2016 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
# 2016 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

The 2016 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (XXXII) was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car exhibition race held on May 21, 2016 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. Contested over 113 laps, it was the second exhibition race of the 2016 Sprint Cup Series season.

This marks the first all-star race without Jeff Gordon since 1993.

## Report

### Background

The All-Star Race was open to race winners from last season through the 2016 AAA 400 Drive for Autism at Dover International Speedway and all previous All-Star race winners and Sprint Cup champions who had attempted to qualify for every race in 2016 were eligible to compete in the All-Star Race.

**Entry list**

**Sprint Showdown**

The entry list for the Sprint Showdown was released on Monday, May 16 at 12:29 p.m. Eastern time. Twenty-five drivers were entered for the race.

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Regan Smith | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Danica Patrick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | Casey Mears | Germain Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | Clint Bowyer | HScott Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 21 | Ryan Blaney (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 23 | David Ragan | BK Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | Chase Elliott (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | Paul Menard | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | Josh Wise | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet |
| 32 | Jeffrey Earnhardt (R) | Go FAS Racing | Ford |
| 34 | Chris Buescher (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | Landon Cassill | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Aric Almirola | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford |
| 44 | Brian Scott (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford |
| 46 | Michael Annett | HScott Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 55 | Reed Sorenson | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 83 | Matt DiBenedetto | BK Racing | Toyota |
| 95 | Michael McDowell | Circle Sport – Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet |
| 98 | Cole Whitt | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| Official initial Sprint Showdown entry list ||||
| Key | Meaning |
| (R) | Rookie |

**Entry list**

**Sprint All-Star Race**

The entry list for the All-Star Race was released that same day at 11:34 a.m. Fifteen cars were automatically entered for the race. Five other cars transferred from the Sprint Showdown to determine the final grid for the Sprint All-Star Race. Kyle Busch's car was renumbered to No. 75 to celebrate the said anniversary of sponsor Mars Corporation's M&M's brand candy.

| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Kasey Kahne | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 14 | Tony Stewart | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | Carl Edwards | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 75 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota |
| 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| Official Sprint All-Star Race entry list ||||

## Practice

### Sprint Showdown practice

Sprint Showdown practice was originally scheduled to be held on Friday, May 20. However, the practice session was canceled because of wet track conditions caused by constant rain showers.

### All-Star Race practice

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 28.121 | 192.027 |
| 2 | 19 | Carl Edwards | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 28.121 | 192.027 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 28.139 | 191.904 |
| Sprint All-Star Final practice results |||||||

## Sprint Showdown

### Segment One

Chase Elliott led the field to the green flag at 11:32 a.m. The first caution of the race flew on lap 16 for a single-car spin on the frontstretch. Exiting turn 4, Michael McDowell got loose and spun through the grass.

The race restarted on lap 20. Coming to the line, Trevor Bayne edged out Elliott to win the first segment. Brian Scott was tagged for a lug nut violation and Cole Whitt was tagged for his crew being over the wall too soon. Both restarted the race from the tail-end of the field.

### Segment Two

The race restarted on lap 21. Austin Dillon passed Elliott going into turn 1 to take the lead on lap 22. Greg Biffle passed Dillon going into turn 3 to take the lead with 24 laps to go and drove onto win the segment.

### Segment Three

The race restarted with 10 laps to go. Kyle Larson battled Elliott to the line to win the segment. Elliott was voted into the All-Star Race by fan vote. Because of a quick caused by an eligible driver not being entered, second place in fan vote Danica Patrick was also voted into the All-Star Race.

### Sprint Showdown results

| Pos | Grid | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 7 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 1 | 10 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 40 |
| 1 | 5 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 20 |
| 2 | 1 | 24 | Chase Elliott (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 3 | 3 | 21 | Ryan Blaney (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 50 |
| 4 | 11 | 43 | Aric Almirola | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 50 |
| 5 | 4 | 47 | A. J. Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 6 | 13 | 38 | Landon Cassill | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 50 |
| 7 | 12 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | HScott Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 8 | 14 | 13 | Casey Mears | Germain Racing | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 9 | 9 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 10 | 6 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 50 |
| 11 | 15 | 44 | Brian Scott (R) | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 50 |
| 12 | 2 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 13 | 8 | 27 | Paul Menard | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 14 | 17 | 23 | David Ragan | BK Racing | Toyota | 50 |
| 15 | 18 | 83 | Matt DiBenedetto | BK Racing | Toyota | 50 |
| 16 | 16 | 95 | Michael McDowell | Circle Sport – Leavine Family Racing | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 17 | 20 | 34 | Chris Buescher (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 50 |
| 18 | 21 | 46 | Michael Annett | HScott Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 19 | 19 | 7 | Regan Smith | Tommy Baldwin Racing | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 20 | 25 | 30 | Josh Wise | The Motorsports Group | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 21 | 22 | 98 | Cole Whitt | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 50 |
| 22 | 23 | 32 | Jeffrey Earnhardt (R) | Go FAS Racing | Ford | 50 |
| 23 | 24 | 55 | Reed Sorenson | Premium Motorsports | Chevrolet | 49 |
| ^a Winner of the second segment. ^b Winner of the first segment. |||||||
| Sprint Showdown race results |||||||

## All-Star Race starting lineup

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 2 | 75 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 19 | Carl Edwards | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 5 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford |
| 7 | 24 | Chase Elliott (R) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 9 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota |
| 10 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 13 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 16 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 17 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 20 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| Sprint All-Star Race starting lineup |||||

## All-Star Race

### Segment 1

Under North Carolina night skies, Kevin Harvick led the field to the green flag at 10:11 p.m. Kyle Busch led the first lap, but he and Harvick raced side-by-side for the lead for a number of laps before Harvick took it on lap 6. Harvick made his mandatory stop of the race on lap 27 and surrendered the lead to Busch. Logano passed Busch to take the lead on lap 34. He pitted with five laps to go in the first segment as Jamie McMurray spinning brought out the first caution of the race. Matt Kenseth hadn't pitted under green as the rules require, so he was held a lap under caution as the segment ended. Brad Keselowski exited pit road with the race lead.

### Segment 2

The race restarted on lap 51. Weepers in turn 2 brought out the second caution of the race on lap 57.

The race restarted on lap 62 and a multi-car wreck on the frontstretch brought out the third caution of the race. Exiting turn 4, Kenseth got turned up the track, collected Tony Stewart and slammed the wall. Stewart's car turned down the track and collected Kasey Kahne. Stewart said afterwards that he was "as baffled as anybody. I don’t know how we were scored a lap down after they stopped the 20 car, and they pit everyone together. Lap down and lead lap and lap down. It’s the most screwed up All-Star race I’ve ever been a part of. I’m glad this is the last one.” He would go on to finish last.

The race restarted on lap 72.

### 13 laps to go

The race restarted with 13 laps to go. Logano dove underneath Kyle Larson going into turn 1 and Larson ended up in the wall with three laps to go. Larson said afterwards that he "was able to clear them and I thought I would pull away pretty easily because I was really good on short runs. Joey and their team must have done a really good job at making the right adjustments. We made the car a little bit better, but I guess we really didn't take a big enough swing to tighten up." Logano drove on to score the victory.

### Post-race

**Driver comments**

Logano said after the race that his race was "awesome. I thought it went great. What a great car. It says a lot about our race team to unload today with a completely new package, have 10 minutes of practice and unload and say, ‘The car is pretty good. I don’t have much to say. We really made only one change on our car. That was about the only amount of time we had in practice was to make one change. It was the same for everybody, but, overall, I felt like our car was competitive.”

### All-Star Race results

| Pos | Grid | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 8 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 113 |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske | Ford | 113 |
| 3 | 10 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 |
| 4 | 4 | 19 | Carl Edwards | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 113 |
| 5 | 3 | 41 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 113 |
| 6 | 7 | 24 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 |
| 7 | 15 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 113 |
| 8 | 20 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 113 |
| 9 | 12 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 113 |
| 10 | 2 | 75 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 113 |
| 11 | 1 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 113 |
| 12 | 5 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 113 |
| 13 | 14 | 31 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 113 |
| 14 | 9 | 78 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing | Toyota | 113 |
| 15 | 19 | 10 | Danica Patrick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 113 |
| 16 | 18 | 42 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 111 |
| 17 | 13 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 110 |
| 18 | 11 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 71 |
| 19 | 16 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 71 |
| 20 | 17 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 70 |
| All-Star Race results |||||||

## Media

### Television

Fox Sports was the television broadcaster of the race in the United States. Lap-by-lap announcer, Mike Joy, was accompanied on the broadcast by retired NASCAR drivers, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip. Jamie Little, Vince Welch, and Matt Yocum reported from pit lane.

Fox Sports 1 Television :

| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - |
| Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon Color commentator: Darrell Waltrip | Jamie Little Vince Welch Matt Yocum |

### Radio

Motor Racing Network (MRN) continued their longstanding relationship with the track to broadcast the race on radio. The lead announcers for the race's broadcast were Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace. The network also implemented two announcers on each side of the track: Dave Moody in turns 1 and 2 and Kyle Rickey in turns 3 and 4. Alex Hayden, Winston Kelly and Steve Post were the network's pit lane reporters. The network's broadcast was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

MRN Radio :

| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| - | - | - |
| Lead announcer: Joe Moore Announcer: Jeff Striegle Announcer: Rusty Wallace | Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Turns 3 & 4: Kyle Rickey | Alex Hayden Winston Kelly Steve Post |
