Here's what NASCAR changed about All-Star Race
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which has undergone numerous format changes through the years, will see another major one this season.
The biggest wrinkle for the non-points event, which awards $1 million to the winner, occurs in the last of three race segments. Before the 13-lap, final-segment dash to the checkered flag, nine, 10 or 11 cars — the number to be determined by a random draw — will be required to pit for a four-tire change. The rest of the field will stay on the track and be in front of the cars with newer tires for the final segment.
The potential new intrigue will come from the faster drivers trying to race through the field to the front in the 13-lap span.
The race’s first two segments will be 50 laps each and will include mandatory pit stops for the full field
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The framework of the final changes was the brainchild of Brad Keselowski, who tweeted Friday morning that he was going for a 'must watch race of the year' from a fans' perspective. The 2012 Cup champion tweeted after the changes were announced: 'The hunters and the hunted. It'll come down to what driver can run the hardest with a million dollars on the line.'
Later, Keselowski predicted the new format will produce “the modern-day format of excellence for that type of race because a lot of things have changed. It’s not 1990 anymore. It’s not 1992 anymore. I think we’ve seen aerodynamics come in the sport and really make it so much more difficult to pass than ever before, and the format is meant to combat that challenge.
“There is probably an argument to be made that it’s a little bit gimmicky, and that’s fair, but it’s the All-Star Race, and I feel like the All-Star Race gets a free pass on gimmicks to some extent. It should be a short, fun, amazing race. I’m feeling pretty optimistic that it’s going to be the best race of the year.”
Once a highlight of the NASCAR schedule, the All-Star Race has been relatively placid in recent years, with little of the tight racing and controversy that made the event popular. This year's event is May 21 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Friday’s changes are designed to juice action in the race’s final segment.
“It could be complete chaos, which could be fun,” said Carl Edwards.
The starting field will be set by qualifying. There will be a break of three-to-five minutes between segments.
"We worked with NASCAR and talked to several drivers to gather feedback for what they thought would make the very best race for the fans," Charlotte Motor Speedway President Marcus Smith said.
"The drivers don’t all agree on the perfect strategy, which means some drivers will be fighting on race-worn tires to stay up front at the end, while others will be charging through the field on new tires after the final pit stop."
SPRINT SHOWDOWN
This three-segment race is slated for May 20, also at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with the winner from each segment getting a spot in the All-Star Race. Two 20-lap segments, followed by a 10-lap dash, make up the Showdown.
WHO MAKES THE ALL-STAR FIELD?
Race winners from 2015 and 2016, past All-Star Race winners, past Sprint Cup champions, winners of the three segments of the Sprint Showdown and the driver who wins the fan vote. A minimum of 20 cars must be in the field. If the field is short, the fan vote order will fill the remaining slots.
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