For the first time in NASCAR history, a driver who made it into the show based on the fan voting process won the NASCAR Sprint Cup All Star Race when Kasey Kahne took his #9 Budweiser Dodge to victory lane. Kahne also captured a $1 million check for his victory. Kahne, who had to race in the Sprint Showdown earlier in the afternoon and finished fifth, made up track position after the final pit stop between segments by taking fuel only.
Kahne, who started at the rear of the field because he was voted into the race, stayed mid-pack most of the race. Kahne was seventh half way through the event. The only competition Kahne had on the final segment was the #16 Ford of Greg Biffle, who didn't have enough to catch Kahne in the end. The key to Kahne's victory Saturday night was his patience. “We took our time, got in the right place and Kenny made the right call of no tires at the end,” Kahne said.
The night's festivities actually began during the Sprint Showdown where A.J. Allmindinger captured his first victory in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition after winning the Sprint Showdown, to qualify for the Sprint All-Star race on Saturday night. His victory did not come without controversy, after he had contact with Elliot Sadler early in the race, putting Sadler in the wall, knocking him out of contention for the win in the Showdown and from transferring over to the All-Star race. Sam Hornish Jr. also transferred to the All Star Race after a late run in his #77 Dodge.
The favorite going into the All-Star race was Kyle Busch in his #18 Toyota. Busch dominated the first and second segments, only to see his day end half way through the race with engine problems. Engine problems plagued all three Joe Gibbs Racing cars this weekend. Tony Stewart had to change engines after practice on Friday and Denny Hamlin lost his engine in the final segment of the race. SPEED TV reported that the Joe Gibbs Racing teams may have been trying a new configuration on their cars.
One of the strongest performances of the night was by one of the Sprint Showdown transfer drivers. Sam Hornish Jr. had trouble early on after getting into the wall and having an unscheduled pit stop. He recovered from being two laps down to capture a ninth place finish.
Notably absent from the front of the field most of the race were Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. Both of the drivers struggled throughout most of the race, though Johnson was also able to take advantage of pit strategy to capture a fourth place finish.
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