NASCAR’s All-Star Race will feature four segments, eliminations, and it will give teams an unprecedented choice between a primary or soft tire compound, NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway announced Tuesday.
NASCAR All-Star Race will see teams have choice of tire compounds
The selection of which tire to use is part of a new format for the May 20 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
That NASCAR made changes to the All-Star Race isn’t surprising; it’s something that occurs nearly every year. But the big difference involves teams having an option regarding whether to switch to a softer tire compound, designed to be faster than the primary compound over a short green-flag run. Each team will receive one set of soft tires to use at its discretion, and all four tires must be put on a car at the same time.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1992 All-Star Race, widely regarded as one of the best races in the event’s 32-year history, this year’s race will feature a similar four-segment format that will see the 70-lap race breakdown into 20-20,-20-10 lap stages. However, there are some noticeable differences between the 1992 and 2017 versions:
— The final 10-lap segment will feature just 10 drivers. Each winner of the first three stages automatically transfers (provided they remain on the lead lap after the third stage), with the balance of the field filled by drivers with the best average finish in the first three stages.
— Drivers will then be lined up based off their average finish and given the option to pit. How drivers exit pit road sets the restart order for the final stage. But if a team elects to use its set of soft tires, that driver must restart behind driver on primary tires.
The winner of the All-Star Race receives $1,000,000.
Fifteen drivers — either race winners in 2016 or 2017, former series champions, or past all-star winners — have secured themselves a spot in the May 20 race at Charlotte. Those who are locked in: Chris Buescher, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, and Martin Truex Jr.
Three additional drivers will earn berths via a three-stage qualifying race with the winner of each stage transferring to the All-Star Race. The qualifying heat will move from Friday night to Saturday night and run prior to the main event.
A fan vote will determine one additional non-qualified driver advancing to the All-Star Race. A minimum of 19 drivers will start that race, which could increase to as many 24 if a driver not already eligible wins one of the four races preceding the All-Star Race.
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