Noah Gragson hits the inside wall during All-Star Open, causing four-car pileup

North Wilkesboro just claimed its first victim for Sunday. Noah Gragson misjudged the inside wall and hit it, pushing his car up the track. This NASCAR All-Star Open just got really interesting with one of the potential fan-vote winners getting in this mess.

This one involved Todd Gilliland, Ryan Newman, and even Chandler Smith in the Kaulig No. 13. Noah Gragson hit that wall and it just sent him flying up the track and into the other cars. Both Gilliland and Chandler Smith looked to have serious damage.

After this one, these drivers are going to have to hope they win the fan vote if they want to make the main event later tonight.

Gragson makes contact with the inside wall, and that leads to trouble! pic.twitter.com/EDogkUCHHJ

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2023

These drivers are all trying to do the unthinkable and go from the open to the main event and win a seven-figure payday. Right now, it doesn’t look like Gragson and these other drivers are going to have a shot at winning with their damage.

This All-Star Open is giving us some fun racing. Ty Gibbs as usual has been a thorn in some drivers’ sides. Michael McDowell in particular. Those two got into it more than once in this race and it shows just how much it means for these drivers.

Noah Gragson gets bit by North Wilkesboro

In the Truck Series race, it was hard to watch those trucks dive into Turn 1 and ride along that wall. Noah Gragson simply got bit. This was a case of racing hard and just not pulling up when they should. Gragson was pinned in there a little bit, and there really was nowhere for him to go.

After the wreck, Gragson and Newman were able to keep racing. However, for Gilliland and Chandler Smith, it was the end of the line. With a shot at the main event on the line, these drivers are willing to do whatever it takes. However, it doesn’t help if you damage your ride before you can get to the 8:00 PM race.

This looks like a battle between Ty Gibbs and Josh Berry with Aric Almirola looking to steal one from Gibbs. As this race winds down, these drivers are going to really put those cars in deep on the turns and try to get every tenth of a second that they can manage.

Unless Noah Gragson wins the fan vote, don’t expect to see him in the All-Star Race later tonight.