Frontstretch Newsletter: Chase Elliott Wins All-Star Race, Claims $1 Million Prize

Published: Thu, 07/16/20

Frontstretch Newsletter: July 16, 2020
Volume: XIV, Edition LXXXV

Around the World in Motorsports: July 15

- United Autosports' Alex Brundle ended up being fastest overall in European Le Mans Series testing Wednesday at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France. Brundle traversed the 3.585-mile circuit at 131.482 mph. Eurointernational's Niko Kari was fastest in LMP3 at 119.548 mph, while Dempsey-Proton Racing's Alessio Picariello was fastest in GTE with a lap at 115.131 mph. Teams will remain at the venue since the first race of the season will be there Sunday.

- Brandon Sheppard led flag-to-flag to win the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series 50-lap race Wednesday night at Gondik Law Speedway in Superior, Wis. Cade Dillard was second, then Jimmy Owens, Darrell Lanigan and Ashton Winger.

What to Watch:

- Teams are back at the shop to put the finishing touches on their vehicles for this weekend's action at Texas Motor Speedway. Xfinity teams will be leaving tonight for their 16-hour haul to the track. If anything of note breaks, we'll have it for you at Frontstretch.

TV Schedule: Here

Today's Top News:

Chase Elliott Shines Under the Lights at Bristol, Wins $1 Million at All-Star Race

Chase Elliott took the lead Wednesday night from Ryan Blaney on Lap 111 and held off the field to win the All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Kyle Busch was second, then Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin.

Brendan Gaughan Tests Positive for COVID-19

Brendan Gaughan announced on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Wednesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently in quarantine in Las Vegas.

Taylor Hagler to Miss IMSA Sebring Event After Positive COVID-19 Test

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge rookie Taylor Hagler announced Wednesday that she has tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, she will miss Friday afternoon's Advent Health 120 at Sebring International Raceway.

Aric Almirola, William Byron, Matt DiBenedetto, Clint Bowyer Move on to All-Star Main Event

Aric Almirola, William Byron and Matt DiBenedetto won each of the stages of Wednesday evening's All-Star Open to advance to the All-Star Race. Clint Bowyer advanced by winning the Fan Vote.

Bubba Wallace, Michael McDowell Clash in All-Star Open at Bristol

The All-Star Open was a rather rough and tumble affair. The biggest incident came when Bubba Wallace crashed in Turn 3 following contact from Michael McDowell. Wallace was not exactly pleased afterwards.

Entry List: IndyCar Iowa 250s

For this weekend's INDYCAR races at Iowa Speedway, there are 23 cars entered. The only mid-weekend change will be Graham Rahal changing primary sponsors between One Cure and HyVee.

Entry List: Cadillac Grand Prix of Sebring

For Saturday's IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race in Sebring, there are 29 cars entered between the four classes. Felipe Nasr returns after missing Daytona due to COVID-19.

Entry List: Advent Health 120

For Friday's return to racing for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, there are 35 cars entered, 22 in the Grand Sport class and 13 in TCR.

Photos are courtesy of Nigel Kinrade Photography, Chris Owens of INDYCAR Media, IMSA and our own Phil Allaway.

Have news for The Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com with a promising lead or tip.

Newsletter Exclusives

Frontstretch Line of the Week

From 2020 REV Group Grand Prix Is Rinus VeeKay’s Breakout Opportunity

"It was definitely tough. It was the biggest setback I’ve had in my career. But it’s like being young—you do something wrong and your parents, they make sure you don’t do it ever again…Of course, before Texas I had the most trouble getting into the country. That wasn’t ideal. I think that affected my focus throughout the weekend.

Then in Indy, I just spent the whole month looking at onboard data, everything I could. I was so prepared that I stepped into the car and it felt like I had already done a few days of driving." - Rinus VeeKay, on his NTT IndyCar Series debut in Texas and what he did to turn it around at Indianapolis.

Quotes to Remember: All-Star Open/All-Star Race

by Phil Allaway

"I mean, to me this is one of those prestigious events that the Cup Series only has, right? This is a special race on the schedule every year. There's a lot of hype around it. The other thing about it is, you know, it's something you have to race your way into. Luckily we raced our way into this deal for life now. That means a lot.

"To me, it reminds me a lot of the Clash or something at the beginning of the year in some ways. I think this race is bigger than that because you're racing against the very best over recent times and anybody's career that have locked themselves into this event.

"To beat the best I think is always special." - Chase Elliott, All-Star Race winner

"I mean, it was all right, I guess. Certainly wish we had some more speed and some or agility in our M&M's Toyota to be able to get ourselves up front, closer to the front. We were making some time, making some spots there a little bit coming to that last 15‑lap run.

"I think if I could have got Brad, then maybe restarted where Brad did on the inside lane, I don't know, maybe things would have been a little bit different. I wouldn't have had to pass Brad and the 12. I don't know, I had plenty of time to get there. What am I joking about?

"I don't know. That's about all we had. Just feels like running real hard, trying real hard, doing all I can with the four tires underneath me." - Kyle Busch, finished second

"Yeah, it was okay. We were on all sides of the handling. Just never really got that right. Had a good strategy there at the end. Just took a couple laps too long to get past some of the cars that we needed to pass. Just needed a couple more laps to catch the leaders.

"Just weren't going to beat the 9 heads up where we were, running third or fourth or whatever it was, without doing something different. A bunch of them didn't do anything but stay out, wound up having to pass a couple more than we needed to." - Kevin Harvick, finished third

"Disrespect. When you get hooked in the right rear into the wall, I don't even need to see it. Look at that <expletive>.

"People say that [McDowell's] one of the friendliest guys in the garage. Can't wait for the god-fearing text that he's going to send me about preaching and praising respect. What a joke he is." - Bubba Wallace, finished 21st in All-Star Open (Crashed out)

Phil Allaway is the Frontstretch newsletter manager. He can be reached at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com.

Tomorrow

Thinkin’ Out Loud: The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race

by Clayton Caldwell

2-Headed Monster: Should NASCAR Shorten All 500-Mile Races Except for the Crown Jewels?

by Clayton Caldwell and Mark Kristl

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 All-Star Race

by Amy Henderson

Truckin' Thursdays: Four Drivers Poised to Win this Season

by Mark Kristl

ARCA’s Justin Carroll Sets Sights on NASCAR Trucks

by Michael Massie

2020 Iowa IndyCar 250s Race 1 Preview: IndyCar at Iowa Speedway

by Brittany Frederick

Tomorrow

Newsletter:

We'll preview Sunday's O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 from the very hot and humid Texas Motor Speedway.

Frontstretch.com:

We'll have a series of articles previewing this weekend's action in Texas.

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