2012 NASCAR All-Star Race

SI Staff | May 20, 2012

2012 NASCAR All-Star Race /

2012 NASCAR All-Star Race

Earnhardt Jr. wins Showdown

Dale Earnhardt Jr. led all 40 laps and won the Sprint Showdown to earn a spot in the All-Star race. Pole-sitter A.J. Allmendinger and Bobby Labonte earned the other two spots.(

All-Star introductions

Fireworks explode over the Charlotte Motor Speedway during driver introductions prior to the Sprint Cup Series All-Star race.

Green flag drops

Pole-sitter Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, leads the field to the start of the race.

Edwards is done

Carl Edwards, who won the 2011 All-Star race, blows an engine on lap 25. Edwards was looking to become the first repeat champion at the All-Start event since Davey Allison did it in 1991 and '92.

Biffle blows engine

Greg Biffle blows the engine of the #16 3M/American Red Cross Ford on lap 68. There are flames trailing the car, but he's able to get out of it uninjured.

Johnson wins

Jimmie Johnson celebrates his All-Star win by grabbing the checkered flag. He becomes only the third driver to win this event three times.

Johnson victory lap

Jimmie Johnson takes a victory lap with team owner Rick Hendrick sitting on the door. The win was the seventh as a car owner for Hendrick.

Johnson in Victory Lane

Johnson holds up his winners' check as confetti pours down in Victory Lane. All told, he earned $1,071,340 on the night.

Published May 20, 2012

SI STAFF