Labonte will be in this years all star race using a past champions rule along with Dale Jarrett. More photos   HERE (LAT photo)

SERIES CHAMPIONS WITHIN IN THE PAST 10 YEARS WHO HAVE NOT WON IN 2006 OR 2007 There are just two drivers in this group: Dale Jarrett, who won the Nextel Cup championship in 1999 and Bobby Labonte, who won it a year later.

ALL-STAR WINNERS WITHIN IN THE PAST 10 YEARS WHO HAVE NOT WON IN 2006 OR 2007 Again, this group consists of just a pair of drivers, Mark Martin, who won the NASCAR Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge in 2005, and Ryan Newman, who took it in 2002.

OPEN SLOTS Three more racers will make it into the All-Star Challenge, which will bring the final field to 21. Those three include the winner and runner-up of the All-Star Race Open, a preliminary event run right before the All-Star Challenge. Drivers who are eligible for the Open are those who didn't qualify for the All-Star Challenge, but were in the top 50 in NASCAR Nextel Cup points standings either at the end of the 2006 season, or as of March 12, 2007.

The final driver will be voted in by the fans through the Nextel Fan Vote. Last year's fan vote winner was Kyle Petty, while this year, it's anyone's guess. But there's no question that, regardless of who gets in, this year's field will be one of the strongest and deepest in years, with 21 drivers looking for a million dollar payday and a shot at making history.