Duo triumph at NASCAR's Sprint Showdown in Charlotte

Clint Bowyer and Greg Biffle have qualified for NASCAR's Sprint All-Star Race, winning the two Sprint Showdown segments at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Biffle led all 20 laps to secure the win in the opening race with Bowyer finishing second, before the latter dominated the second segment to get his ticket punched for Saturday's All-Star Race.

Danica Patrick won the fan vote, conducted online, to also advance to the All-Star Race, which is an annual exhibition event held in Charlotte, featuring winners from the past 12 months and previous NASCAR champions.

"I'm really excited," Biffle told reporters after his win on Friday.

"We've worked really hard and we had good track position. We qualified well.

"It seems like we're getting our cars a little bit better. We know we still have work to do but when it got out in clean air it was pretty fast and we were able to hold off Clint and have a pretty good lead."

Speaking after his own win, Bowyer said: "A 20-lap dash, you've got to go for it.

"We took four tires, so I had to go for it on the start. That's what 20-lap dash is all about, beating and banging and going for it.

"You know after the first four or five laps you get sorted out and it's really hard to pass."