Hocevar Wins Open, Nemechek And Gragson Transfer In

Carson Hocevar takes the checkered flag to win the All-Star Open (Scotte Sprinkle/Race Face Digital photo)

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. - Carson Hocevar won the All-Star Open to advance to the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, along with runner-up John Hunter Nemecheck and fan vote winner Noah Gragson.

Hocevar took the lead during pit stops at the halfway break, taking only right-side tires while race leader Shane Van Gisbergen, who had led every lap up until the caution on lap 50, took four tires. With track position being key in the Next-Gen era at short tracks, tire strategy was a key factor in the race

A caution for Riley Herbst with 23 laps to go opened up the strategy for pit calls. Hocevar elected to stay out and keep the lead. Bubba Wallace, Ryan Preece, Gisbergen,  and Justin Haley stayed out. Hocevar got a good jump on the restart and held on to win.

“[It’s] super big for this group, this team,” Hocevar said after the win.

“It's great to win, especially being challenged by tires there. I had my hands full. We definitely have to go to work here on our race car because I didn't really like it, but it's a good sign that we didn't like it and we were still pretty quick there. Hopefully we can take advantage of it. I've seen Kasey Kahne win and Dale and others win from the Open Maybe we can take that advantage of having this notebook and move forward early and be able to take this Indiana Fever and Gainbridge Chevy up front.”

Under the caution with 23 laps to go, Nemecheck took right-side tires and came out behind A.J. Allmendinger. Nemecheck restarted in seventh, and started carving through the field. With 10 laps to go, Nemecheck caught Wallace, who was running in second. Nemecheck ran Wallace up the track in turn two to make the pass, and held onto the spot to transfer in.

“We have a shot to go win a million dollar,” Nemecheck said after the race. 

“Hats off to this 42 team. We unloaded and we had good two or three lap speed but no longer on pace. Proud of them for the effort they put in yesterday and what they were able to find, and pitting there at that last deal, I knew I couldn't win from where I was at. We came and got two and helped us out. Hats off to the whole 42 team. Proud of the effort.”

While Gragson finished in 17th, he won the fan vote for the third year in a row, with a third different team.

“It means a lot,” Gragson said after the race.

“I’m very grateful to have all of the support from the fans and I feel like we’ve got a pretty good race car. We struggled. I lost power steering in the Open race, so we’re gonna try and get that better for the All-Star Race. It’s such a cool atmosphere here and such a cool experience.  I’m very lucky to be able to be a part of it.”

The NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway is coming up at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM Radio Channel 90.