The All-Star race has been known for some of the best and most exciting side-by-side, trading paint type of racing there is! Points, Smoints – their off the table. This is a get down and dirty, who’s hungry for the money race. You should expect to see a field of the best drivers in the sport, trading paint and fighting for every inch on the track in each segment. Saturday night’s race will mark the 26th year the All-Star Race will be run.

The Format

100 laps (four segments of 50, 20, 20 and 10 laps)

Segment 1 – 50 laps with a mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 25 at which time teams must pit and take on four tires. Following the end of Segment 1, the caution flag will be displayed for an optional pit stop.

Segment 2 -20 laps with the caution flag displayed at the end of Segment 2 for an optional pit stop.

Segment 3 -20 laps with a 10-minute break at the end of Segment 3. Teams may make normal adjustments to their cars during this break. The finishing order after the third segment determines the field’s lineup for the pace lap prior to the start of the fourth segment.

Segment 4 – Once the field takes a lap behind the pace car, all cars must enter pit road for a four-tire stop. The order in which the cars exit pit road is how they will line up for the 10-lap shootout with only green-flag laps counting.

What’s On The Line

$1 million pay-out to the race winner.

Eligibility: Drivers not already eligible for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race who have been approved by NASCAR for Sprint Cup Series competition and have met all other eligibility requirements. Those requirements include, but are not limited to, competing in a Sprint Cup Series event during the 2009 or 2010 seasons; finishing in the top 50 of the final 2009 Sprint Cup Series point standings or attempting to qualify for a 2010 Sprint Cup Series event.

Length: The Sprint Showdown will consist of 40 laps, 60 miles, and will be run in two 20-lap segments. Between segment 1 and segment 2, there will be a yellow flag during which teams can pit and may elect to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Teams pitting will not retain their position on the track and will start segment 2 at the rear of the field in the order they leave pit road. All restarts will be double file with lapped cars at the rear of the field.

Three advance: The top two finishers in the Sprint Showdown will earn starting spots in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. A third driver will also advance as determined by a fan vote.

What’s In A Name

There have been different names, but, the outcomes have been the same – unpredictable and unforgettable moments in racing history. Examples of those names were; The Winston, the Winston Select, the All-Star Challenge, the All-Star Race. No matter what you call them, their exciting all the same.

What’s On The Line

The most prestigious title in racing, and acquiring the name, All-Star Champion. Oh yeah, and carrying that FAT CHECK to the bank!

What It Means To Win

The thrill of victory? Sure, that’s enough to make the hairs on your neck stand up. That big paycheck? That’s enough to make any grown man break down in tears in victory lane. To me, in my eyes, being the All-Star Champion would mean you beat the best of the best drivers in series!You also get bragging rights for the year leading up to the next event.

From The Horse’s Mouth

“With the addition of the four-tire pit stop, there is going to be even greater competition between the pit crews on who can get their driver serviced and out the quickest. I think the fans are in for quite a show.” – Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition.

” The All-Star race is a serious race, perhaps as serious as any race in the season. It can be a high-pressure situation, and we put a lot of emphasis into it. A lot of work goes into it, and a lot of cars get tore up. There’s a lot of people really upset afterward because it’s all about winning. That’s the only thing that matters.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“I love the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race as much as the fans do,” said Mark Martin.

Defending All-Star?

The stats might say NO!  Tony Stewart is last year’s All-Star champ, but he is struggling a bit this year being two slots out of the Chase in 14th. He does have 4 top 10’s and 1 top 5 this season, but being in the top 12 is what counts.

As far as Charlotte stats go, he can hold his own with a 13.5 average finish at this track since 2000. His last win, besides the All-Star race, was back in 2003 and in a Gibbs ride at that. If you wanna top 10-15, he can get it done here.

History In The Making

Stewart did become the first owner/driver to win the event since it started. He could also make more history by being the second driver to win it back-to-back like Bobby Allison did in 1991 and 1992.

Change / No Change

The Sprint All-Star Race has added a mandatory pit stop that could shake up the running order right before the final 10-lap segment.  Sprint, Charlotte Motor Speedway and NASCAR officials announced this change earlier at a news conference at Charlotte.

What It Boils Down To

The length of the race segments remains the same: a 50-lap run that includes a mandatory green-flag pit stop; a 20-lap segment after which teams may pit under caution if they so choose; another 20-lap segment followed by a 10-minute break for adjustments to the car; and a 10-lap dash to the finish.

Spoilers and Spoilers , Oh My

Pemberton said 83 spoilers “went out the door” Monday morning to Cup teams, with another 75 ready to fill orders for the 64.5-inch by 4-inch blades that will replace the controversial rear wing, starting with the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 March 28 at Martinsville.

All-Star Tidbit

Darrell Waltrip won the inaugural All-Star race back in 1985. Bill Elliott won the 1986 Winston at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the only time the race was held at any track other than Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Who’s Hot

JGR has won five of last seven Sprint Cup races.

Missing Out

In a press release issued early Monday recapping the weekend’s events, the team said Vickers would not compete in Saturday’s All Star event, an exhibition event with no points involved, in order to continue his recovery.

Among the requirements for eligibility for the All Star event are drivers who have won a race in 2009 or 2010. Vickers was eligible after winning at Michigan in 2009.

Even The Losers,,,,Get Lucky Sometime

Those drivers who have been stinking up the track and turning their cars into scrap metal can race if they finish first or second on the 40-lap Sprint Showdown.

Top All-Star Finishing Averages (Last 9 Races)

6.0 – Jimmie Johnson – 8 races

6.4 – Matt Kenseth – 9 races

7.3 – Tony Stewart – 9 races

8.0 – Joey Logano – 1 race

8.5 – Carl Edwards – 4 races

8.6 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. – 9 races

8.7 – Jeff Gordon – 9 races

8.9 – Ryan Newman – 8 races

9.3 – Brian Vickers (NOT RACING) – 3 races

10.0 – Mark Martin -9 races

10.8 – Bobby Labonte -9 races

11.0 – Kasey Kahne – 6 races

11.5 – Sam Hornish Jr. – 2 races

11.7 – Kevin Harvick – 9 races

12.0 – Kurt Busch – 8 races

Not So Hot All-Stars

16.0 – Martin Truex Jr. – 2nd, 10th and 16th

16.8 – Kyle Busch – 16th, 20th, 24th and 7th

17.0 – A.J. Allmendinger – 17th

17.0 – Jamie McMurray – 2nd, 18th, 19th and 9th

17.0 – Brad Keselowski – 17th

Who To Watch

Jimmie Johnson – From 2002 to the present, he has won twice, placed in the top five 6 times out of 8 races. The other finishes were 17th in 2004 and 13th in 2009. Johnson is on a roll this season. If not for shooting himself in the foot last week racing Kyle Busch out of the pits, he may have won. He arguably had the fastest car and was the one to beat. It’s hard to bet against the 48. Lady Luck was not on his side last week, but believe this, he still has the horseshoe, the rabbit’s foot key chain, the clover on the dash and rumored leprechaun in the trunk.

Matt Kenseth - He has a win that came in 2004. Since then, he has placed 11th, 11th, 7th, 3rd and 2nd.  <<<< See that? 3 – 2 (1?)

Tony Stewart – Our defending All-Star Champ has a chance to make history again being the second driver to win back-to-back All-Star titles. In the last 3 All-Star races, he placed 5th, 5th and 1st!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – When will it start clicking for the 88 team? For the All-Star race, he’s a top 10 at best, as far as the numbers go. A theme has started to form since 2005. Those finishes have been – 10th, 9th, 9th, 8th, 10th. This team and driver need a shot of confidence with a win here, but it’s not likely.

Jeff Gordon – At one time, he was the All-Star to beat, but as of late, he finishes like Dale Jr. His last three races here were – 11th, 15th and 19th. Actually, those numbers are worse than Jr’s.

Mark Martin – He had a win in 2005 and since then, the numbers have been very decent. They were – 15th, 3rd, 9th and 6th.

Alright, this was not my typical breakdown, but then again, this is not the typical race. Next week, we will dissect the numbers for Charlotte (excluding All-Star), for points racing. So be sure to come back and get a full Nascar Fantasy Preview for the Coca Cola 600 here.

Now, can anyone step to the plate and put a stop to Hendrick and Joe Gibbs? Anyone? (Crickets……..)

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