Jimmie Johnson has dominated Nextel Cup races at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte for the last couple of years. That could continue at next week's Coca Cola 600 but Saturday was the Nextel All Star Challenge. It's not a points race but the winner gets a million dollars. It starts with the 30 lap Nextel Open. The winner advances to the main race along with a driver voted on by the fans. The main race is divided into three segments and the winner of the third segment gets the money.
The evening started with a one hour rain delay. Scott Riggs-#10 Valvoline Dodge won the pole for the Nextel Open and led every lap to advance to the Nextel All Star Challenge. Kyle Petty-#45 My Coke Rewards Dodge was voted into the race by fans. Coke did a promotion promising that if Petty was voted in a large donation would be made to the Victory Jucnction Gang. So it wasn't surprising that he won.
Kasey Kahne-#9 UAW-Dodge Dealers Dodge won the pole of the Nextel All Star Challenge. He led the first couple of laps but was passed by Jimmie Johnson-#48 Lowe's Chevy. After mandatory green flag pit stops, Kyle Busch-#5 Kellogg's Chevy takes the lead on lap 20. Rain stops the race at lap 34. When things get started again, Kyle Busch wins the first 40 lap segment. At that point, part of the field is inverted so Kyle Busch goes back to tenth and Ryan Newman-#12 Alltel Dodge leads. Kasey Kahne gets the lead on lap 43 and then Michael Waltrip-#55 Napa Auto Parts Dodge brings out the caution when he hits the wall. On the restart, Kahne gets loose and drives Mark Martin-#6 AAA Ford into the wall and takes out several other cars. Kahne said he didn't know what happened but Martin said that if you're under someone coming out of turn four, you have to get off the gas or you'll spin out. Obviously Kahne forgot to do that.
The crash changed the complexion of the race. Kevin Harvick-#29 GM Goodwrench Chevy won the second segment but Jimmie Johnson was right on his tail and took the lead on lap 71. Johnson extended his lead and won easily. So he's a million bucks richer. It should be interesting to see what happens next week when these guys have to run 600 miles.
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