NASCAR: Logano wins All-Star race after Larson error

Joey Logano pushed Kyle Larson into a late mistake to win the NASCAR's $1million All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Larson – who had gained entry to the race by winning the final segment of Sprint Showdown qualification event earlier on Saturday – hit the wall with just two laps to go as Logano looked for a way past.

The non-championship race for the series' top names was revamped this year using a format devised by Brad Keselowski. A green flag pitstop for two tires was mandated in the first 50-lap segment, delayed slightly by earlier rain, and while the majority pitted around half-distance Logano stayed out until lap 44.

His stop came at the right time, as Jamie McMurray spun just one lap later with a right-rear tire failure, bringing out the caution for the first time.

Matt Kenseth was the only driver not to have pitted, and with the yellow flags flying he was unable to pit under green conditions and was given a one-lap penalty.

Another mandatory pit stop between segments one and two set the running order for the resumption. The race out of the pits was won by 2008 All-Star winner Kasey Kahne, but a loose wheel during his stop earned him a penalty, and he dropped to the back of the field. That left him in the wrong place at the wrong time on lap 73, when he was taken out in a crash involving Tony Stewart and fellow penalty recipient Kenseth.

Chase Elliott peeled off to the side to notify the field he intended to pit, but Greg Biffle clipped the rear of the rookie's car. Just behind, Stewart and Kenseth got together and collected Kahne; a sorry way for Stewart to end his final All-Star race.

Drivers were required to make another mandatory stop before lap 85, and with only three laps of that window left following the yellow for the crash a mad dash for the pits occurred shortly after the restart.

A draw was held after segment two to determine whether nine, 10 or 11 cars would be forced to pit for four new tires ahead of segment three, with the remaining runners not permitted to pit.

Eleven were selected, leaving Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch at the front without fresh tires. The older rubber was no match for those on new boots behind, and the pair were swallowed-up with ease.

Larson and Logano drove clean up the inside of Johnson, who was down to 12th by the end, then pulled away in their own lead battle.

Format creator Keselowski was second after Larson's error, with Dale Earnhardt Jr completing the top three.

Originally on Autosport.com