Moments that changed the course of the 30th annual all-star race
KAHNE HITS THE WALL TO END HOPES OF WIN
Kasey Kahne grabbed the lead for the first time on Lap 35 and pulled away to win the second segment. With four cars staying out between segments and two more changing just two tires, Kahne started eighth for segment No. 3, but on Lap 47 he passed Jamie McMurray (who had not changed tires) for the top spot.
By the time the third segment ended, Kahne was a comfortable 1.411 seconds ahead, with Harvick giving chase.
On the opening lap of the fourth segment, a mechanical failure in Jeff Gordon's car sent the No. 24 Chevy into the outside wall in Turn 3, collecting the Chevrolet of Martin Truex Jr. and the Ford of Greg Biffle.
Kahne had two brushes with the wall in segment No. 4, ending his strong run with the sort of disappointment that has plagued him in points races all season long.
HARVICK LOSES LEAD ON PIT ROAD
With the best average finish in the first four segments, Kevin Harvick entered pit road first for a mandatory four-time stop before the final 10-lap dash. McMurray was second onto pit road, followed by Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Carl Edwards.
But Edwards used the No. 1 pit stall to advantage, winning the race off pit road over McMurray and Harvick. Matt Kenseth started the final segment in the fourth spot, with Johnson and Earnhardt behind him in fifth and sixth.
Edwards, however, couldn’t keep McMurray behind him, and Harvick couldn't catch the No. 1 car.
PIT STRATEGY HELPS MCMURRAY WIN
Streaking away from an intense battle with polesitter Carl Edwards to open the final 10-lap segment Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Jamie McMurray won the Sprint All-Star Race -- and the million-dollar-plus prize that goes with the victory -- for the first time in his career.
McMurray held off fast-closing Kevin Harvick, who crossed the finish line .696 seconds behind the race winner.
Matt Kenseth ran third, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Edwards and Jimmie Johnson.
But before McMurray, who made a huge track position gain by staying out between the second and third segments, delivered the first victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series non-points race to team owner Chip Ganassi, fans at the 1.5-mile track saw an action-packed race with numerous twists and turns before McMurray took the checkered flag.
NASCAR News Wire contributed to this story.