Chase Elliott had a dominant car, pulling away to win the NASCAR All-Star Race for the first time and collect the $1 million paycheck.
Elliott’s win marks the sixth time in the last seven years the All-Star Race has had a first-time winner. He won in the first All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway and in front of fans, estimated by some to be more than 20,000 -- the largest crowd at a NASCAR race since the series resumed in May.
Elliott won three of the last four stages.
“I can’t believe it,” Elliott said on FS1. “There’s nothing like Bristol. There’s nothing like the lights here. There’s nothing like racing here.”
MORE: Race results
Kyle Busch finished second.
“You got to catch the guy to bump him and there was no catching him,” Busch said.
He was followed by Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin. Ryan Blaney, who won the opening stage, finished sixth.
The anticipated fireworks did not happen during the All-Star Race but came during the Open when Michael McDowell turned Bubba Wallace, earning Wallace’s wrath.
But the All-Star Race was run without caution in the last two stages.
The opening stages were relatively calm. Blaney took the lead on Lap 3 and held it through the end of the stage on Lap 55. Elliott took the lead after the restart to begin Stage 2 and held it for the 35 laps. Elliott cruised to the win in the third stage, which went without caution.
STAGE 1 WINNER: Ryan Blaney
STAGE 2 WINNER: Chase Elliott
STAGE 3 WINNER: Chase Elliott
WHO HAD A GOOD RACE: Kyle Busch finished second for his sixth consecutive top-10 finish in this event. ... Kevin Harvick finished third for his third consecutive top-three finish in this event.
WHO HAD A BAD RACE: Kurt Busch finished last after he had contact with Brad Keselowski early and spun. ... Ryan Newman finished 19th in the 20-car field after his car was damaged in an incident.
NOTABLE: Chase and Bill Elliott are the second father-son combination to win the All-Star Race, joining Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Both of the wins by the Elliotts were at the only All-Star Races not at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bill Elliott won in 1986 at Atlanta.
NEXT: The Cup series races Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway (3 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
Million Dollar Si-reen in Dawsonville tonight! Bully burgers are on @chaseelliott when he gets back in town! 😉🏁📢 #di9 #AllStarRace #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/RLzTCtjX0V
— Dawsonville Pool Room (@DawsonPoolRoom) July 16, 2020