Yahoo Autos Joey Logano Wins Chaotic NASCAR All-Star Race
The very existence of NASCAR's All-Star Race is a little convoluted. In a series where every race pretty much by definition features the best drivers from every team, it's hard for a short-field exhibition event at a track the series runs on twice a year already to stand out. NASCAR realized this early, and since the early 90s has been tinkering with the race once called the Winston in a push to find newer and more exciting ways to turn an ordinary race into something extraordinary. Even by the standards of the race, however, 2016's format was complicated. Designed to build on the strategies caused by a mandatory four-tire stop before the end of the race over previous years, this year's system mandates four-tire stops for a portion of the top ten and nothing for the rest, forcing a split strategy and a jumbled restart immediately afterward.
After the strange rule set led to an even stranger first two stints, the final stint began with Kyle Larson the first on new tires after leading segment two. He quickly dispatched the leaders on old tires, building a small lead and looking comfortably on his way to his first win in a Sprint Cup Series car, but over the short stint his Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet quickly fell off the pace, and Joey Logano quickly moved past to take the win, his first in the exhibition race.
The win is Logano's first of 2016, but as a non-championship win, the reward is little more than the substantial million dollar prize and some much-needed momentum for a team that has had competitive speed all year long but hasn't performed at their peak level in nearly two months.
