All-Star Race format creates mass confusion, drivers express frustration

The finish of NASCAR’s All-Star Race saw Joey Logano and Kyle Larson put on an entertaining battle to win the $1 million exhibition event, but the conclusion is what few were talking about after Saturday night’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

An unexpected hiccup in an untested format created mass confusion and prompted several drivers to lambaste how the All-Star Race played out. Among those critical were Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin, each of whom took exception with a format that called for mandatory pit stops and a random inversion.

“It’s the dumbest damn thing I’ve ever been a part of,” Tony Stewart said after crashing out. “It’s the most screwed up All-Star race I’ve ever been a part of.”

Said Hamlin: “I knew when it took about 10 minutes to explain the rules in the driver’s meeting that it was going to be a complicated night.”

In a concept largely conceived by Brad Keselowski, the All-Star Race format called for three segments with drivers required to make a two-tire pit stop during each of the first two 50-lap segments, which would then set up an inversion of either nine, 10 or 11 cars prior to the final 13-lap segment.

The proceedings, however, went off the rails when a caution came out for Jamie McMurray’s spin with four laps remaining in Segment 1 while race-leader Matt Kenseth had yet to make his mandatory pit stop before the cutoff point.

Because he failed to stop, Kenseth was penalized one lap, which then created a scoring snafu with some drivers unexpectedly a lap down but still permitted to pit with those on the lead lap during the break between Segment 1 and 2.

The confusion was widespread, as several drivers radioed their teams asking exactly what was going on. In many instances the responses they received didn’t clarify the bewilderment.

“I didn’t know what way was up and what way was right and left,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. “Lap-down cars were pitting with lead-lap cars and wave-by cars were up front and in the middle. NASCAR did a good job of sorting the lineups out. Everybody was where they were supposed to be when we went back to green so you can’t complain. They were doing it unlike any other way they were doing it before.”

NASCAR Vice President Scott Miller later acknowledged officials had not anticipated this scenario and did not have a mechanism in place to fix the issue.

The first two segments that were supposed to set up a third segment where faster cars would make a required pit stop and restart towards the back while those in the back could not pit and thus would move up front failed to deliver.

When it came time for the random draw to decide how many cars were inverted, only Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch had to stay on the track. That meant all cars behind the two leaders restarted on fresh tires, negating the impetus of the format designed to see drivers charge their way to the front in an attempt to win.

Nonetheless, the duel between Logano and Larson ultimately culminating with Logano passing Larson for the lead with two laps remaining did produce the desired entertaining finish. And as opposed to the tepidness of recent All-Star Races where track position and clean air were the deciding factors, drivers were able to race side by side and make passes throughout the evening.

“There was a next to last lap pass for the lead,” Keselowski said. “There were several passes for the lead. The last four (All-Star) races, there hasn’t been a pass for the lead in the last 20 or 30 laps. I think our fans deserve a better format than that, and they got that today.

“I don’t know how you can get much more compelling racing than what we saw today, so they need to get unconfused and enjoy the racing.”

Keselowski’s enthusiasm can be attributed to the fact he helped brainstorm the format and that he finished second to Logano, his teammate, Saturday night. Whereas many drivers were largely puzzled by all that had transpired.

“I still don’t understand,” Kenseth said. “I’ve never been this confused in a race car in my entire life.”