No. 2 on the list is the race dubbed “One Hot Night” by then-Charlotte Motor Speedway track president H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler and his staff. Chosen to promote the 1992 event as the first NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race held at night under the track’s new lighting system, the catchphrase proved prophetic to fans who witnessed the thrilling finish.
Davey Allison dominated the previous year’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 at the 1.5-mile track in a No. 28 Ford that team owner Robert Yates nicknamed ‘007.’ Yates decided to bring the beloved car to the 1992 event in the hopes of again sweeping both races. After winning the pole position for the event and the race’s first 30-lap segment, Allison set himself up for a second consecutive All-Star win.
In the final 10-lap segment, Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt battled for the lead while Allison bided his time in third. On the last lap, Earnhardt and Petty made contact in Turn 3, causing Earnhardt to lose control of his No. 3 Chevy. Allison avoided Earnhardt and took the inside line as he and Petty battled side-by-side coming off the final turn. Allison edged Petty by just a few feet at the finish line, but there would be no Victory Lane celebration for the young driver.
As they took the checkered flag, Petty and Allison’s cars made contact, causing Allison’s Thunderbird to slam into the outside retaining wall in a shower of sparks. Allison had to be cut from the car and airlifted to a local Charlotte hospital, where he was treated for a concussion and bruises. He claimed $300,000 in prize money for the victory.
No. 2 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Moment
“I’m not saying this as somebody who played a role in it, but I don’t know how that race didn’t end up being number one (on the “Most Memorable” list),” said Larry McReynolds, then crew chief of Allison’s No. 28 Ford. “Everything about that night was special. There was a full moon, a huge crowd, and a lot of electricity in the air. Leading up to that race, it had been an up and down season for us. We were either winning or wrecking. That night, we figured out how to do both.”
“That was the first time racing under the lights, which made it really exciting,” said Petty. “It was one of the most defining moments of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. That night we were racing hard. When you look back at races that come down to the last lap, the last 100 yards, those are the races that you remember as the special ones and it certainly is a special race memory for me.”
The top vote recipient for the “Most Memorable NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race” will be revealed next week, leading up to the 26th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
Tune in at 7 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 22, to SPEED for coverage of this year’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Sprint customers can also enjoy race coverage on their Sprint phones via NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile. To download the new NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, which is free with any data plan, Sprint customers should text “NASCAR” to 7777 (Standard text messaging and data rates apply). Tickets for the event start at $39 and are available at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling 800-455-FANS.
Most Memorable Moments in NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race History
Rank
Moment
Year
No. 2
“One Hot Night” - Allison Edges Petty at Finish Line
1992
No. 3
“The Tide Slide”- R. Wallace Wins, D. Waltrip Spins
1989
No. 4
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Rookie-Season Win
2000
No. 5
Jeff Gordon’s Third NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Win
2001
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