The 23-driver field for the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race, the third of its kind to be contested at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway, has been officially set, after the running of an intense 100-lap primer known as the All-Star Open.
Carson Hocevar and John Hunter Nemechek occupied the top-two positions at the end of the 100-lap sprint at the 0.620-mile short track, advancing them into the NASCAR All-Star Race and awarding them the 21st and 22nd place starting spots for the event.
Hocevar, who started the race from the second spot, was able to hold a transfer spot throughout the entire event, giving himself a rather easy pathway into the NASCAR All-Star Race. At the halfway break, crew chief Luke Lambert elected to put just two tires on the No. 77, which allowed him to balance the factors of track position and fresh rubber to hold on.
Sunday will mark the first-ever appearance in the NASCAR All-Star Race for Carson Hocevar, who is currently in his second season of full-time competition in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“We were really loose. I had my hands full, for sure. It’s great to be an All-Star, per say, for a night and be able to be in the big show,” Hocevar said. “I’ve watched this race and been a fan for all my life, so to be able to do this and win the Open is super cool. I think it tells a lot about this race team. North Wilkesboro Speedway is incredible. I love everything about this facility.”
Hocevar, despite leading the final 46 laps of the NASCAR All-Star Open, wasn’t exactly sold on the condition of his No. 77 Chevrolet, documenting that the team will need to make improvements before the start of the All-Star event.
“I liked our racecar yesterday,” he added. “I didn’t like it today. But if we’re that fast and I don’t like it at all, hopefully this is a good sign for us. The Indiana Fever team won last night, so we’re going to have to try and hopefully have a shot at it in the All-Star Race.”
John Hunter Nemechek, driving the No. 42 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota Camry XSE, finished in the runner-up position in the All-Star Open, which earned him the final spot in the NASCAR All-Star Race.
Nemechek spent most of the event running outside the top-five but chose to come to pit road to strap new tires on his Family Dollar-sponsored entry at the Lap 79 caution, which allowed him to surge through the field and quickly battle for the final transfer position.
The Mooresville, North Carolina-native was able to make an aggressive move on Bubba Wallace to secure the final transfer spot and eventually drove away from Ty Dillon and teammate Erik Jones to lock himself into the event.
“Heck yeah. We have a shot to go win a million dollars. Hats off to this No. 42 team – we unloaded and had pretty good two or three lap speed, but really no long run race, so proud of them for the effort that they put in yesterday, and what they were able to find.”
Nemechek, like Hocevar, will also be competing in his first NASCAR All-Star Race.
“Pitting on that last deal – I knew I couldn’t win from where I was at. We came and got two, and that helped us out. Hats off to the whole No. 42 team. Proud of the effort.”
Ty Dillon was third, with Erik Jones and Michael McDowell rounding out the top-five. Zane Smith, AJ Allmendinger, Bubba Wallace, Cole Custer, and Riley Herbst rounded out the top-10. After leading the first 100 laps of the All-Star Open, Shane Van Gisbergen faded to 13th.
Noah Gragson Collects All-Star Fan Vote
For the third consecutive season, Noah Gragson will be part of the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro, after winning the Fan Vote.
Gragson, who competes full-time in the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Front Row Motorsports, triumphed in the fan-choice award, allowing him to take the 23rd spot in the field for the All-Star Race.
The Front Row Motorsports driver suffered from power steering issues during the 100-lap All-Star Open, finishing 17th.
