2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series - Nextel All-Star Challenge

Nextel All-Star Challenge

The Nextel-All Star Challenge was a non-points night race held on May 21 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The 90-lap race was divided into three segments with the final paying the most money. Also, the top six finishing cars from the first segment were inverted for the second segment. About half of the field was taken out of the race at lap 35 when Tony Stewart ran into the back of Joe Nemechek which caused an incident in the infield between Nemechek and Kevin Harvick. Mark Martin won this race driving a special "retro" paint scheme that featured the old Valvoline colors but with Viagra as the sponsor. Ironically, his previous All-Star victory was in 1998 when Valvoline was his primary sponsor. Elliott Sadler finished in second place. The rest of the top-5 were Nextel Open winner Brian Vickers, Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson, who are all teammates at Hendrick Motorsports. Martin Truex, Jr. was chosen in an internet fan poll as the final entrant for the event.

In the Nextel Open qualifying race, Vickers spun out leader Mike Bliss on the last lap just before the start/finish line to win the event. Bliss was visibly upset.

Nextel Open Top Ten Results

1. Brian Vickers
2. Mike Bliss
3. Travis Kvapil
4. Kyle Busch
5. Bobby Hamilton Jr.
6. Casey Mears
7. Robby Gordon
8. Ricky Rudd
9. Ken Schrader
10. Martin Truex Jr.

Nextel All-Star Challenge Top Ten Results

1. Mark Martin
2. Elliott Sadler
3. Brian Vickers
4. Jeff Gordon
5. Jimmie Johnson
6. Dale Jarrett
7. Kurt Busch
8. Jeremy Mayfield
9. Bobby Labonte
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr.