NASCAR is ready to run its annual All-Star Race, which has no shortage of high-octane action, close finishes and meaningful moments … and of course some fighting.
With the 2025 event running at North Wilkesboro Speedway for the third year in a row with Joey Logano as the defending winner. It’s time to take a peek at some of the best moments in NASCAR All-Star Race history.
From Darrell Waltrip winning the first event in 1985 to the infamous “One Hot Night” in 1992 and plenty of other moments, here are 10 of the greatest moments from the history of the NASCAR All-Star Race.
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1985: Darrell Waltrip wins first NASCAR All-Star Race, ‘The Winston’
The first NASCAR All-Star Race, titled “The Winston” had 12 cars in the field with a $200,000 prize on the line. Darrell Waltrip passed Harry Gant late in the race and held to win the race despite his engine blowing coming to the checkered flag. Waltrip turned around and won the Coca-Cola 600 the next day.
1987: Dale Earnhardt pulls off ‘Pass in the Grass’
This race was the epitome of “checkers or wreckers.” Richard Childress famously told Dale Earnhardt, “Bring me the trophy or bring me the steering wheel.” Earnhardt slid through the infield grass, to keep up with Bill Elliott and Geoff Bodine with eight laps to go. The “Pass in the Grass” gained its nickname, despite Earnhardt not passing anyone, on his way to winning the race and bringing the trophy to Childress.
1989: Rusty Wallace wins, Darrell Waltrip fights
Rusty Wallace was running down Darrell Waltrip in the closing laps of the 1989 race at Charlotte. Wallace caught up to Waltrip and spun him with two laps to go, ending with a Wallace victory. The pit crews brawled after the race, ending with Waltrip saying, “I hope (Wallace) chokes on the $200,000.”
1992: Davey Allison wins ‘One Hot Night’
This might be one of the more famous All-Star Races in its history. The first time the race was run at night, on a reconfigured Charlotte Motor Speedway and one of the more competitive fields in the race’s history to this point. Dale Earnhardt was spun by Kyle Petty in turn 3 of the final lap. Petty passed Earnhardt, but Davey Allison, who won the 1991 race, snuck underneath Earnhardt and passed Petty coming to the checkered flag with some heavy contact. However, Allison’s hard crash into the wall after winning the race put him in the hospital.
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1997: Jeff Gordon wins All-Star Race with controversial suspension
What do dinosaurs have to do with Jeff Gordon’s race car? His 1997 All-Star Race-winning car had a “Jurassic Park” sponsorship but the chassis of the car was referred to a “T. Rex,” in honor of Hendrick Motorsports engineer Rex Stump. The chassis allowed the suspension to be optimal for the short run, but was deemed legal by NASCAR. The chassis configuration was quickly deemed illegal by NASCAR after the race.
2000: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins in first appearance
Dale Earnhardt Jr. had all kinds of people talking about him and lofty goals and aspirations in NASCAR. In his rookie season, former Charlotte Motor Speedway president H.A. Wheeler made his annual prediction with Earnhardt winning the race in his first attempt. On the final lap, Earnhardt did just that in passing Dale Jarrett to score the win. The first thought on Earnhardt’s mind was his dad, Dale Earnhardt Sr., who was thrilled with his son’s win.
2008: Kasey Kahne wins NASCAR All-Star Race in upset
Kasey Kahne was in his fifth season of full-time season of racing and got into the All-Star Race by earning the fan vote. He finished fifth in the All-Star Open and transferred into the final starting spot of 24 cars in the All-Star Race. Kahne passed Denny Hamlin on lap 84 of 100 and held on for one of the bigger upsets in All-Star Race history before turning around a week later to win the 2008 Coca-Cola 600.
2020: Chase Elliott wins infamous Bristol All-Star Race
Underglow, different number positions, Bristol? That was the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race, baby. The COVID-19 pandemic moved the event from Charlotte and brought it to Bristol Motor Speedway. Around 30,000 fans gathered on July 16, 2020, for the largest crowd at a sporting event since the pandemic began four months prior. Chase Elliott held off Kyle Busch to score his first All-Star Race victory.
2022: Ryan Blaney drops window net early, hangs on for win
Ryan Blaney was racing to the checkered flag in the second All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway and was just feet from winning the race. However, a caution came out just before Blaney crossed the line and froze the field immediately. Blaney wasn’t able to put the window net back exactly where it was but was able latch it before overtime, and he held off Denny Hamlin to win the race.
2023: Kyle Larson wins first All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro
North Wilkesboro Speedway was brought back into the spotlight with its first NASCAR Cup Series event since 1996. Jeff Gordon won that 1996 race, holding off Dale Earnhardt. Kyle Larson dominated the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race and earned the win in the revival of the track.
When is 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race?
The NASCAR All-Star Race is set for 7 p.m. CT on May 18 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
What channel is NASCAR All-Star Race on?
The 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race will be broadcast on FS1 with Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick in the broadcast booth.
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