If the NASCAR All-Star Race were a marriage it would be the union everyone concedes has gone stale. A relationship that no longer carries the same spark as it once did and is in desperate need of dissolution.
NASCAR’s All-Star Race is a relic from a bygone era
An event that used to represent something special is now really no different from any other race on NASCAR’s calendar.
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The All-Star Race has long been advertised as an event where winning was the end-all be-all. At a time, consistency determined the eventual champion and made the race an anomaly, something looked forward to with great anticipation by fans and drivers alike.
That period, however, has come and gone.
NASCAR’s new era has transformed every race on the schedule into must-win affairs. A regular reason victory essentially earns a driver automatic entry into the Chase for the Sprint Cup or -- because a playoff win assures transfer to the next round -- ultimately the championship.
In the grand scheme, the All-Star Race’s mantra regarding winning is currently applicable everywhere. Nowadays winning is just as important in all races -- in fact more so later in the season considering the title implications.
If what was once exclusive is commonplace, then what’s left? That answer is not much.
Part of the quintessential charm of the All-Star Race has long been the event where memorable moments that helped define NASCAR occurred: “The Pass in the Grass;” Rusty Wallace spinning out Darrell Waltrip for the win with two laps to go; Davey Allison winning as he crashed into the frontstretch wall and ended up in the hospital with the trophy alongside him.
But recently, what’s been the signature happening? Was it Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch getting together racing for the lead in 2010? Perhaps, but nothing of consequence came of it. Or what about the time Carl Edwards wrecked after winning, hitting an infield drainage gate celebrating? Maybe, however the race was decided. If anything, the image of Edwards’ smoldering car in victory lane was more comical than rousing.
More often than not, the All-Star Race has become a rather staid affair. Theatrics have given way to passé. Fireworks have been replaced by collective yawns. And late-race drama? Well, that’s been absent, too.
Aerodynamics, a rules package and a track where cars easily and quickly spread out combine to make passing opportunities limited. Clean air is everything and whichever driver gets in front holds an almost insurmountable advantage. Only once has there been a lead change in the final segment over the past five years -- and that occurred with eight laps remaining in the 2010 version. Not exactly the kind of excitement that’s supposed to be the All-Star Race’s identifiable trademark.
Even the $1 million prize doesn’t capture the attention it once did. Every single competitor comprising Saturday night’s 20-driver field is a multi-millionaire many times over. When NASCAR was a still burgeoning sport and the teams had a whiff of mom-and-pop operations, the money mattered.
To their credit, officials have attempted a myriad of fixes to restore the prestige. Past years have included the incorporation of eliminations, the rigging of the lineup for the final segment based on average finish and a qualifying format where drivers are permitted to come down pit road at speed.
None of the wrinkles have restored the All-Star Race’s luster. The race is a relic from a bygone era. And barring something miraculous, it will continue to be that way for the foreseeable future.
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