The 2026 version of the All-Star Race featured huge wrecks, fireballs, subject inverts, and a calculator close by.
The 350-lapper was the primary time the occasion has gone to Dover, with the Monster Mile not internet hosting a factors race for the primary time since 1968. And whereas the format was utterly completely different than your commonplace race, the identical driver who gained at Dover final yr returned to Victory Lane once more.
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Here is a take a look at the most important winners and losers from the Dover All-Star Race:
WINNER: for securing the $1 million prize
Watch: Hamlin celebrates All-Star win: ‘We attempt to be No. 1’
Hamlin is driving a giant wave of momentum after a d. He began from pole, led probably the most laps, and earned a $1 million payday as NASCAR turns the web page to the second half of the common season. Hamlin final gained the All-Star Race in 2015, and solely has that a few years between their first and final (or most up-to-date) All-Star win. It simply speaks to the longevity of Hamlin, and regardless of his age, driver No. 11 is not slowing down.
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LOSER: , as a result of second is not value a lot in an All-Star Race
Watch: Briscoe battles abdomen bug for P2 All-Star end
Briscoe is true on the sting of the cut-line, so he’s in want of an ideal factors day. The irritating factor about Dover is that there have been no precise factors, so dropping the lead late and ending second solely means you simply misplaced a million {dollars}. He had Hamlin beat on the ultimate restart, however he simply could not maintain the highest spot. Briscoe himself mentioned he “can’t get up tomorrow saying, ‘I really feel like 1,000,000 bucks.’ One spot brief at the moment, P2.”
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WINNER: for greatest oval drive of the yr, even with late-race penalty
What a day for the Trackhouse rookie. He nonetheless does not have an official high ten in his Cup profession, however Sunday was an enormous step for him gaining confidence in these vehicles on the ovals. Zilisch wasn’t even locked into the ultimate phase, however he discovered his approach to the entrance, reaching as excessive as second. Sadly, a penalty on pit street despatched him to the rear of the sector, however he did not simply throw within the towel. Zilisch minimize by the again, ending fifth in his first All-Star Race look. With a a number of extra laps, he was on track to succeed in third, even after the end-of-line penalty.
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LOSER: for going up in flames two laps into the raceRyan Preece after fireplace harm, RFK Racing Ford
Ryan Preece after fireplace harm, RFK Racing Ford
The worst factor you are able to do in an All-Star Race is totally destroy your automotive on the very begin, and sadly, that is what occurred with Preece. He began the race close to the again, and was battling three-wide with and after they all acquired tangled collectively. It appeared as if Preece could have come down the observe barely, and the consequence was a large pileup on the second lap of the race. He scrambled out because the rear of the No. 60 Ford burned. Preece later apologized for the incident.
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WINNER: Dover as adjustments made for greatest Subsequent Gen race but on the trackAJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Sunday’s race confirmed us that there may be an fascinating race with Subsequent Gen vehicles on the Monster Mile, and drivers had been everywhere in the observe making strikes. Because the tires wore, the motion all through the sector was solely amplified, and it was a promising step in the correct route.
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LOSER: NASCAR for an All-Star Race format that simply wasn’t ‘it’Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing
Dover would have been a strong race if it weren’t for one evident problem — It did not really feel like one, and the drivers mentioned as a lot. The thrilling Open race that precedes the primary occasion was gone, and everybody was grouped collectively. A calculator was wanted to even know who would advance into the third phase, and nobody was certain who these drivers even had been. It was made extra complicated by locked-in drivers with harm returning to the race, additional limiting what number of open drivers may advance. The one constructive was the sector invert, which actually blended issues up in a enjoyable manner, general, it simply wasn’t an excellent format and gave the impression to be the mistaken route for an occasion that was already having an identification disaster.
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WINNER: for giving Legacy Motor Membership an ideal run
How concerning the No. 43 group? Jones began inside the highest 5, and completed third in Sunday’s All-Star Race. It was by far his greatest displaying within the occasion, and he was the highest-finishing open driver. His earlier greatest end within the All-Star Race was eighth, and he was on the tail of a Toyota 1-2-3 end on Sunday. That undoubtedly has to provide Legacy Motor Membership some confidence, as Jones does not have a end larger than tenth in a points-paying race but this yr. Jones famous after the race how good it felt to be again racing with the highest drivers within the subject once more.
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LOSER: The All-Stars that did not even make it to the primary eventChase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports
One other awkward a part of having a full subject of vehicles is that these early wrecks eradicated a number of true All-Stars. Former sequence champions and Kyle Larson had been destroyed within the Lap 2 melee and whereas they did return for the ultimate phase, they had been too gradual to be an element. Two All-Stars wrecked and did not even get again out on observe for the ultimate phase — reigning Coca-Cola 600 winner and 2020 NASCAR Cup champion . It is a unusual situation when you have got drivers locked into the All-Star Race, however they do not really participate within the a part of the race meant to be for All-Stars.
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