David Ragan won the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Showdown to transfer into his first NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Making the final pass for the lead exiting the second corner with two laps to go, Ragan secured his spot in the night’s main event.
NASCAR All-Star Race Results: David Ragan Wins Sprint Showdown, Brad Keselowski Transfers With Second Place
Starting from the pole, Ragan led the field to the end of the first 20-lap segment and did not pit during the caution flag period separating the two segments. Restarting the second segment, Brad Keselowski powered to the lead by going three-wide under Ragan and Paul Menard.
As the laps clicked away, Ragan closed the gap on Keselowski and was able to retake the lead coming to the white flag.
“There for a few laps I thought that we were just going to have to run second,” Ragan said. “Everything is a lot easier if you have a fast race car. I just tried not to make any mistakes those last few runs.”
Finishing second, Keselowski also transferred into the Sprint All-Star.
“I certainly didn’t let him go, I can tell you that,” Keselowski said. “I saw him coming and tried to not let him go (by). I didn’t want to lose the race, but I wasn’t going to wreck myself trying to win when I knew I could transfer from second. I certainly didn’t let him go. His car was just that strong. He went right by me, dirty air and all.”
Also transferring into the Sprint All-Star Race was Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished the Sprint Showdown in the sixth spot. There were 2.4 million votes cast in the Sprint Fan Vote.
“I want to thank all the fans, not only my fans, but all the fans that voted,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
It did not take long for the action to start as Landon Cassill blew the left-rear tire heading into Turn 1 on the second lap of the first segment. As the car slid up the banking, Joe Nemechek and David Stremme narrowly made it past. Following in Stremme’s path, Derrike Cope drove hard into the driver side door of Cassill’s ride. The wreck was vicious, but both drivers were able to walk away.
Here are the results of the Sprint Showdown:
- David Ragan
- Brad Keselowski
- Marcos Ambrose
- AJ Allmendinger
- Joey Logano
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- David Gilliland
- Bobby Labonte
- Jeff Burton
- Brian Vickers
- Paul Menard
- Casey Mears
- Martin Truex Jr.
- JJ Yeley
- Mike Skinner
- Travis Kvapil
- Todd Bodine
- T J Bell
- Joe Nemechek
- Brian Keselowski
- Tony Raines
- David Starr
- Andy Lally
- David Stremme
- Boris Said
- Landon Cassill
- Derrike Cope
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