First timers added to All-Star race
There will be two new-comers added to this year’s Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race: A.J. Allmendinger, driver of the 84 Red Bull car and Sam Hornish Jr. driver of the Mobil 1 car. This is the first time both have participated in the $1,000,000 race.
There will be two new-comers added to this year’s Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race: A.J. Allmendinger, driver of the 84 Red Bull car and Sam Hornish Jr. driver of the Mobil 1 car. This is the first time both have participated in the $1,000,000 race.
Allmendinger and Hornish Jr. finished first and second in the Sprint Showdown, a play in race to determine the remaining three spots.
“I’m super excited about (being in the race),” Hornish said after finishing second. “We felt like yesterday we had a fast car. I was trying to get there for sure.”
Elliot Sadler, who was taken out of the showdown after being hit by Allmendinger, had harsh words for the Showdown winner.
“If you take a look at the replay you can tell what happened,” Sadler said. “The 84 just took us out … I hate it for my guys. They put in a lot of hard work to try to get into the All-Star Race and we didn’t even get a chance.”
Allmendinger apologized for the wreck and said he didn’t want to be know as “that kind of driver.”
“I didn’t mean to get into Elliot,” he said. “It was my fault. I don’t want to be known for that.”
Regardless of what happened during the Spring Showdown, Allmendinger said he’s excited to be part of the All-Star Race.
“It means a lot to me. All of these guys on this team have stuck behind me through everything this team has been though,” Allmendinger said. “Feels like the Daytona 500 to me.”
Kasey Kahne, driver of the 9 Budweiser car, was the third driver from the Showdown allowed in the All-Star Race after a fan vote.
“I would love to race my way in,” Kahne said, “get in that race by winning race or whatever. We have great fans, and it’s pretty cool that they voted for us and we got into that race.”
-Josh Lanier
