Kyle Larson dominates for third NASCAR All-Star race win - ESPN

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Kyle Larson didn't mince words after his third All-Star race victory in the last five years.

«That was an old school [butt]-whipping, for sure,» Larson said.

Larson turned in a dominating effort to run away with his third All-Star race and earn $1 million Sunday night in the Cup Series' return to North Wilkesboro Speedway following a 27-year absence.

He became only the fourth driver to win the All-Star race at least three times. Jimmie Johnson has the most with four victories, while Larson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt have three. Larson is the first to win the All-Star race at three different tracks, also having won in Charlotte in 2019 and Texas in 2021.

He celebrated the win with a full lap of burnouts around the .625-mile track as Hendrick Motorsports won its 11th All-Star race.

Bubba Wallace finished second in the 200-lap non-points exhibition race, followed by Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe and Chase Elliott.

But only Larson collected prize money in the winner-take-all event.

Wallace joked he won the «best of the rest.»

«Larson was lights out, so congrats to him,» Wallace said. «They have been hitting it on the head all season, so to run second to them is not a bad thing. But to run second in the All-Star race sucks because you go home with nothing.»

Larson overcame an early speeding penalty on lap 24, and ran away from the field.

After being sent to the back of the field on lap 24, he drove his No. 5 Chevrolet blowing past 16 cars on fresh tires, including polesitter Daniel Suarez on lap 56 to take the lead. Larson went on to build an 11-second lead before the first competition caution at lap 100.

The competition caution didn't slow Larson, who was never seriously challenged in the second