NASCAR
Stratta’s Six: Who Will Put on a Million-Dollar Drive in the All-Star Race?
250 laps, 23 drivers, 0 points, and $1 million. These are just a few important numbers for the 2025 rendition of NASCAR’s All-Star Race. A lot of bragging rights are on the line in stock car racing’s grassroots showcase. It calls the hallowed ground of North Wilkesboro Speedway home for a third-straight year. We don’t yet know all 23 contenders going for the big check Sunday night. Regardless, here are a few who hope to leave their mark on one of racing’s most historic tracks.
Kyle Larson
For the second year in a row, all eyes from the racing world are on Kyle Larson in May. Commuting back and forth between Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his NASCAR duties, North Wilkesboro marks the first half of ‘The Double.’ Larson should arrive to Wilkes County with hours to spare Sunday night. He will be fresh off of Indy 500 qualifying. By virtue of not being there for practice or qualifying, Larson will start the All-Star Race from the rear. If anyone thinks this will inhibit driver 5 at all, he was fourth after starting last a year ago. Larson now attempts The Greatest Spectacle in Racing as NASCAR’s current points leader.
“I just think it’s really cool,” Larson said. “It’s good for our team, I think, and for our sport. I think it’s good for racing that the Cup Series point leader is competing in the Indy 500 for the second year in a row. I would say last year was a goal of mine. This year I didn’t really think about it. But I do think it puts even more of a spotlight on us and our sport.”
Larson already owns one trophy from North Wilkesboro Speedway, going alongside two other All-Star Race wins on his mantle. The Hendrick driver is also the only man with top-fives across both years of racing at the revitalized track. Leading 221 of 267 laps a week ago in Kansas, a lot is pointing to another dominant Sunday for Larson. Should he pull off this feat, it would only add onto his prestige and lore before next week’s 1100-mile gauntlet.
Denny Hamlin
If anyone is to rival Larson’s march to another All-Star victory, longtime frenemy Denny Hamlin may stand in his path. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran owns one All-Star Race win from 2015. More recently, the 11 has runner-ups in two of the last three years. Hamlin is no stranger to performing on the biggest stages, owning seven career Crown Jewel triumphs.
Hamlin’s racing roots trace back to late models on short tracks like North Wilkesboro across the southeast. If any track favors Hamlin for a winner-take-all night, it’s this bullring. Already a winner twice this season, Hamlin hopes to put another All-Star trophy in his case.
Joey Logano
12 months ago at North Wilkesboro, Joey Logano nearly had a perfect race. Starting on pole and leading all but one lap, the Penske driver took home his second All-Star Race victory. Logano was the ultimate benefactor of a Goodyear tire test weeks prior. Driver 22 had over 800 laps of practice on the new pavement.
One could make the argument that Logano’s 2024 Cup championship path truly began at North Wilkesboro. A year removed from this wire-to-wire domination, Logano looks to join elite company with a third All-Star Race checkered flag.
Chase Elliott
Already an exhibition race winner in 2025, Chase Elliott aims for a Carolina short track sweep. Leading all but 29 laps in the season-opening Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Elliott appears almost unbeatable on bullrings. North Wilkesboro has been very kind to the 9 in years past too. Elliott owns fifth and eighth-place results over the last two years. The cool factor of racing on such a storied track is still not lost on Elliott.
“This place has been around for a long time,” Elliott said. “It’s kind of in the heart of NASCAR, with Charlotte being right down road and all that stuff. So yeah, I think it’s a good thing. Personally, I was excited to see that NASCAR or whoever spent a bunch of money to repave the place. That just told me that it was going to be around for a while, they made that commitment pretty quickly. Yeah, I think it’s all positive.”
Hendrick pace on any short track is hardly ever in question, as shown with Elliott’s recent Martinsville top-five. Kansas last week also showed contending execution from this entire team, being one of the only cars to pass Larson. If performance stays up on this entire team, Elliott may earn another million dollar check.
Ryan Blaney
One of only five drivers perfect in North Wilkesboro top-10s, Ryan Blaney can never be counted out on a short track. The two-time defending Martinsville fall winner, Blaney’s pace on short, flat ovals is not to be overlooked. The last All-Star Race winner before coming to North Wilkesboro, Blaney is a fan of changes in this year’s event.
“I like it,” Blaney said about the format. “I like how you keep pit crews involved by doing the competition there. I think those guys really enjoy it. They compete every weekend multiple times, but being on that stage is really good for them. I was saying that there are gonna be a lot of gifts sent to Marcus (Smith) and his family since they announced that (promoter’s caution). He’s gonna have more friends than he’s ever had, that’s for sure. It is what it is. We race to the format, and I think it’s obviously big for us to go back to Wilkesboro. People in that area really love us being back there. I love being back there.”
Blaney’s 2025 to date has been characterized as a weekly what if. Still winless through the opening 12 weeks, the 12 team has shown winning pace but seemingly stepped on multiple rakes. Can a second-half return to form kickstart in the star-studded night? If Penske performance from Logano last year was any sign, then Blaney has the potential to capture another win with ease. Calling the Piedmont-Triad region his childhood home, a North Wilkesboro win would be treasured in the Blaney household.
Bubba Wallace
Despite not being locked into this year’s All-Star Race, Bubba Wallace has turned heads before in Wilkes County. The 23XI Racing driver was runner-up here in 2023, and transferred through the Open to a sixth-place showing a year ago.
Wallace has some of the shortest odds to repeat this effort, with this crew oozing confidence at every stop. Team 23 continues their best start to a season ever. A possible All-Star Race win would help Wallace find his contending groove once again.
Wilkes County’s foothills gem is gearing up for their biggest race weekend yet in its second life. The richest All-Star night in sports gets underway with the Open race at 5 p.m. on Sunday. 100 laps will determine the final three entrants into the All-Star Race, which will go green shortly after 8 p.m. on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to James Gilbert/Getty Images
