2012 NASCAR All-Star Race Schedule, Eligible Drivers

CONCORD, N.C. - With a new format and a million dollars to the winner, the 2012 Sprint All-Star Race promises to be the most exciting in recent memory. With no points on the line, there’s nothing to win but pride, bragging rights and cold hard cash. The Sprint Showdown last chance race also adds a “win or go home element,” something usually missing from NASCAR during the regular season.

Twenty of the 23 starting spots have already been determined, with three more to come on Saturday. Who will be left standing at the end of all five segments and who is your choice to get the Sprint Fan Vote?

Camping World Truck Series

The Sprint Cup Series isn’t the only show in town over the weekend as the Camping World Truck Series will take center stage on Friday night. Kyle Busch is the defending winner, and is not entered into this weekend’s race, ensuring that a new race winner will be crowned.

This is also the same race where Kimi Räikkönen made his NASCAR debut last year, finishing 15^th for Kyle Busch Motorsports. That experiment didn’t last long, and Räikkönen returned to Formula 1 during the offseason, now driving for Team Lotus.

NASCAR Nationwide Series

With the Truck and Cup Series running on Friday and Saturday respectively, the Nationwide Series inherits the Sunday slot. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is the defending winner and is looking to win three in a row at the Newton, IA speedway.

Stay tuned to NASCAR Ranting and Raving as we keep you posted throughout the race weekend. An eligibility list and TV schedule can be found after the jump!

Updated 2012 Sprint All Star Race eligibility list:

In addition to those already eligible for the race, three other drivers will race in Saturday night’s main event:

TV Schedule:

THURSDAY

7:00 p.m. - NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge (Time Warner Cable Arena... TV: SPEED 8:00 p.m.)

FRIDAY

9:00 a.m. - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice (1 hour)

10:20 a.m. - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice (1 hour, 30 minutes)

12:00 p.m. - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Showdown final practice (1 hour, 25 minutes)

1:35 p.m. - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Spint All-Star Race final practice (2 hours, 35 minutes)

4:00 p.m. - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying (2 laps)

5:00 p.m. - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Showdown qualifying (2 laps)

6:00 p.m. - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint All-Star Race qualifying (3 laps with pit stop, with a four-tire change)

8:00 p.m. - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race (Distance: 134 laps, 201 miles.... TV: SPEED)

SATURDAY

7:30 p.m. - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sprint Showdown (Distance: 20 laps/20 laps.... TV: SPEED)

9:00 p.m. - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star Race (Distance: 20 laps/20 laps/20 laps/ 20 laps/ 10 laps)

Content editor Matt Weaver is live on assignment in Charlotte and will post live play-by-play and behind the scenes information here on the website and on Twitter @MattWeaverSBN.

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