Once again, NASCAR has made changes to its rules package for the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race, the sanctioning body announced Wednesday, April 17.
The exhibition will have some experimentation, with all cars having a single-piece carbon fiber splitter on the front of the car and a radiator duct in the hood. The goal is for the splitter to improve ride height sensitivity, while the duct will decrease engine temperatures and hopefully reduce aero push for the leading cars.
The format will largely stay the same as last year, with an increase in laps. Stage one will end on lap 30, stage two on lap 50 after 20 laps, stage three on lap 70 after another 20 laps, and the checkered flag will fly on lap 85 for stage four and the race after 15 green-flag laps.
Unlike normal points races, laps are not counted between stages.
Qualifying and Open formats will remain the same as last year.
There were no changes to the eligibility rules for drivers to enter. The race will be open to Cup race winners from 2019 and 2018, three stage winners in the Open before the race and a fan vote winner who races in the Open.
The race is set for May 18, with TV coverage on FOX Sports 1.
About the author
Michael has watched NASCAR for 20 years and regularly covered the sport from 2013-2021. He moved on to Formula 1, IndyCar, and SRX coverage for the site, while still putting a toe in the water from time-to-time back into the NASCAR pool.
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“The format will largely stay the same as last year, with an increase in laps”.
More laps, but why??!
Ooooooh!
Aaaaaah!
Ok. It seems to me that NASCAR stole it from the fans and are just going to use it for a test session and if doesn’t work, “Oh well!” If it works, they’re the smartest person in the room. Another little tidbit and change to keep us suckers watching. Getting old.
“Unlike normal points races, laps are not counted between stages.”
One of my biggest beefs with the stage racing. I actually don’t mind the stages giving rewards for racing up front during the beginning/middle of the race. However, I think they should just log the points at stage end without a caution – let them keep going uninterrupted to the finish just like a normal race. If NASCAR insists on stopping the race for the stages, these caution laps should NOT count towards the total race distance. Likewise, I don’t think “competition” caution laps should count either.
You are under the illusion that there was a purpose to the stage breaks beyond providing a planned window to show more commercials and of course to bunch the field back up for a double file restart (the only time there is side by side racing) without having to call a fake debris caution.
Bill – that is very true, unfortunately. As much as I (we) would like to think it’s about the racing (as it should be), it’s actually all about the marketing $.
Jeremy, I do agree with your overall point though, the stage breaks (and competition cautions) would be a lot easier to swallow if we didn’t lose so many laps in the process.
There’s lots more TV time outs for commercials.
I heard a driver say recently “TV time ruined the momentum” or something like that. Point is, it is totally for TV commercials or whatever they think we want to see and are wrong about. Drivers know it is the WWE.
A radiator duct in the hood….
Just a crazy idea.. How about using the area where the grill is
supposed to be on a “stock car”??