NASCAR Announces Format for Annual All-Star Race

NASCAR | 4/11/2017

All-Star Race NASCAR News

NASCAR has announced a new format for this year's NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dale Jr. will be eligible to compete as a past winner of the event.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 11, 2017) – As the engines fired, the lightbulbs buzzed – a first for the annual non-points extravaganza. Never before had an all-star race been run under the lights. Dubbed “One Hot Night,” the 1992 race signaled a new era, one that became tradition for the fan-favorite event.

And now, 25 years later, past meets present … as another new era for the all-star race begins.

NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway today announced the format for the 2017 NASCAR All-Star Race, one that rewards winning, and incorporates a fascinating strategy component.

The race format is as follows:

  • The race will feature four stages (20 laps / 20 laps / 20 laps / 10 laps), totaling 70 laps, an ode to the 1992 edition of the same distance.
  • The goal for all competitors: Earn a spot in the final 10-lap, 10-car stage.
  • The winner of each of the first three stages will lock up a spot in the final stage, as long as they remain on the lead lap after the third stage.
  • The cars with the best average finish in the first three stages will make up the remaining spots needed to fill the 10-car final stage.
  • The remaining 10 cars will be lined up by average finish of the first three stages and given the option to pit. Exit off pit road determines starting order for final stage.
  • The winner will be awarded $1,000,000.

 

Crew chief strategy has been at a premium throughout this season, and that won’t change in the all-star race thanks to a unique opportunity granted each team: a coveted set of softer tires. Each team will have one set of these tires available to use at their discretion. A softer tire provides the car with more grip and, thus, speed. In other words, it’s a game-changer. But there’s a catch: Teams that choose to put on their softer tires to start the final stage must start behind those that choose regular tires.

Qualifying for the main event, which returns to Friday night, will again include the wildly popular ‘no speed limit’ four-tire pit stop. Each team will have three timed laps, one of which will include a mandatory four-tire pit stop with no pit-road speed limits enforced. The five quickest teams will advance to the final round of qualifying to determine starting positions one through five. The team that completes the fastest stop will earn the Pit Crew Competition Award.

The Open will occur Saturday evening prior to the All-Star Race and will include three stages (20 laps / 20 Laps / 10 laps). The winner of each stage will earn a spot in the all-star race. The Open field will be set by two rounds of traditional knock-out qualifying.

Those eligible for the NASCAR All-Star Race include: drivers who won a points event in either 2016 or 2017; drivers who won a NASCAR All-Star Race and compete full-time (to which Dale Jr. qualifies); and drivers who won a NASCAR Cup Series championship and compete fulltime. Those who have not already earned a spot via the above criteria can still lock-in by winning a stage in the Open or by winning the Fan Vote.

Drivers who have already clinched an all-star spot: Chris Buescher, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman and Martin Truex Jr.