The night was filled with promise of suspense and drama and the 22nd running of the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge delivered all of that and more. The event slowed five times for accidents on the track, but Dale Jarrett and the #88 UPS Racing Team escaped the event unscathed and with a top-10 finish.
A total of 20 cars started the event at Lowe's Motor Speedway but only 10 drivers survived the carnage that peppered the event and were around when the checkered flag waved well past the expected end time for the event. Rain showers delayed the start of all racing activities for more than an hour. Additional rain showers fell during different stages of the 90-lap All-Star Challenge, forcing a couple red flag periods while the track dried.
Jarrett and the #88 UPS Team started the event in 12th place. The car's tight handling condition through the corners persisted in the event, but adjustments made to the car in the late stages of the event slightly improved the handling to the point where Jarrett was able to navigate the 1.5-mile track and circumvent the multiple accidents. The biggest incident of the night took place during the second segment, when approximately 10 cars sustained some damage or were forced to retire from the race. Taking his time and exercising patience, Jarrett avoided the melee, finishing the event in seventh place.
"We were pretty lucky to be able to avoid all the accidents," Jarrett said. "A couple of those incidents unfolded right in front of us. It's unbelievable the amount of torn up sheet metal out here right now. Hopefully this isn't what we'll see next weekend but I'm sure it made for an exciting event for the fans."
Jarrett's teammate Elliott Sadler was one of the 29 drivers that competed in the 30-lap Nextel Open which determined the final transfer spot into the All-Star Challenge. Having to start from the back of the field, Sadler simply ran out of time and laps to make a run to the front and finished the night in 12th place, while driver Scott Riggs picked up the win in that race to transfer to the All-Star Challenge.
Jimmie Johnson picked up the win, his second in the annual All-Star event.
Lowe's Motor Speedway hosts its second week of activities next week with the running of the annual Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday. The green flag is scheduled to drop at 5:30 p.m. EDT with FOX providing live flag-to-flag coverage.
