2021 NASCAR All-Star Race

The 2021 NASCAR All-Star Race (XXXVII) was a NASCAR Cup Series stock car exhibition race held on June 13, 2021, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Contested over 100 laps, it was the second exhibition race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

2021 NASCAR All-Star Race
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
DateJune 13, 2021 (2021-06-13)
LocationTexas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas
CoursePermanent racing facility
1.5 mi (2.4 km)
DistanceOpen: 50 laps, 75 mi (121 km)
Stage 1: 20 laps
Stage 2: 20 laps
Stage 3: 10 laps
All-Star Race: 100 Laps, 150 mi (240 km)
Stage 1: 15 laps
Stage 2: 15 laps
Stage 3: 15 laps
Stage 4: 15 laps
Stage 5: 30 laps
Stage 6: 10 laps[8]
Avg SpeedOpen: 94.67 mph (152.36 km/h)
All-Star Race: 84.919 mph (136.664 km/h)
NASCAR All Star Open
PoleTyler Reddick (Richard Childress Racing)
TimeN/A
Winner (segment 1)Ross Chastain (Chip Ganassi Racing)
Winner (segment 2)Tyler Reddick (Richard Childress Racing)
Winner (segment 3)Aric Almirola (Stewart Haas Racing)
Fan Vote winnersMatt DiBenedetto (Wood Brothers Racing)
NASCAR All-Star Race
PoleKyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)
TimeN/A
Most laps ledWilliam Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)
Laps led30
WinnerKyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)
Television
NetworkFS1
AnnouncersMike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer
Radio
NetworkMotor Racing Network
AnnouncersAlex Hayden and Jeff Striegle (Booth)
Dave Moody (1 & 2)
Mike Bagley (3 & 4) (Turns)

Report

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Background

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Texas Motor Speedway
 
The 2021 NASCAR All-Star Race program cover, made by Learfield IMG College.

The All-Star Race is open to race winners from last season through the 2021 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, all previous All-Star race winners, NASCAR Cup champions who had attempted to qualify for every race in 2021, the winner of each stage of the All-Star Open, and the winner of the All-Star fan vote are eligible to compete in the All-Star Race.

In 2020, the race was moved to Bristol Motor Speedway in July, as the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Charlotte from accommodating fans.[9] The venue changed again in 2021 to Texas Motor Speedway, which replaced its spring date with the All-Star Race.[10]

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
NASCAR All Star Open
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No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
13 David Starr (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
33 Austin Cindric (i) Team Penske Ford
38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford
53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
Official entry list
NASCAR All-Star Race
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No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Official entry list

Qualifying (Open)

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Tyler Reddick was awarded the pole for the open as it was determined by current driver points.[5]

Open Starting Lineup

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
2 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
3 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
4 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
5 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
6 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
7 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
8 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
9 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
12 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
13 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
14 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
15 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford
16 33 Austin Cindric (i) Team Penske Ford
17 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
18 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford
19 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
20 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
21 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
22 13 David Starr (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
Official Open starting lineup

Race recap

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For pre race ceremonies, Brigadier General Lisa M. Craig would give out the command to start engines. Austin Cindric (multiple inspection failures), Ross Chastain (aero duct not conforming to NASCAR regulations), and David Starr (unapproved adjustments) were forced to start at the back.

On the start of the race, Chris Buescher was found to had jumped the restart over Tyler Reddick, and thus was given a pass through penalty. Austin Cindric was also given a pass through penalty because NASCAR determined he had switched lanes before the start-finish line. 6 laps into the 20 lap Round 1, Bubba Wallace would spin in Turn 2, causing the first caution of the day. On the ensuing restart on lap 10, Stenhouse drifted up high in Turn 3, spinning out Chris Buescher, causing the second caution of the day. Once again, on the restart on lap 14, Erik Jones would spin after hitting Chase Briscoe and spinning out, causing a major stackup within the field. Daniel Suarez would hit Jones, causing major damage to both cars. After a hard fought battle, Ross Chastain would win Round 1.

In Round 2, after a relatively less chaotic race, Tyler Reddick would successfully defend against Aric Almirola to win Round 2.

In the final round, Aric Almirola would redeem himself, pulling away to win Round 3.

Matt DiBenedetto would win the fan vote.

Qualifying (All-Star Race)

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Kyle Larson was awarded the pole for the race as determined by a random draw.[5]

All-Star Race Starting Lineup

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
2 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
3 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
4 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
5 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
7 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
8 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
9 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
10 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
11 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
12 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
13 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
14 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
15 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
16 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
17 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
18 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
19 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
20 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
21 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Official All-Star starting lineup

Race recap

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For driver introductions, Jamie Little and Adam Alexander announced each driver in order of the starting lineup, being accompanied by the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and music played by local cover band, the Clayton Foghat Band.

For pre race ceremonies, Norm Miller, chairman of Interstate Batteries gave the invocation, and the Side Deal gave an acapella version of the national anthem. Joe Gibbs and Tom Landry, Jr. would give out the command. While cars were doing warm up laps, Sammy Hagar would perform “I Can't Drive 55”.

The race would start with Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson fighting for the lead, but on lap 2 Christopher Bell would lose control of his car in Turn 1, but would save the car. Nevertheless, the first caution was called.

NASCAR All Star Open

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NASCAR All Star Open results

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Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 10 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 50
2 3 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 50
3 2 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 50
4 9 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 50
5 16 33 Austin Cindric (i) Team Penske Ford 50
6 6 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 50
7 19 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 50
8 12 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 50
9 4 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 50
10 11 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 50
11 17 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 50
12 18 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 50
13 15 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 50
14 20 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 50
15 13 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 49
16 14 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 49
17 21 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 49
18 22 13 David Starr (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 49
19 1 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 40 a
20 5 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 20 b
21 8 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 13
22 7 99 Daniel Suarez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 13
^a Winner of the second segment.
^b Winner of the first segment.
Official NASCAR All Star Open race results

All-Star Race

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In the main event, Kyle Larson was awarded the pole. Christopher Bell spun on the first lap, but saved the car from hitting anything. The race was broken into six segments with Larson, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, William Byron, and Chase Elliott winning the segments. Elliott's team won the pit road challenge for the final segment. In the first segment, Larson passed and held off Brad Keselowski for the $1 million and his second All-Star Race win.

All-Star Race results

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Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
1 1 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 100
2 9 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 100
3 6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 100
4 7 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 100
5 17 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 100
6 15 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 100
7 8 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 100
8 20 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 100
9 2 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100
10 13 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 100
11 3 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100
12 11 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 100
13 10 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100
14 4 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 100
15 12 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 100
16 19 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 100
17 21 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 100
18 18 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 100
19 5 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 100
20 14 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 100
21 16 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 100
Official NASCAR All-Star Race results

Media

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Television

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Fox Sports was the television broadcaster of the race in the United States. Lap-by-lap announcer, Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little, Regan Smith and Vince Welch handled pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte. This was also Fox Sports' last Cup race for their portion of the 2021 season as NBC Sports takes over NASCAR broadcasts for the rest of the season.

FS1
Booth announcers Pit reporters In-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Vince Welch
Larry McReynolds

Radio

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Motor Racing Network (MRN) continued their longstanding relationship with Speedway Motorsports to broadcast the race on radio. The lead announcers for the race's broadcast were Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle. The network also implemented two announcers on each side of the track: Dave Moody in turns 1 and 2 and Mike Bagley in turns 3 and 4. Steve Post and Kim Coon were the network's pit lane reporters. The network's broadcast was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

MRN Radio
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody
Turns 3 & 4: Mike Bagley
Steve Post
Kim Coon

References

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  1. ^ "2021 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Texas Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  3. ^ "Open Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  4. ^ "All-Star Race Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Open & All Star Race Starting Lineups". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 8, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "NASCAR All-Star Open Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "NASCAR All-Star Race Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "NASCAR, Texas Motor Speedway Announce 2021 All Star Race Format". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "Annual All-Star Race moved to Bristol Motor Speedway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  10. ^ Davison, Drew (September 30, 2020). "Texas Motor Speedway lands 2021 NASCAR All-Star Race. Will it become the permanent home?". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved February 2, 2021.