Stewart overtakes Kenseth with 2 laps to go to win Sprint All-Star Race

CONCORD – Tony Stewart passed Matt Kenseth on the next to last lap, driving to victory in the 25th edition of the Sprint All-Star Race.
Stewart, who started running his own racing operation this season, won the $1 million prize Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway, his first victory in the All-Star event.
"It's awesome," he said.
Kenseth was second, Kurt Busch third, Denny Hamlin fourth and Carl Edwards fifth in the 100-lap race.
With five laps to go, for a re-start, Kenseth was in the lead, with Kyle Busch running second.
Earlier in the final 10-lap segment, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman, racing for the lead, came together in turn four, sending Gordon into the grass, then back onto the track.
The rest of the field managed not to hit Gordon, who was knocked out of the race.
"That's just a bunch of guys racing really, really hard," Gordon said. "I think Kyle could have given me a little more room."
On the opening lap of the final segment, Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson made contact, causing a caution.
The first incident caution of the race happened early in the third segment, with Sam Hornish Jr. and Greg Biffle making contact.
Just ahead of Hornish and Biffle, Johnson hit the wall but maintained control.
The caution lasted three laps, from 73 through 75.
Jeff Gordon provided the first green-flag lead change of the race on lap 81, passing Kyle Busch.
Gordon was the leader after 90 laps, ahead of Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson.
The second segment belonged to Kyle Busch, who led all 20 laps.
He was followed by Kenseth, Johnson, Mark Martin and Gordon.
Johnson led every lap of the first 50.
Kurt Busch ran second, ahead of Gordon, Martin and Kyle Busch in the top five.
The only break in the first 50 laps was a mandatory pit stop halfway through.
HORNISH WINS SHOWDOWN
Sam Hornish Jr. won the Sprint Showdown, and Jamie McMurray finished second to advance to the Sprint All-Star Race.
"We knew we had a really good car tonight," Hornish said. "I'm just super happy to be racing for a million dollars."
McMurray moved from a 30th starting spot to runner-up in the 40-lap race, overcoming a windshield problem.
"It was pretty bad the first lap," he said. "The windshield got covered in oil and I couldn't see. It kept smearing and getting worse. Once I got behind Sam, I ran about 90 percent because I couldn't see."
Ironically, McMurray said he believes only drivers who have won a Cup race in the year previous should be in the all-star race, even though that would have left him out of the competition.
Fans voted Joey Logano into the all-star race.
"To be a rookie and have the fan support is unbelievable," Logano said. "It's really cool."
FIRST TIME WINNERS
David Pearson, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth and Casey Mears all won their first NASCAR Cup races at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May.
Within five years, Pearson, Gordon, Labonte and Kenseth each won a Cup championship after winning the 600.
Mears was driving for Hendrick Motorsports when he won the 600 in 2007; now he is driving for Richard Childress.
Mears needs to win a title to keep the trend going.
Pearson went on to become the second-winningest driver in NASCAR history, while Gordon is closing in on becoming the third-winningest.
"I may not have won a title yet," Mears said, "but I'll bet none of those other four ever have had an uncle (Rick Mears) who's won four Indy 500s, either."
Rookie Joey Logano will be one of those seeking his first Sprint Cup victory in the 50th Coca-Cola 600.
"It would be nice for my first Cup win to come here in the Coca-Cola 600, right in our backyard," Logano said. "And then go on to win a championship. That's what this is all about – winning races and winning championships."
HARVICK WINS
Kevin Harvick won the Pennzoil Victory Challenge burnout competition held on the frontstretch of Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday.
Harvick took home the $10,000 prize over competitors Darrell Waltrip, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne.
ONLINE RACING
Beginning in early 2010, fans can race online and compete in a series.
The IRacing Series is only available through a broadband connection, and competitors will need a steering wheel and pedal combination.
Online series racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a member of the competition committee.
The service costs about $13 a month and features 12 online racing series on road courses and ovals.
CHILDRESS, BURTON JOIN
Richard Childess and Winston-Salem State University announced that Childresa and Jeff Burton will be joining the Motorsport Management Advisory Council at WSSU.
"The program they have put together – this is the second year – and the amount of students that they have put together, it's amazing what they did in such a short time," Childress said. "We work with them through an internship. The students can come in and meet our marketing and business people."
Burton said: "Getting to know the program, I got really excited about it. It's fun to see young men and women work really hard."
MISS USA TO SING
Reigning Miss USA Kristen Dalton will sing the national anthem before next Saturday's Carquest Auto Parts 300 at LMS.