NASCAR All-Star Race: Drivers to watch Sunday at North Wilkesboro
The NASCAR All-Star Race is a revival of the sport’s history at North Wilkesboro Speedway. With so little experience among the field, who should we watch? The 5/8th-mile track has a lot of quirks and character. Drivers are going to love racing on the rough surface. But can we give any of these drivers an edge?
None of these NASCAR drivers has driven a Cup car on this track in a race. There hasn’t been a race here for 27 years! North Wilkesboro is a new beast. While some drivers got extra laps during the late model races on Wednesday, others opted not to. Then there are a handful that plans to drive the Truck Series race on Saturday.
Let’s not forget the Pit Crew Challenge is going to play a major role in deciding the starting lineups for the Heat races and the Open. With just a few open spots available in the 24-car NASCAR All-Star Race field, things will be heated in the pits and on the track leading up to the main event.
NASCAR All-Star Race drivers to watch
Looking at the field already locked into the main event, there are a number of drivers to keep an eye on. We are not racing at the large Texas Motor Speedway oval, no, this is a short track. It changes everything.
Kyle Larson
Every week, you know he’s going to be competing in the top-5 if not for the lead. He said it himself a few weeks ago, he almost always has the fastest car on the track. It is just a matter of staying clean and out of trouble.
Kyle Larson has won the NASCAR All-Star Race twice before and is the odds-on favorite to win at 13-2 odds.
Kevin Harvick
The Closer is always a driver to watch. Especially in his final season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Before closing the chapter on his career, Kevin Harvick will suit up in the No. 29 for one final ride in this All-Star Race.
Harvick also has two wins in this event and is close behind Larson in the odds at 15-2. He hasn’t won a race this year, but this would be a fitting one for him to take.
William Byron
I’ll admit I didn’t want to make myself a believer based on how William Byron slumped last season after a hot start. However, Byron has proven he is someone to be feared on the track. Short, intermediate, or superspeedway, he can compete.
Byron has three wins this season, including a win at Phoenix. He has also performed very well on short tracks this year as a whole. Watch that 24 car.
There are a few other names that come to mind this weekend. Maybe Christopher Bell or Martin Truex Jr. are going to be poking around for a win. I also wouldn’t overlook Ryan Blaney as he tries to repeat as NASCAR All-Star Race winner.