Hocevar Wins All-Star Open
Carson Hocevar won the All-Star Open, leading the final 46 laps to advance into the main All-Star Race along with runner-up John Hunter Nemechek. However, Denny Hamlin criticized NASCAR's new All-Star Race approach as a "first swing and miss," expressing concerns about the format's impact on competition.
The 2024 All-Star Race format featured the use of multiple tire compounds, a strategic element that played a key role in the preceding Open event. Teams had both a "prime" tire and a softer, faster-wearing "option" tire available, adding a layer of complexity to pit strategy. Carson Hocevar's victory in the All-Star Open came after a strategic two-tire pit stop at the halfway mark, which allowed him to gain the track position he would hold for the final 46 laps. Polesitter Shane van Gisbergen, who had dominated the first half of the race, opted for four tires and could not regain the lead. The third and final driver to transfer into the main event, Noah Gragson, did so by winning the fan vote for the third consecutive year. Gragson had a challenging Open race, finishing 17th and dealing with a loss of power steering. In the main All-Star Race, Joey Logano dominated by leading a record 199 of the 200 laps to claim the $1 million prize. Of the drivers who advanced from the Open, Noah Gragson had the best finish, coming in 11th place. Bubba Wallace, who also advanced from the Open, finished 6th. Denny Hamlin's critique of the All-Star format was directed at proposed changes for 2026, which would see the elimination of the Open and the inclusion of all 36 chartered teams in the main event. Hamlin argued for more exclusivity, stating on his podcast that the event should be made "harder, not easier" to get into.
