NASCAR Cup Series

ON THE NEXT TO THE LAST RUN, YOU GUYS SEEMED REALLY FAST. HOW WAS IT GENERALLY TONIGHT? "Our car was awesome. I think we made some huge improvements for sure to be able to keep up with the guys that have been so fast on the 1.5-mile tracks, the No. 99 (Carl Edwards) and the No. 17 (Matt Kenseth). "

KURT BUSCH (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T) Finished 13th “We just have to get our cars turning better in the corners. It was a situation where our Shell/Pennzoil Dodge was a real rocketship for the first three laps of a run, fast and a little on the loose side."

As fireworks illuminate the sky, Carl Edwards destroyed the No. 99 while spinning through the infield grass in pure excitement.

Saturday nights preliminary action kicked off the evening with a big bang. In the early laps of the Sprint Showdown a caution flew to end any chances that Landon Cassill and Derrike Cope would have of advancing into the main event.

DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 DALE JR. FOUNDATION/VHI SAVE THE MUSIC/AMP ENERGY/NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET, was voted into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race by the fans and announced following the Sprint Showdown Race. A short press conference was held in the Charlotte Motor Speedway Infield Media Center.

BRAD KESELOWSKI (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T) Finished Second In Sprint Showdown “I was just trying to pass David (Ragan) on that restart, but David spun his tires and I had the opportunity to capitalize on that and made a run for it. "

DERRIKE COPE - No. 64 Gunselman Motorsports Ford Fusion (Finished 27th) - "Our car was tight. We were on used tires so it was tight and I just had to be committed to the high side.

The All-Star event kicks off Saturday with a pre-race concert from Country Music Artist Dierks Bentley, presented by Budweiser.

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT CHEVROLET met with media and discussed strategy for the 600, recent safety issues, the All-Star race, Race Control, and more.

Clint Bowyer, No. 33 BB&T Chevrolet, will start on the outside of the front row for Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.