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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
ALL-STAR: Big Guns Ready To Roll
Saturday’s Sprint All-Star Race will be the 26th in NASCAR history...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted May 19, 2010   Charlotte, NC
Brad Keselowski (Left) makes his sophomore appearance in the Sprint All-Star race which Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Right) won in 2000. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
The best of the best are ready to light up Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night, with the 26th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race. SPEED will have full coverage live, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

For the competitors, the race is a unique challenge — $1 million to win, no points on the line and racing in front of family and friends makes for a night unlike any other in NASCAR.

“The All-Star race is a serious race, perhaps as serious as any race in the season,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won the race as a NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie in 2000. “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.”

Expect a lot of fireworks as always under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway Saturday night. The drivers are ready, to be sure.

“The All-Star race is an awesome event and really a lot of fun to drive,” said Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski, who will make his second All-Star appearance Saturday night. “To be able to race in it is an honor and it is a great moment in my career as a driver.”

Keselowski said the vibe will be entirely different on Saturday night.

“There are fewer cars on the track, which means that more attention is focused on you,” he said. “There is a little pressure that comes along with that, which you can definitely feel. You get ready to race really quickly, though, when you look around and see that you are racing the best drivers in the world. You want to put on a good show for the fans because that is the reason for this race. It’s a way to say thank you by letting us go do some no-holds barred racing.”

Some facts about the Sprint All-Star Race:

• There have been 25 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races.

• The first All-Star Race was in 1985.

• In 1986, the event was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and won by Bill Elliott. That season was also the first year for what is now known as the Sprint Showdown. All 24 other All-Star races have been run at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

• Some 83 drivers have run in at least one All-Star Race.

• There have been 17 different winners.

• Terry Labonte and Mark Martin have each participated in 20 races, more than any other driver.

• The race has featured a field that ranged from 10 drivers in 1986 to 27 in 2002.

• Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990 and 1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001) are the only three-time winners.

• Davey Allison (1991 and 1992), Terry Labonte (1988 and 1999), Mark Martin (1998 and 2005) and Jimmie Johnson (2003 and 2006) are the only other drivers to post multiple victories. Allison is the only driver to ever win consecutive All-Star events.

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Ryan Newman (2002) are the only drivers to win in their rookie season.
Jeff Gordon poses in victory lane after winning the 2001 NASCAR All-Star race. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

• Jeff Gordon is the youngest All-Star winner at 23 years, 9 months and 18 days (1995). Mark Martin is the oldest at 46 years, 4 months and 12 days (2005).

• Jimmie Johnson has a 6.0 average finish in eight appearances in the race, the best of any active driver.

• The race has been won from the pole position three times; all three came in consecutive years: Dale Earnhardt (1990) and Davey Allison (1991 and 1992).

• The deepest in the field a winner has started was 27th, by Ryan Newman in 2002.

• Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won six All-Star Races: Jeff Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson (two) and Terry Labonte (one).

• Five drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same year: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990, 1993), Rusty Wallace (1989), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 2001) and Jimmie Johnson (2006).

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEEDtv.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100 and e-mail him at Jensen is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of Speed,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association and an NMPA Writer of the Year.

2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Week • The Stars Come Out. The Gloves Come Off. • Saturday, May 22nd at 7 pm ET
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