Ryan Blaney wins 2022 All-Star Race in Texas

It took him two attempts Sunday night, but Ryan Blaney took home the $1 million prize after winning the NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway for the first time in his career.

Just before Blaney hit the finish line at the scheduled conclusion of the race, NASCAR displayed the caution flag for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who contacted the outside wall in Turn 2. In the procedural rules for this year’s All-Star Race, NASCAR stated that the race must end under green-flag conditions. Since Blaney hadn’t yet crossed the finish line, the race went to overtime.

Blaney unhinged his window net believing he had already taken the checkered flag. It took him the duration of the caution period to get the net secured enough to complete the overtime period.

In overtime, Blaney fended off charges from Denny Hamlin and Austin Cindric to take home the $1 million check in the exhibition race, Blaney’s first triumph in six All-Star appearances. Blaney led each of the last 84 laps. Joey Logano and Daniel Suarez completed the top five.

The 140-lap event — originally scheduled for 125 laps — was dotted by on-track incidents, the most serious of which occurred at Lap 49. Race leader Kyle Busch suffered a flat right rear tire at the exit of Turn 4. He attempted to get out of harm’s way by going low but wound up directly in the path of Ross Chastain. Chastain launched over the left rear of Busch’s car, bouncing off its left side before landing on all four tires, then contacting Chase Elliott and sending his No. 9 Chevrolet into the outside wall.

Defending All-Star Race winner Kyle Larson was also ousted by a crash after his right front tire went flat exiting Turn 4. Larson was running second at the time.

With 28 laps to go, Erik Jones crashed at