Logano dominates heated All Star Race
Tempers flared at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but there was no catching Joey Logano as he dominated the 2024 NASCAR All Star Race.
Logano led 199 of the 200 laps and cruised to a second All Star Race win having also won in 2016 by 0.6s.
He overcame Denny Hamlin, who applied the pressure throughout the second half of the race, but did not quite have the legs to keep up with the #22 Mustang.
Chris Buescher overcame Kyle Larson in a fight for third that went down to the wire with the Hendrick Motorsports driver pushing hard after qualifying fifth for the Indianapolis 500 just hours earlier.
With a million dollars on the line, the heat was on and tensions escalated instantly.
Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr traded barbs on the first two laps and their battle ended in tears with the #8 sending the #47 into the concrete.
Their stoush carried on after the race with Stenhouse Jr parking his wrecked Camaro in Busch’s pit box, while the pair had words post race and it got ugly.
After some intense arguing, Stenhouse Jr threw a punch at Busch, sparking wild scenes with drivers and team members brawling.
Shortly security guards dispursed the drivers stopped the fighting once some crew members stopped wrestling on Buschs truck, but it took some time for the words to stop and tempers to be lowered.
“We passed him and he left the middle open,” Stenhouse told FOX Sports.
“Short race, you’re trying to get all you can get. We passed him and I guess he was mad.
“So I parked my car in the pit box, I figured he would do something like that, so maybe Richard (Childress) will hold my watch after the race.”
Logano led away from pole with a clean turn through turn 1, but all eyes were on Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Kyle Busch as they fought their own battle.
The pair were side by side early on and Stenhouse Jr squeezed Busch into the wall.
The RCR driver was able to carry on and wanted revenge, so when Stenhouse Jr got slightly out of shape at Turn 1, the #8 gave the #47 enough of a whack to end his rival’s race.
The JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet crashed head on into the fence.
Their feud was far from over with Stenhouse Jr deciding to park his wrecked Camaro in Busch’s pit box and have a word to RCR crew chief Randall Burnett.
Logano resumed control at the restart as Reddick snatched second from Keselowski.
Hamlin had a wild moment side by side with Chastain but carried on, whilst Will Byron suffered a broken toe link from hitting a bump on the track and getting into the wall and evenutally finished 14 laps down.
The #22 pulled a second on Buescher and Blaney in a Ford top four at the 50-lap mark.
But over the next 25 laps Buescher was on the charge, cutting Logano’s lead down to just three tenths as the leader battled lapped traffic.
However, A timely caution where the whole field dived to pit road where the Penske crew helped Logano retain the lead ahead of Buescher, while Bell jumped up to two spots to third.
At the restart Logano found himself under the highest amount of pressure all race, racing hard for track position against Hamlin, Blaney and Bell.
Logano and Bell made contact as Hamlin hit the lead, only for the #22 to once again prevail.
Their stunning battle was interrupted by Ty Gibbs being spun after contact with Busch.
At the competition caution with 46 to go, drivers had the option to take another stop but the leaders stayed out, preferring track position.
At the restart Logano stayed in charge albeit with Hamlin right behind him.
One of the drivers to take fresh tyres was Larson, who surged from fifth to third within two laps.
Although the remainder of the race stayed green, Larson could not carry on his momentum and challenge for the win.
Instead he was in an arm wrestle with Buescher for third and the Ford got the edge at the death as Logano cruised to a commanding win over Hamlin.
“The car was so fast,” Logano said.
“We tested here and ran over 800 laps and figured out what it was going to take to win.
“The boys executed brilliantly. It was a total team win.
“It has been a while since I have won a race. I wish this was for points but I will take a million dollars.
“Denny gave me a run for my money and his short run was so fast, but my long run was so great.
“When there is a million dollars on the line the rules go out the window.”
All eyes then turned to pit road where Busch and Stenhouse Jr carried on their dispute.
Logano’s win capped off an unforgettable day for Team Penske after Scott McLaughlin also took pole for the Indianapolis 500.
The championship returns next weekend with the iconic Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte where Shane van Gisbergen joins the field.
Photo by Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / LAT Images
2024 NASCAR All Star Race results
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