ALL STAR RACE 101

In 2011, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is being held for the 27th time. The annual non-points event, set for Saturday, May 21, brings together NASCAR’s best under the lights at the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., as a prelude to the following week’s Coca-Cola 600 that is annually held on Memorial Day weekend.

The race includes race-winning drivers and car owners from the 2010 and 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series seasons, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions from the past 10 years (2001-2010) who are active drivers and have compet- ed in at least one series event during the 2010 or 2011 season, and past winners of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Additionally, two drivers can qualify for the premier event by finishing first and second, respectively, after two 20-lap segments in the Sprint Showdown. Finally, one driver joins the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race field by winning the NASCAR Sprint Fan Vote.

AUDIO PODCAST: The Final Lap #157 – All Star Race 101

For the third consecutive year, the 2011 race features an exciting 10-lap “shootout” as its final segment. Here is a look at the format:

• Segment 1: 50 laps with a mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 25 at which time teams must pit and take on four tires. Following the end of Segment 1, the caution flag will be displayed for an optional pit stop.

• Segment 2: 20 laps with the caution flag displayed at the end of Segment 2 for an optional pit stop.

• Segment 3: 20 laps with a 10-minute break at the end of Segment 3. Teams may make normal adjustments to their cars during this break. The finishing order after the third segment determines the final starting positions for the fourth and final segment.

• Segment 4: 10-lap shootout with only green-flag laps counting.

The NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman, slated for Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. ET at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C., and will air on SPEED at 8 p.m. ET that evening. The event directly linked to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, as the finishing order in the pit-crew competition determines the selection order of pit stalls for the race.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2010 – Kurt Busch
2009 – Tony Stewart
2008 – Kasey Kahne
2007 – Kevin Harvick
2006 – Jimmie Johnson
2005 – Mark Martin
2004 – Matt Kenseth
2003 – Jimmie Johnson
2002 – Ryan Newman
2001 – Jeff Gordon
2000 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1999 – Terry Labonte
1998 – Mark Martin
1997 – Jeff Gordon
1996 – Michael Waltrip
1995 – Jeff Gordon
1994 – Geoffrey Bodine
1993 – Dale Earnhardt
1992 – Davey Allison
1991 – Davey Allison
1990 – Dale Earnhardt
1989 – Rusty Wallace
1988 – Terry Labonte
1987 – Dale Earnhardt
1986 – Bill Elliott
1985 – Darrell Waltrip