All-Star Race Needs More Than A Pit Stop

It was announced Wednesday that the big “tweak” to this year’s Sprint All-Star Race is a mandatory four-tire pit stop before the last of four segments.

Presumably, this was done to place more emphasis on the pit crews. As if there wasn’t enough already.

The pit crews already have their own competition during All-Star week (the Pit Crew Challenge), play a factor in qualifying (mandatory pit stop), are spotlighted during pre-race introductions (walk out on stage with their driver) and have a role earlier in the race (mandatory pit stop in the first segment).

So it makes no sense then, that in the one race that is supposed to be about the drivers putting it all on the line and going for the win, that an even bigger emphasis would be placed on the pit crew.

The way things are going, in a couple years drivers might have to give up their seat to the jackman during one of the segments and change a tire.

Shouldn’t the “All-Star” race be all about the stars? NASCAR is undoubtedly a team sport, but that’s already on display for 36 regular-season races. Hell, half the races last year seemed like they were decided by a pass in the pits rather than on the track.

This midseason exhibition should be about the biggest names in the sport: The drivers.

Yes, the pit crews work hard every week and are often more athletic than the drivers, but can you give me the names of five pit crew guys in the entire sport? And no, “Billy Bad Butt” doesn’t count.

The fact is, the crew guys are not the stars. The drivers are. And this is the All-Star race. So NASCAR and Sprint should treat it that way.

And while we’re at it, the All-Star race needs big changes now that the series has adopted double-file restarts for the whole season.

Those restarts used to be part of what made the All-Star race special (last year’s fantastic finish was the catalyst for NASCAR implementing the “shootout-style” restarts for every race).

But now those in charge need to think outside the box again and come up with ideas that will be fun and entertaining to watch – something different than what we see every week.

And not a pit stop.

Here are three ideas:

• Eliminations: This concept was used in the past, but it was ahead of its time. In the age of reality shows that vote off, fire or just say goodbye to contestants every week, the All-Star race should dismiss two drivers after each segment.

The first one to go would be whichever car is running last on the track; the second car would be the driver who receives the fewest votes from in-race fan voting via text messages (Attention: Sprint!).

Fans would text like crazy to ensure their favorite driver stayed in the race, and Speed could even show live real-time voting during the segments to add to the drama.

In this year’s race, there are 18 cars eligible so far, which would leave 12 for the final segment (not counting wrecked cars). A dozen cars is more than enough for the final 10-lap shootout.

• Backward Qualifying (and impound): The cars couldn’t race backward due to safety concerns (drivers would be more likely to hit the wall on their side of the car), but they could qualify the wrong way around the track for two laps.

It would make qualifying a must-watch event, just for the curiosity of the whole thing.

Then, as an added wrinkle, make it an impound race (an unnamed driver proposed that part of the idea). The cars would have to start the race in qualifying trim, which would make for a wild start for those who chose to set up their cars to go faster the wrong way.

• Car Swap Segment: This idea is admittedly a bit crazy, but for one of the mid-race segments, drivers should swap cars with another competitor (likely from the same team or manufacturer to avoid conflicts).

It would be up to them whether to help their teammate for that segment by getting them a good position on the track or sandbagging and letting the car drop back through the field.

And who wouldn’t want to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. driving the 48 car for 20 laps? Or Kasey Kahne in the 99?

Any of these suggestions would make the whole All-Star race much more interesting and be vastly more watchable and entertaining for the fans, which is really what an exhibition event should be about anyway.

Otherwise – pit stop or not – it’s just another race.