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All That Glitters With All-Stars

Kevin Harvick wins the big bucks under a starry night in Charlotte, after finishing second here in 2006. Don’t you know that owner Richard Childress will probably want to enjoy a glass of his wine tonight?

After a caution- and crash-filled All-Star Open, Martin Truex, Jr. and Johnny Sauter raced their way into the 2007 All-Star Challenge. Kenny Wallace was voted in to the field by the fans and the exciting, fun event was off and running at the “Beast of the Southeast,” Lowe’s Motor Speedway here in genteel Charlotte, North Carolina.

The commercial hype machine is on full blast, even including a special “Shrek 3″ car driven by David Gilliland.

I must compliment the dynamic opening ceremony, with drivers and crews announced to the hyperkinetic drumline beats of the Carolina Crown Drum Band and a terrific national anthem by singer BeBe Winans. NBA Charlotte Bobcats part-owner and basketball legend Michael Jordan was the Grand Marshal, to huge cheers from the grandstand and tremendous fireworks.

As an aside, I see a lot more diversity in NASCAR ceremonies and entertainment than among the drivers on the track. Maybe some of Junior Johnson’s new (legal) moonshine would help me to see it differently….

The race was four relatively drama-free segments of twenty laps each, with required pitting by all cars before the final segment. Greg Biffle, pole winner/segment 3 leader Matt Kenseth and Casey Mears were too fast exiting pit road, and their shot at the big $1 million-plus purse went down the drain. Specifically, $1,011,125 went down the drain.

Brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch get “het up” together and had a fairly spectacular crash to bring the first caution of the last segment, with the 5 car spinning and sparking and throwing flames to a loud “oooohhhh” from the fans. Kurt commented, “Maybe I should have given an inch and maybe he shouldn’t have taken that inch….I’m not eating any Kellogg’s [Kyle's sponsor] any time soon.”

Casey Mears and Denny Hamlin then had troubles and bumped themselves out of the race.

Harvick’s No. 29 Pennzoil Platinum/Shell Chevrolet held everyone off in the final laps. Despite strong efforts, Jimmie Johnson finished second (in the closest finish in All-Star Challenge race history) and Mark Martin took third.

Said Harvick, “Everybody knows that the No. 48 car is the car to beat at this track. I just knew I had to make him go where I wasn’t and it worked out….We’ve been very fortunate to win the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 and now the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. I feel very fortunate. We’ve got a lot of momentum.”

In other NASCAR-related news, Hendrick Motorsports has “no room at the inn” for free agent Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Richard Childress Racing announced an engine partnership with DEI.

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