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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
ALL-STAR: The Five Best Races
NASCAR's 1992 All-Star Race provided fireworks that have arguably never been matched in the popular exhibition event...
Mike Hembree  |  Posted May 18, 2010   Charlotte, NC
Darrell Waltrip (Left) and Rusty Wallace (Right) tangle in the 1989 All-Star Race. (Photo: Charlotte Motor Speedway Archives)
A certain amount of hysteria and hype surrounds NASCAR’s annual Sprint All-Star Race, and justifiably so.

The event has produced some of the most spectacular racing of the past quarter-century, and virtually all of the big names of the past couple of decades have played big roles in the race.

Add in Charlotte Motor Speedway’s expertise at over-promotion, and you have one of the NASCAR season’s most anticipated events.

Sponsor Sprint has been involved in attempting to select the five most memorable All-Star events. Ever helpful, we’re here to save them some time and effort.

Here they are:

1. No matter the results of future races, the 1992 race might always be No. 1.

No All-Star race has been more anticipated than that one, and it delivered – by the truckload.
Kyle Petty, now a SPEED analyst, had a role in arguably the greatest All-Star Race finish of all time, in 1992. (Photo: Getty Images)

Charlotte Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler had taken a considerable gamble by lighting the track for the race, moving it to an evening event for the first time. Like so many other things Wheeler attempted over the years, it developed into a remarkable success. And the finish provided the night’s big exclamation point.

On the last lap, Dale Earnhardt, Davey Allison and Kyle Petty locked horns in a titanic battle for the win. Earnhardt tried to force his way to the front. Petty didn’t yield, and they crashed, spinning Earnhardt out of a chance for the win.

That left Petty and Allison running side by side for first, and they crashed approaching the finish line. Allison took the checkered flag first, then slammed into the outside wall.

He was the winner of the most spectacular All-Star Race in history, yet he didn’t get to visit victory lane. He spent the night in an area hospital, but was released in good condition the next day.

2. Dale Earnhardt created part of his legend in the 1987 race, the one now remembered for a pass that was not a pass. It was still remarkable, however.

Earnhardt and Bill Elliott were battling tooth-and-nail for the lead, and they exchanged contact. A bump coming out of turn four pushed Earnhardt onto the grass separating the racing surface from pit road, but, amazingly, he retained control of his car and returned to the track, still in first place.

The maneuver became known as the “pass in the grass,” although there actually wasn’t a pass.

Earnhardt went on to win the race.


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