NASCAR announced on Wednesday the format for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race to be held at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 16th.
Headlining the announcement was an increase in the lap count, jumping from 90 to 110 by increasing each of the first four segments by five laps. The final segment will once again consist of 10 laps.
In segments one through four, all laps will count — green and yellow. In the final segment, only green-flag laps will count. Optional pit stops will take place at the conclusion of each of the first three segments. Following the fourth segment, the field will be reset according to each driver’s average finishing position among all four segments. Each team must then make a four-tire pit stop, with the first car off pit road starting first for the final segment.
Also announced was a change to the Sprint Showdown. Instead of having the top-two finishers after the conclusion of 40 laps make the All-Star Race, the winner of each 20-lap segment will make the field.
The race will be run under the 2015 rules package. There had been speculation that the race would be the debut of the 2016 package.
As previously announced, the field will consist of race winners from 2014-2015, past All-Star Race winners from any year, and all former Cup champions. To be eligible, a driver must also be competing full-time in the Cup Series in the current year. The winner will earn $1 million. There are currently 17 drivers eligible to run the race. At least 20 cars will take the green flag, with final three spots filled by the Sprint Fan Vote winner and the winners of each segment of the Sprint Showdown.
“These updates were made to ensure that our fans have every opportunity to see the best drivers in one of our crown jewel events and give them even more on-track action,” Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, said. “Expanding this field and adding laps delivers that to our fans, raising the competition level and ensuring that this race continues to be the biggest all-star event in all of sports.”
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Sean returns as a ringer in 2017, contributing once a month because he (gasp!) is living it up in the big city without internet. While he's not consuming race news on the Twitter app and reddit he's writing a ton of short stories and paying the bills by working in marketing.
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Change, change, change…thee Nascar dummies just keep changing things…seems they change some rule every race….tire pressure??? who cares? three Lug nuts??? who cares…can you loads get it right?
Oh look, another bunch of changes to the All Star race! Is anyone surprised? They change it every year but nothing really changes.
We haven’t been impressed with this race over the past few years, it used to be fun but just isn’t any more. We don’t plan to go this year. I’ll either watch it from the comfort of my living room or skip it completely depending on whether or not I have something better to do.
This is a waste of time and just takes up a weekend on the schedule where they could have an actual points race or just have an off week.
With the testing restrictions the last several years, it has become a glorified test session to practice racing single file for the Coca Cola 600.
“a glorified test session to practice racing single file for the Coca Cola 600”
LOL! Too true. It would seem a good opportunity wasted to try the 2016 package which, I believe, would feature less down force. We really need to see an end to aero-push racing.
It’s hard to even care about the rules for the all-star race anymore. It used to be a novelty but now the rules for the regular season races are so ridiculous that the all-star race is just more of the same.
In how many years do you suppose it will be when they announce the ALL-STAR RACE will be open to the 36 fastest qualifiers and the next seven “DNQ’s” with the biggest $$$ sponsors?!?
What is the point of adding 5 laps to each segment? This thing drags on way too long already with the glorified starting lineup, the concerts, and all the halftime breaks after every segment. Here’s an idea for a change. Put the cars on the track, let them race, and then everyone go home?