Star Race win, Chevrolet won the inaugural Manufacturer Showdown as part of this year’s All-Star Race. With Chastain, Bowman, Elliott, William Byron (6th), and Kyle Busch (8th) representing Chevrolet in the Manufacturer Showdown, the bowties won the first edition of the Showdown.
-Photo credit: Lesley Ann Miller, Lumen Digital Agency for Toyota Gazoo Racing
Column | Mark Stewart battles family & foe to earn first career NASCAR modified victory Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway
Another exciting night of family fun was planned at Riverhead Raceway Saturday evening, what unfolded however during the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series program looked more like an episode of Family Feud. All that was missing was Steve Harvey. During three of the feature events contested, family members went toe-to-toe during their main events. […]
Another exciting night of family fun was planned at Riverhead Raceway Saturday evening, what unfolded however during the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series program looked more like an episode of Family Feud. All that was missing was Steve Harvey. During three of the feature events contested, family members went toe-to-toe during their main events. When the dust settled after the 50-lap NASCAR Modified event, “The Real Deal” Mark Stewart of Riverhead earned his first career victory after battling, among others, his uncle Roger Turbush of Calverton.
Turbush and Kyle Ellwood brought the field to Jim Kelly’s green flag with Turbush gaining the early advantage over Ellwood and nephew Mark Stewart. Racing off the second corner on the 10th lap, Stewart found daylight under Ellwood moving to second in a race that ran clean over the first 25-laps. The first stoppage came on lap 25 when defending champion John Beatty Jr. went for a spin off turn four. On the double file restart that followed Dylan Slepian, who had raced his way by Ellwood for third, soon ducked under Stewart for second on lap 27. The race slowed again on lap 35 when Timmy Solomito was facing the wrong way of the second turn setting up another double file restart.
When the race resumed Stewart, took a page out of Slepian’s playbook sliding under Dylan to reclaim second behind his leading uncle. A 25-time winner in the Super Pro Truck ranks, Stewart, family ties not withstanding knew he had to make his move soon with Slepian all over him for second. A Kyle Ellwood spin in turn four on lap 38 was just what Stewart needed. When the green light winked back on, Stewart rode the outside lane with his foot mashed on the throttle to take the lead from Turbush who moved to second and into a battle of his own with Slepian. The final caution of the contest waved on lap 44 for a multi-car, minor spin off the fourth turn, on the restart following Slepian was able to duck under Turbush for third leaving him a mile and a half to try and pass the hungry Stewart.
In the end however it was Mark Stewart in the Cromer’s Market Chevy tasking home the victory, one of redemption for his team who lost a car late in the season opening NASCAR WMT event at New Smyrna Speedway in February. “Nobody works harder than my uncle Bub (Chris Turbush), we could have packed it in after the Florida crash, but no sir, he and my aunt Heather made sure we had a new car with a big assist from Cromer’s Market”. the elated winner reviewed. “No doubt this one is for Buddy, he was spotting from above tonight” When pressed about the race with his uncle Roger the winner just smiled, “it’s great to get a first career win, even better to race family for it”.
Dylan Slepian of Dix Hills, who during the race had to feel like Swiss cheese in a Turbush family hoagie, drove the Eastport Feeds entry home for second place money, while Roger Turbush in the Rheem Air Conditioning machine enjoyed a satisfying third place finish of his career. Over the final 25-circuits John Beatty Jr of Merrick rallied back for fourth, while Chris Young of Calverton staged a rally of his own driving back to a fifth-place finish after a lap 38 penalty.
Mark Stewart after his first career NASCAR victory in the 50-lap Modified at Riverhead Raceway May 17. Photo: Richie Grodski
In the second installment of Family Feud, Allan Pedersen of Center Moriches topped his uncle Scott Pedersen of Shirley, this episode during their 15-lap Figure Eight event was a repeat having unfolded in the past. Allan broke to the lead at the start with Will Farrell giving chase. The race was slowed on lap 4 for a stalled car and when it went back to green, Scott Pedersen moved by Farrell for second. For the balance of the race Scott kept his car on the rear spoiler of Allan’s with the youngster able to stay out front in the Elite Towing Chevy earning his 7th career win. Scott Pedersen was runner-up in the Land, Air & Water Environmental Camaro, Will Farrell of Mastic rounded out the podium in the Bobby’s One Stop Custom Exhaust & Auto coupe.
Sean Glennon had the first repeat of the 2025 season on May 13 with his victory in 20-lap Super Pro Truck event. Photo: Richie Grodski
During the opening night 20-lap Super Pro Truck event, veteran Riverhead broadcaster Stephen Halpin noted he couldn’t remember the last time multi-time champion Jack Handley Jr. was passed for the lead after taking it. Saturday Halpin was again uttering those same words when Sean Glennon of Northport became the first repeat winner of 2025 taking the lead with just over two laps left in the race from Handley. Erin Solomito and her brother Frank Dumicich Jr. brought the pack to green with Erin gaining the advantage. Lap 3 saw all-time leading SPT winner Lou Maestri slip by Frank for second but one Dumicich would be all Lou was able to pass in this tilt. As the field received the halfway signal, Jack Handley Jr. nursing a sore wrist from an opening night Modified crash slipped under Maestri for second to start lap 11. Two laps later the caution waved for a minor spin, but it was the restart that ensued that did Solomito in as Handley powered his to the front seeking career win number 25. Two laps later Sean Glennon made his to the top three, passing Solomito on lap 15 for second. Family Feud episode three occurred just moments later when Erin and her brother Frand Dumicich Jr. got locked together racing for third off turn four drawing a late race yellow. When the race resumed Glennon used the outside lane to his advantage putting the Glennon Construction entry out front for his 12th career victory moving him into sole possession of 10th all-time. Jack Handley Jr. was runner-up in the East Side Building Toyota, Charkes Sudano of Merrick, a rookie driver was third in the Long Island debris machine.
Jarrod Hayes dominated the field in the 20-lap Street Stock feature May 13. Photo: Richie Grodski
Mere minutes after his son Silas won the JuiceBox Racers opening event, “J-Rod” Jarrod Hayes went out and turned in a dominating performance of his own in the 20-lap Street Stock feature. Jarrod and Alyssa Paprocky made up the front row with Hayes gaining quite an early advantage when Paprocky balked at first coming to take the green. Never one to turn down a gift, Hayes got away fast and with a non-stop race on the horizon was not going to be caught. Hayes in the North Fork Sanitation Chevy would drive on to an emotional win for he and Roger Oxee, as Oxee relied on McBetts Racing Engines during his 64-career Late Model wins, tops all-time. Sadly, Richie Gottfried of McBetts passed away during the off-season. Danny Pizzo of Holbrook broke to second at the start but was unable to erase the advantage Hayes built settling for second in his sponsor wanted racer. Opening day winner Brian Brown of Calverton was third in the Eastport Feeds Chevy.
Chris Olivari of Coram won the 20-lap Mini Stock event May 13. Photo: Richie Grodski
In a spirited 20-lap Mini Stock event Chris Olivari of Coram took home the win, his first of 2025 and fourth of his career. Olivari and CJ Zukowski made up the front row and would wind-up the main combatants over the entire race distance. Olivari led the first 8 circuits before Zukowski got by during a 8th lap double file restart. Undaunted Olivari raced his way back to the lead on lap 12 ducking under Zukowski on the front chute. This time Olivari not only kept the lead over the final seven laps, but he was also able to pull away in his Middle Country Automotive entry. CJ Zukowski of Riverhead was second in the Walls of fame Cavalier, Paul Wojcik of Patchogue was third in the Superior Business Solutions Honda.
Ryan Warren of Ridge emerged the winner in the 50-lap 4/6-Cylinder Enduro, edging out Ryan Zukowski or Riverhead. Photo: Richie Grodski
The 50-lap 4/6-Cylinder Enduro was dominated by both Ryan Warren of Ridge, the eventual winner in the Joe Warren Motorsports Cavalier and Ryan Zukowski of Riverhead. How dominating were they? They lapped the entire field. “The Z-Man” Ryan Zukowski led early with Ryan Warren having to do some work to get through the field. Once he got to Zukowski, the two good friends off-track danced through lapped traffic with Warren using a lapped car as a pick to take the lead and eventual win. Zukowski, front brake rotors glowing was second in the Busy Bee Pest Control mount, Bob Dalke of Mount Sinai was third in the Bobby’s One Stop Custom Exhaust & Auto machine.
Mike Van Houten Jr. won the 15-lap School Bus Figure Eight race after a duel with Frank “The Tank” Dumicich Jr. .Photo: Richie Grodski
While racing his INEX Legend Race Car at Riverhead weekly, “V-Ride” Mike Van Houten over the year has become a very popular personality, one who still seeks that elusive first career win. The Jamesport resident also perhaps does more charity work than most through racing, highlighted by his annual holiday Toy Drive for Ronald McDonald House of New Hyde Park. Saturday in his Van Houten Trucking bus, Mike Van Houten Jr. held his first checker flag after winning the 15-lap School Bus Figure Eight race. Van Houten had to withstand a race long duel with eventual runner-up, Frank “The Tank” Dumicich Jr. of East Quogue in his Rapid Recovery Towing bus.
Silas Hayes won the Silas won the JuiceBox Racers opening event May 13. Photo: Richie Grodski
NASCAR Modifieds: 1. Mark Stewart 2. Dylan Slepian 3. Roger Turbush 4. John Beatty Jr. 5. Chris Young 6. Cory Midgett 7. Owen Grennan 8. Michael Rutkoski 9. Timmy Solomito 10. JR Bertuccio 11. Matt Brode 12. Allan Pedersen 13. Kyle Ellwood 14. Chris Rogers 15. Chase Grennan 16. CJ Lehmann
Figure Eights: 1. Allan Pedersen 2. Scott Pedersen 3. Will Farrell 4. Kim Hyde 5. Bob Dalke 6. Tyler Farrell
Super Pro Trucks: 1. Sean Glennon 2. Jack Handley Jr. 3. Charles Sudano 4. Dave Koenig 5. Cillian Tennant 6. Lou Maestri 7. Frank Dumicich Jr. 8. Liam Patrick 9. Erin Solomito 10. Tony Naglieri 11. Frank Dumicich Sr.
Street Stocks: 1. Jarrod Hayes 2. Danny Pizzo 3. Brian Brown 4. Brandon Hubbard 5. Jake Curran 6. Alyssa Paprocky 7. John Harley 8. Tom Sullivan 9. Kyle Halpin 10. James DiPietro 11. Ricky Carman 12. Anthony Caccioppo 13. Bob Dalke 14. Ed Fontana 15. Dave Antos 16. Chris McGuire 17. Luke Foerster
Mini Stocks: 1. Chris Olivari 2. CJ Zukowski 3. Paul Wojcik 4. Tyler Farrell 5. Eoughan Heyward 6. Charles Astacio 7. Daniel Sylla 8. Marissa Stewart
4/6-Cylinder Enduro (top ten): 1. Ryan Warren 2. Ryan Zukowski 3. Bob Dalke 4. Dave Olivari 5. Chris Smith 6. Mike Fragola 7. Taylor Schewire 8. Dave Stewart 9. Kyler Driscoll 10. Charles Sherry
School Bus Figure Eight race: Winner- Mike Van Houten Jr.
Photos copyright Richie Grodski, used by permission. For more photos from the May 10 Scout Night event and other Riverhead Raceway events, visit Richie Grodski’s SmugMug site, where photos are available for purchase.
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North Wilkesboro Results: May 18, 2025 (NASCAR Modified)
NASCAR Whelen Modified results from North Wilkesboro Speedway North Wilkesboro Speedway is set to host the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Fans have packed the stands ahead of tonight’s NASCAR All-Star Race. View North Wilkesboro results for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour below. North Wilkesboro MenuCARS (PLM): Prac/Qual | RaceCARS (LMSC): Prac/Qual | RaceTrucks: : Prac/Qual | RaceModified: RaceCup : Prac/Qual | Heats | Lineup | Open | All-Star Race North Wilkesboro TV Schedule Luke […]
NASCAR Whelen Modified results from North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro Speedway is set to host the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Fans have packed the stands ahead of tonight’s NASCAR All-Star Race.
View North Wilkesboro results for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour below.
North Wilkesboro Menu CARS (PLM): Prac/Qual | Race CARS (LMSC): Prac/Qual | Race Trucks: : Prac/Qual | Race Modified: Race Cup : Prac/Qual | Heats | Lineup | Open | All-Star Race
North Wilkesboro TV Schedule
Luke Baldwin and Jake Lutz set the front row. 150 laps of modified racing are up next…
Race Report
Green flag, Baldwin gets the jump and he’s clear before turn one.
149 to go, Eric Goodale has lost a tire, caution.
Green, Baldwin and Hirschman run side by side at the front. Hirschman wins the battle for the lead.
132 to go, Bobby Labonte is up in smoke, caution. Dave Sapienza crashes in the oil on the track.
Green, Hirschman leads Baldwin.
120 to go, Patrick Emerling spins with some help. Multiple cars are collected and the caution is out.
Green, Baldwin noses ahead. Matt Hirschman spins off turn four with help from Jake Lutz! Caution.
Green, Baldwin leads as Tyler Rypkema slides Justin Bonsignore for 2nd.
96 to go, Rypkema slides Baldwin for the race lead.
84 to go
84 to go, Carson Loftin has lost an engine, caution.
Rypkema leads the field to the pit lane. Justin Bonsignore wins the race to the pit exit. Corey LaJoie and two others stay out.
Green, LaJoie and Kopcik bang bars into turn one. LaJoie leads off turn two.
70 to go, Trevor Catalano spins. Ryan Newman, Kyle Bonsignore and several others are collected, caution.
Green, Corey LaJoie spins from the launch with help from Justin Bonsignore and others as the entire inside lane was pushing on each other. 10+ cars are collected.
Stephen Kopcik is handed the lead.
Green, Kopcik and Austin Beers run side by side for the lead. A lap later, Beers clears him via the inside lane.
47 to go
47 to go, Craig Lutz slides Beers, Lutz to the lead!
45 to go, Tyler Rypkema throws a block on Stephen Kopcik into turn one. Kopcik drives into his bumper and Rypkema slams the outside wall! The caution is out.
Rypkema tells him his number one as Kopcik rolls by under the caution.
Green, Lutz gets the jump and he leads Baldwin off turn two.
32 to go, Mike Marshall and Tyler Barry are in the wall, caution.
Green, Lutz leads Baldwin off turn two.
13 to go, caution.
Green, Craig Lutz and Luke Baldwin rub wheels into turn one. A lap later, Baldwin clears him for the lead!
7 to go, Lutz leans on the left rear of Baldwin.
They continue to rub. Lutz reclaims the lead!
Craig Lutz wins at North Wilkesboro Speedway!
North Wilkesboro Speedway Race Results May 18, 2025 NASCAR Modified
What to watch for in NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Brad Keselowski seeks the perfect weekend. Kyle Larson looks to go from the back to the front. And 21 other drivers also will be vying for $1 million in tonight’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Green flag for the All-Star Open is set for 5:38 p.m. ET. The winner, […]
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Brad Keselowski seeks the perfect weekend. Kyle Larson looks to go from the back to the front. And 21 other drivers also will be vying for $1 million in tonight’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Green flag for the All-Star Open is set for 5:38 p.m. ET. The winner, runner-up and fan vote winner from that race will advance to the All-Star Race.
Green flag for the All-Star Race is set for 8:14 p.m. ET.
Here is what to watch for in tonight’s race:
Promoter’s Caution
The wrinkle in this year’s race is an promoter’s caution that can be used before Lap 220 of the 250-lap race. If the promoter’s caution has not yet been used and a natural caution occurs after Lap 200, the promoter’s caution will no longer be in play.
Brad Keselowski will lead the field to the green flag in the exhibition race that pays $1 million to the winner.
Teams already know there will be a competition caution around Lap 100. How the promoter’s caution is used by Marcus Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports, could make a big impact on the race as Christopher Bell explains:
“It will probably be in the play and then it will be decision time of what you think your best opportunity to win the race is. A lot of times that call depends on what other guys do as well. If you stay out and you have five or six guys stay out with you, then it’s the winning call to stay out.
“But just like the second heat race (Saturday), if you stay out and nobody stays out with you, it was a losing call.”
Can a team’s season turnaround tonight?
Brad Keselowski starts on the pole for tonight’s race and a victory — while it wouldn’t count toward playoff eligibility — would be significant for his team.
Keselowski has never won this race — he’s finished second three times, which is tied for the most in the event without winning it. This season has been dreadful. Keselowski has finished 26th or worse in nine of the first 12 points races.
Heat races set the lineup for Sunday’s All-Star Race.
“I think the team is a pretty resilient group,” Keselowski said after winning the pole. “I don’t care who you are as a team, we all need some positive reinforcement and encouragement.”
He also won his heat race Saturday. A victory tonight would complete a perfect weekend for the RFK Racing team.
Keep an eye on the back of the field
Kyle Larson will start last on the 23-car field because he had Justin Allgaier qualify his car while Larson was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Larson’s team elected not to compete in Saturday’s heat race since it wouldn’t matter where the car finished because the car would in the rear for the All-Star Race due to the driver change.
With Kyle Larson at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Justin Allgaier drove Larson’s No. 5 in practice and qualifying Friday.
Larson will be one to watch.
“I felt like long-run pace, we were really good,” Allgaier, the reigning Xfinity Series champion, told NBC Sports. “When I look at lap 30 or 40 (on a run), our pace was right where we needed it to be.”
Larson had to start at the rear of the field in last year’s race because he also was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Larson went on to finish fourth in last year’s All-Star Race.
Larson has three All-Star wins, one short of the record held by Jimmie Johnson.
Carson Hocevar wins All-Star Open; Nemechek, Gragson also advance to All-Star Race main event | National News
Capitalizing on pit strategy, Carson Hocevar led the final 46 laps to win the All-Star Open and advance into the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Runner-up John Hunter Nemechek also advanced to the main event by finishing second in the 100-lap warmup race. Noah Gragson won an online fan vote to earn the […]
Capitalizing on pit strategy, Carson Hocevar led the final 46 laps to win the All-Star Open and advance into the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Runner-up John Hunter Nemechek also advanced to the main event by finishing second in the 100-lap warmup race. Noah Gragson won an online fan vote to earn the final transfer spot to the All-Star Race, whose field will include 20 other drivers competing for $1 million over 250 laps Sunday night.
Hocevar started second in the All-Star Open and took the lead in his No. 77 Chevrolet with a two-tire pit stop during the yellow flag for a halfway break. The Spire Motorsports driver cruised to a 0.697-second win over Nemechek, whose No. 42 Toyota charged from sixth to second over the final seven laps.
“It’s super big for this team,” Hocevar said. “It’s great to win, especially being challenged by tires there. I had my hands full. We definitely have to go to work here on our race car because I didn’t really like it. But it’s a good sign that we didn’t like it and we were still pretty quick there.”
Ty Dillon finished third, followed by Erik Jones and Michael McDowell.
Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen finished 13th after leading the first 54 laps on the 0.625-mile oval. The New Zealand native, who is in his first full Cup Series season after winning three Supercar championships in Australia, fell from first to sixth on a four-tire pit stop during the halfway caution.
“I don’t know whether to smile or cry,” said van Gisbergen, who is ranked 35th in the points standings with one top 10 this season. “It’s been a dismal year for us, but I feel like we’re getting better every week. This shows it. It was awesome to lead some laps. I was out front driving like a grandma and felt like it was easy. We’re getting better.”
Costly penalty
Ryan Preece finished 11th in the Open after being sent to the rear from second place on a restart with 17 laps remaining. Preece said he unintentionally ran over the commitment line before which drivers must choose whether they are restarting on the inside or outside lane.
“It’s really nonexistent from inside the car,” Preece said. “You can’t see it. So I just hooked a left going across the line, figuring it’s in that area. I’m frustrated because if you have a situation like that, put a cone out there so we can see it. Our Ford Mustang was super fast, and I think we were the only one that was making some waves. It’s heartbreaking to have a run like that taken away.”
NASCAR repainted the restart commitment line before the start of the All-Star Race.
More money
The All-Star Race winner’s share has been $1 million since the 2003 event, and some drivers have grumbled that an increase for inflation is well overdue.
“I definitely think it should get raised,” 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney said this week. “That’s the only thing about the All-Star Race I’d probably change. I don’t want to get greedy, but I think you can raise it to $3 million.”
Bubba Wallace said he’d suggest $5 million but would be good for a bump to $3 million.
“They’ve got more TV money, so why not,” Wallace said, referring to NASCAR’s media rights raising to $1.1 billion annually in a deal starting this year.
Up next
The Cup Series will race May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race of the season. Christopher Bell won last year’s race, which was shortened from 600 to 374 miles by rain.
Kyle Larson missed the 2024 race after arriving late because the Indianapolis 500 was delayed by rain. The Hendrick Motorsports star again will attempt to become the fifth driver to race the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
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