How NASCAR can improve the All-Star Race

There was a time when the All-Star Race held a distinct spot on the NASCAR calendar. The non-points event was the only race sectioned into stages, to feature double-file restarts, and guaranteed to give fans a finish under the green flag.

And now? Well, those unique characteristics have become standard, adapted as the rules for all 36 Monster Energy Cup Series points races. A signature event that was special is now anything but, instead just another race that is part of an overly long schedule that stretches from mid-February to mid-November.

Further diminishing the All-Star Race’s luster is that Charlotte Motor Speedway, which has hosted the race for all but one of the previous 32 editions and will do so again Saturday night (8 p.m. ET, FS1), is handicapped by being a track where aerodynamics and clean air are more paramount to success than a driver’s talent.

To win the $1 million prize, teams devise various strategies to pass as many cars on pit road as possible, because doing so on the track is a difficult proposition even when the trailing car is considerably faster than the one just ahead.

In an effort to enhance a once iconic event, NASCAR and CMS officials have taken to rolling out a new format or rules tweak on an annual basis. From inversions to eliminations to setting the lineup for the decisive final segment based off average finish from the segments before, myriad attempts have been made to find the cure-all to make the All-Star Race magical again.

This year, the powers that be are banking on an optional single set of soft compound tires that drivers and crew chiefs can employ at their discretion. Goodyear expects the soft tires to be half a second quicker than the standard compound tire, with the caveat that the soft tires have greater falloff.

It’s a novel idea, but also one that if successful could be incorporated in every race -- much like stages and double-file restarts.

So what then can be done to give the All-Star Race some exclusivity, separating it from every other Cup Series race? Here are three ideas NASCAR should implement:

Define certain broad parameters relating to the engine, fuel, and tires, but otherwise open up the rulebook and allow crew chiefs to showcase their ingenuity. Turn the All-Star Race into a true “run what you brung” event. Let’s see what tricks Chad Knaus and Paul Wolfe have up their sleeves and what extremes they’d go to win.

Sure, it may raise expenses at a time when many teams are trying to find a way to cut costs, but this can be offset by NASCAR bumping the overall purse and increasing the winner’s share. If a sponsor cannot be found to foot the bill, Brian France could earn some much-needed brownie points with fans by personally cutting the check.

Charlotte is a multipurpose venue that, in addition to the 1.5-mile oval used by NASCAR, also features a 2.25-mile road course, a quarter-mile drag strip, and a nearly half-mile dirt track. It’s time to utilize these wide-ranging tracks to transform the All-Star Race into the NASCAR equivalent of a decathlon. Over two days, drivers will take part in a race on each of the four tracks, with whoever scores the most points awarded the $1 million prize.

Imagine Joey Logano vs. Kyle Busch in a drag race, which would likely have more buzz than anything that’s going to happen Saturday night. The same goes for a 30-lap race on the dirt track where the tight confines are guaranteed to induce physical racing and almost certainly some hard feelings. Think fans wouldn’t love to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. try his hand at racing on dirt, or how quick he can get off the line on the drag strip? The answer is obvious.

Watching a race on a mile-and-a-half speedway at night has ceased being a novelty, such as when Charlotte in 1992 became the first intermediate track to have a race under the lights. Currently the Cup Series is full of similarly sized ovals, among them Kansas Speedway (which held a night race just last weekend), Kentucky Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and even Charlotte (which will host the Coca-Cola 600 next weekend), where the races conclude after sunset.

If the intent is to incite drivers to go all-out in a race where only winning matters, then put them on a track where emotions tend to overflow. Short tracks! But instead of visiting Bristol Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, or Richmond International Raceway for a third time during the season, take the All-Star Race to venues that don’t currently host a Cup Series race.

Iowa Speedway, a track drivers almost universally adore; Eldora Speedway, the Ohio dirt track owned by Tony Stewart; or Irwindale Speedway in Southern California are ideal. Not only are these tracks less than a mile in length, their addition would go a long way to satisfying a fan base clamoring for a schedule with more variety. A win-win for all involved.

Any of these ideas represents an instant remedy to fix the All-Star Race. Pick one and unequivocally NASCAR’s big night is transformed into a “can’t-miss” happening worthy of your attention.