Along with scoring a win during the All-Star Open, Josh Berry punched his ticket to the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, scheduled to take the green at 8:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday night.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs, who finished second, will also transfer to the All-Star Race. Legacy Motor Club’s Noah Gragson, who finished seventh, will advance into the $1 million-to-win race through fan vote.
How It Happened
The opening laps of the Open were uneventful, but following the competition caution on lap 40, the on-track action heated up.
Michael McDowell and Aric Almirola capitalized on the restart, taking it three-wide to pick up several positions toward the front of the pack. Meanwhile, Berry led Gibbs out front in his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
With 51 laps to go, Gragson bounced off the inside wall, triggering a multi-car wreck that collected Chandler Smith, Ryan Newman and Todd Gilliland. The ensuing damage to Smith’s No. 13 Chevrolet effectively ended his run.
With 43 laps to go, Gibbs bumped McDowell as he slid up the inside of the No. 34, causing McDowell to travel up the track and shove Justin Haley into the outside wall. After sustaining considerable damage to his No. 31 Chevrolet, Haley was unable to continue.
On the restart, Gibbs was visibly impatient after starting third, passing Aric Almirola for second. The No. 54 continued his charge with 31 laps to go, speeding around the outside of Berry on the frontstretch to take the lead.
The No. 48 maintained second, while Ryan Preece was knocking on the door of a transfer position in third.
Berry soared into the lead with 22 to go, as McDowell held up Gibbs on the frontstretch.
McDowell — who was two laps down — again took the inside line away from Gibbs as the leaders passed the No. 34 with 10 laps to go. However, he was unable to hold Gibbs for long, and the No. 54 quickly filed in place behind Berry, who led.
Berry and Gibbs were still 1-2 at the finish line.