CJ's Speed & Thunder

The Sprint NASCAR All-Star Race
Participants

2009

These are the rules for 2008.

The 'NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race' is a Sprint Cup non points race. It is also one of the richest races with the winner earning $1 million dollars, $50,000 per lap in the final segment. The race is run at Lowe's Motor Speedway. It is held one week prior to Memorial Day, on Saturday night, 'under the lights'.

Qualifying is 2 laps with a mandatory 4 tire pit stop. As the driver leaves the pit box, there is no pit road speed limit.

Pit selection is determined by the finishing order of the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, held on Wednesday prior to the All Star Race

The race is run in 4 quarters of 25 laps each. After the 1st 25 laps, there will be a 5 lap caution, pit stops are optional. After the 2nd quarter, half-time, there is a 10 minute break where adjustments can be made withput losing track position. After the 3rd quarter, there is a 5 lap caution and a pit stop is mandatory, stop and go is okay. Starting lineup for the 4th quarter is set by how they leave pit road. There is no field inversion.

Caution laps will be counted during the first 3 segments, but not during the 4th segment. Restarts are side-by-side in running order (like the start of a race). Drivers who pit during yellow-flag interruptions may lose one or more laps if they remain on pit road while the field circles behind the pace car.

All restarts are double file.

Who is in the race?

1. Winners of NASCAR Sprint Cup races in the previous year and up to the race before 'The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race'. This includes both drivers and team owners.
2. All previous NASCAR Sprint champions from previuos 10 years who attempt to qualify for Sprint Cup events are eligible.
3. All previous 'NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race' or 'NASCAR Nextel All-Star Race' or 'The Winston' winners from the past 10 years who attempt to qualify for Sprint Cup events are eligible.
4. If the field is less than 20, winners of Sprint/Nextel/Winston Cup events from previous seasons can be made eligible. All drivers eligible from a particular season are made eligible, even if the field has more than 20 cars.
5. The winner and runner up of the 'Sprint Showdown' are eligible. 'Sprint Showdown', a two segment (20 laps each) 40 lap qualifying race, is run prior to 'The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race', and is open to all Sprint Cup regulars in the top 50 in points from the current season or previous season, who do not qualify based on earlier qualifications. If the cars pit during the break, they will lose position. Only green flag laps count during the last segment. 'The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Showdown' qualifiers start from the rear of the field.
6. By Fan Vote. The competitor who gets the votes at NASCAR.com or text message on a Sprint/Nextel phone. If the driver with the most votes wins the race, or does not finish on the lead lap, the next highest (and so on) will be in the race.

Click Here for a list of previous winners.

Other active former Nextel Cup winners not otherwise eligible: Kasey Kahne (10/06), Brian Vickers (10/06), Jeremy Mayfield (8/05), Elliott Sadler (4/04), Joe Nemechek (10/04), Michael Waltrip (03), Robby Gordon (03), Ward Burton (2/02), Sterling Marlin (3/02), John Andretti(4/99), Ken Schrader(6/91).