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Sprint Cup
ALL-STAR: All-Star Race Format Changed
Ninety-lap run will be divided into five segments, with segment winners placed at the front of the field...
Kasey Kahne (Right) speaks at Tuesday's Sprint All-Star Race announcement at Charlotte Motor Speedway as Steve Addington (Left), crew chief for Tony Stewart, stands by. (Photo: Harold Hinson/HHP Photos)
For the past several years, much of the significant excitement of the annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has been centered in the final 10-lap segment.
That might change this year.
Sprint and Charlotte Motor Speedway officials announced Tuesday another significant format change in a race that has seen many over its 28-year history.
In an effort to boost competition in the segments leading to the final 10-lap shootout, officials added segments and put a “prize” at the end of each segment for the leader at that portion of the race.
The May 19 event, a 90-lap non-points race, will be run at CMS in segments of 20, 20, 20, 20 and 10 laps. The winner of each of the 20-lap segments will move to the front of the field and line up in positions one through four leading to a mandatory pit stop prior to the start of the final segment.
Drivers must pit prior to the 10-lap “money” run, but their teams can choose a quick stop-and-go, a two-tire change or a four-tire change. The sooner the driver leaves the pit, the better position he will have for the start of the 10-lap finale.
“This new addition to the format is going to provide even greater incentive for the drivers to go all out to win one of the four segments,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “It also puts even more focus on the pit crews and how they perform during that final pit stop. The team aspect of the sport will be highlighted more than ever, and it helps set the stage for an exciting race and an exciting evening for the fans.”
The race will be televised by SPEED.
The leader of the first 20-lap segment will be first in the field before the final pit stops, the leader of the second segment will be second, etc. If a driver wins more than one segment, the second-place driver in each segment will inherit the lead spot.
There will be optional pit stops between each of the first three segments.
The race pays $1 million-plus to win.
Kasey Kahne said leading one of the 20-lap segments will be important.
“I think the 20-lap segments are going to mean a lot,” he said. “You’re going to have to race. You want to be in that final front four when you hit pit road for the final 10.
“Ten laps go by so fast here that you want to be in the front four if you want to win the race. It’s big. This year’s strategy will be how do I win in those 20 laps.”
Kahne and Steve Addington, crew chief for Tony Stewart, both said it’s quite likely that some teams will choose stop-and-go pit stops during the mandatory pit segment to put their cars back on track quickly.
“If four guys don’t take any tires and you can start sixth with [new] tires, then you might be able to win from there,” Kahne said.
Addington said track position “always is a key in these races, and there’s a distinct possibility that a lot of guys will go fuel only. And you’ll set yourself up for that during the prior segments.”
All-Star week in Charlotte is scheduled to begin May 17 with the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at Time Warner Cable Arena. The finishing order of the pit-crew event determines the pit selection order for the all-star race.
Qualifying for the all-star race is scheduled May 18. The Sprint Showdown will be held before the all-star event May 19.
The top two finishers in the showdown (a 40-lap race) and the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote will advance to the all-star race.
Drivers currently eligible for the all-star race: Marcos Ambrose, Trevor Bayne, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Mark Martin, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, David Ragan, Regan Smith and Tony Stewart.
The list includes race winners from the 2011 and 2012 seasons and past champions of the race and the Sprint Cup Series from the previous 10 seasons.
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
That might change this year.
Sprint and Charlotte Motor Speedway officials announced Tuesday another significant format change in a race that has seen many over its 28-year history.
In an effort to boost competition in the segments leading to the final 10-lap shootout, officials added segments and put a “prize” at the end of each segment for the leader at that portion of the race.
The May 19 event, a 90-lap non-points race, will be run at CMS in segments of 20, 20, 20, 20 and 10 laps. The winner of each of the 20-lap segments will move to the front of the field and line up in positions one through four leading to a mandatory pit stop prior to the start of the final segment.
Drivers must pit prior to the 10-lap “money” run, but their teams can choose a quick stop-and-go, a two-tire change or a four-tire change. The sooner the driver leaves the pit, the better position he will have for the start of the 10-lap finale.
“This new addition to the format is going to provide even greater incentive for the drivers to go all out to win one of the four segments,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “It also puts even more focus on the pit crews and how they perform during that final pit stop. The team aspect of the sport will be highlighted more than ever, and it helps set the stage for an exciting race and an exciting evening for the fans.”
The race will be televised by SPEED.
The leader of the first 20-lap segment will be first in the field before the final pit stops, the leader of the second segment will be second, etc. If a driver wins more than one segment, the second-place driver in each segment will inherit the lead spot.
Check out the new 2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Format! Download PDF (Image: NASCAR)
There will be optional pit stops between each of the first three segments.
The race pays $1 million-plus to win.
Kasey Kahne said leading one of the 20-lap segments will be important.
“I think the 20-lap segments are going to mean a lot,” he said. “You’re going to have to race. You want to be in that final front four when you hit pit road for the final 10.
“Ten laps go by so fast here that you want to be in the front four if you want to win the race. It’s big. This year’s strategy will be how do I win in those 20 laps.”
Kahne and Steve Addington, crew chief for Tony Stewart, both said it’s quite likely that some teams will choose stop-and-go pit stops during the mandatory pit segment to put their cars back on track quickly.
“If four guys don’t take any tires and you can start sixth with [new] tires, then you might be able to win from there,” Kahne said.
Addington said track position “always is a key in these races, and there’s a distinct possibility that a lot of guys will go fuel only. And you’ll set yourself up for that during the prior segments.”
All-Star week in Charlotte is scheduled to begin May 17 with the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at Time Warner Cable Arena. The finishing order of the pit-crew event determines the pit selection order for the all-star race.
Qualifying for the all-star race is scheduled May 18. The Sprint Showdown will be held before the all-star event May 19.
The top two finishers in the showdown (a 40-lap race) and the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote will advance to the all-star race.
Drivers currently eligible for the all-star race: Marcos Ambrose, Trevor Bayne, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Mark Martin, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, David Ragan, Regan Smith and Tony Stewart.
The list includes race winners from the 2011 and 2012 seasons and past champions of the race and the Sprint Cup Series from the previous 10 seasons.
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
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