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NASCAR Ford Teams Have Eventful All-Star Race 2023: Video

The NASCAR Ford teams couldn’t hold a candle to the No. 5 NASCAR Chevy Camaro of Kyle Larson during the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro on May 21st, 2023, but even so, The Blue Oval had a night of ups-and-downs at the resurrected speedway.

North Wilkesboro has been bereft of Cup Series activity since 1996, but was recently catapulted back onto the schedule after massive rebuilding efforts to bring the track back to its former glory. It certainly provided the perfect battleground for the Cup Series’ annual non-point paying All-Star race.

But first, let’s revisit the Open, which is another exhibition race that allows non-qualifying drivers to advance to the invitation-only All-Star race. On Lap 50 of the short race, the No. 34 NASCAR Ford Mustang of Michael McDowell got into a spat with the No. 54 Toyota TRD Camry of Ty Gibbs, sending the former spinning. On Lap 78, McDowell and the No. 34 Mustang got revenge, squeezing the No. 54 of Gibbs into the outside wall. This move allowed Josh Berry in the No. 48 Camaro to pass Gibbs’ No. 54 for the lead and win the Open.

McDowell was understandably frustrated with Gibbs, a rookie.

“It’s short-track racing to try to get into the All-Star Race, so somebody’s going to leave with hurt feelings – I guess it’s me,” McDowell said. “I got a great restart there, kind of worked the outside, got a couple of guys and was able to get down, and Ty just plowed into me, just knocked me into the 31 [Justin Haley] and spun us both out… All that stuff comes around, man. You can get away with it a few times, but it comes around. I don’t have the budget for the fine. Otherwise, I would not be standing here. I’d be standing down there (confronting Gibbs on pit road).”

As for the All-Star race, The Blue Oval was a non-factor, leading no laps while Larson’s No. 5 Chevy commanded the field. Chase Briscoe was the best-finishing NASCAR Ford team, posting a fourth-place result in the No. 14 Mustang. Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Mustang quietly finished sixth, while Joey Logano put the No. 22 Mustang in 10th at the line.

NASCAR Cup Series Race Results, All-Star At North Wilkesboro, May 21, 2022
Finish Start Car Number Driver Team Laps Run Laps Led Car
1 16 5 Kyle Larson HendrickCars.com Chevrolet 200 145 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
2 10 23 Bubba Wallace Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota 200 0 Toyota TRD Camry
3 20 45 Tyler Reddick The Beast Unleashed Toyota 200 0 Toyota TRD Camry
4 5 14 Chase Briscoe HighPoint.com Ford 200 0 Ford Mustang
5 13 9 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 200 0 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
6 11 12 Ryan Blaney Menards/Wrangler Ford 200 0 Ford Mustang
7 1 99 Daniel Suarez Trackhouse Motorplex Chevrolet 200 55 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
8 21 43 Erik Jones STP Chevrolet 200 0 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
9 23 54 Ty Gibbs # Monster Energy Toyota 200 0 Toyota TRD Camry
10 3 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford 200 0 Ford Mustang
11 18 1 Ross Chastain Worldwide Express Chevrolet 200 0 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
12 7 20 Christopher Bell Interstate Batteries Toyota 200 0 Toyota TRD Camry
13 9 11 Denny Hamlin Yahoo! Toyota 199 0 Toyota TRD Camry
14 12 19 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops Toyota 199 0 Toyota TRD Camry
15 22 48 Josh Berry(i) Ally Chevrolet 199 0 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
16 2 17 Chris Buescher Fastenal Ford 199 0 Ford Mustang
17 4 3 Austin Dillon BREZTRI Chevrolet 199 0 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
18 15 29 Kevin Harvick Busch Light Ford 198 0 Ford Mustang
19 8 6 Brad Keselowski Nexlizet Ford 198 0 Ford Mustang
20 6 24 William Byron Liberty University Chevrolet 198 0 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
21 17 2 Austin Cindric Keystone Light Ford 198 0 Ford Mustang
22 14 8 Kyle Busch Thorntons Chevrolet 198 0 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
23 24 42 Noah Gragson # Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet 197 0 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
24 19 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kroger/Coca-Cola Chevrolet 196 0 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

# – Rookie
i – Points ineligible
* – Part-time driver

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Alexandra is a Colorado-based journalist with a passion for all things involving horsepower, be it automotive or equestrian.

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