Jimmie Johnson sees the checkers last year to win his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. [Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images]
by Dan Margetta and John Wiedemann
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Charlotte Motor Speedway 150 miles (100 laps) Sat., May 17th 8:30pm ET FOX Sports 1, 7pm ET PRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90 The best drivers of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series gather in Charlotte this weekend for the Sprint All Star Race set to take the green flag on Saturday night. The Sprint All Star race is a non-points event where 22 of the sport’s top drivers race for a $1 Million payday. The race has historically featured intense, to the limit, racing and on more than one occasion, tempers flared afterwards and egos were bruised.
The top two finishers in the Sprint Showdown qualifying race as well as one driver voted in by the fans (think Danica Patrick), will join the 19 drivers already qualified by scoring a victory, championship, or past All Star race victory.
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: The Format
Sprint Fan Vote
Fans can vote until Friday (May 16) on the NASCAR MOBILE App or online at NASCAR.com/allstar. Votes cast from the NASCAR MOBILE App count double. The Sprint Fan Vote winner will be announced after the Sprint Showdown and will be entered into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. If the Sprint Fan Vote leader finishes first or second in the Sprint Showdown, the Sprint Fan Vote spot will go to the driver second in fan voting.
Sprint Showdown
Sprint Showdown qualifying consists of two consecutive timed laps with the fastest lap determining the starting positions. Starting field limited to 33 starters who are not entered in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race(23 cars are currently entered). Segment 1/20 laps: 33 fastest qualifiers start the first of two 20-lap segments. … Green flag and yellow flag laps will be counted. … Optional pit stop during break, teams that pit will not retain their position on track. Segment 2/20 laps: Only green flag laps will be counted. … Top-two finishers transfer to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Qualifying
Three laps, including a four-tire pit stop, with no pit road speed limit. Total elapsed time determines the starting lineup of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. For the first time the Sprint Fan Vote Winner and two Sprint Showdown cars can participate in NASCAR Sprint All-Star qualifying, rather than automatically starting at the rear of the all-star field. Sprint Fan Vote and Sprint Showdown transfer teams may work on their cars prior to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Segments 1, 2 and 3/20 laps each: All laps will be counted. … Optional pit stop during break, teams that pit will not retain their position on track. Segment 4/20 laps: All laps will be counted. … Running order at the completion of the fourth segment be repositioned based on the average finish of the first four segments. … Running order ties will be broken by the finish of the fourth segment. … Pit road will be open for a mandatory four-tire pit stop. … Order of cars returning to the track will determine starting order of the fifth and final segment. Segment 5/10 laps: Only green flag laps will be counted.
It’s no holds barred under the lights action in the Sprint All-Star Race this Saturday night and here are a few drivers who should be in the middle of the fireworks…
Joey Logano
Dan Margetta: Joey Logano has had the best results on tracks similar to the Charlotte Motor Speedway, having captured a victory at Texas and two fourth place results at Las Vegas, and Kansas. It appears Joey Logano’s time to shine is now and he’s still young and aggressive enough to win an event as wild as the Sprint All Star Race. After a rather tumultuous introduction to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Logano seems to have found his place at Penske Racing and has been gradually erasing any doubts about his ability to compete at the top level. When the dust settles Saturday night, don’t be surprised to see the #22 Penske Ford and Joey Logano hoisting the trophy.
Kurt Busch
John Wiedemann: I don’t know if he’ll win but I’m sure he will be in the mix. Kurt Busch is the driver I’m going to watch. It already has been a busy week for Busch and will get busier with the Indianapolis 500 qualifications on his Saturday schedule. Busch will try to make the top nine in the morning at Indianapolis and then head to Charlotte for the race. This race last year is where Busch put everyone on notice that he was headed to the Chase with the Furniture Row team. Now Busch needs to climb up for the bottom end of the top thirty in the point standings and solidify his 2014 Chase entry. While this race is not points paying, it can set a team up for next week’s race and a positive trend going forward.
Jeff Gordon
DM: It’s been nearly 14 years since Jeff Gordon was the dominant driver at Hendrick Motorsports but so far in 2014, Gordon has proven to be the top dog in the stable as he owns a victory and leads the point standings. He’s on a roll, coming off last week’s win at Kansas and after spending the last several years in Jimmie Johnson’s shadow, Gordon has made a strong statement he is not to be forgotten. The only thing that might hamper another All-Star Race victory could be his maturity as he’s probably not likely to take any wild chances for the win. Then again, that could be the perfect strategy as the risk takers find themselves in the fence while Gordon drives by. In any instance, Jeff Gordon should be one of the drivers to beat on Saturday night.
Jimmie Johnson
JW: Charlotte Motor Speedway used to be Jimmie Johnson’s playground and no one else was really allowed to play there. That has changed over the last few years, but Johnson still has some magic for the track that used to be named by his sponsor and that magic has been concentrated on the All-Star race. With four All-Star wins, including the last two, and six other wins at the track, Johnson is clearly the favorite. Throw in an average finish of sixth and you know Johnson will be in the mix. Can Johnson make it three All-Star wins in a row and five overall? He’ll be one to watch. By the way, I will bet against him this week…and he’ll probably prove me wrong.
Kevin Harvick
DM: If you could pick one driver that has been fast just about everywhere this year, it would be Kevin Harvick. Harvick and crew chief Rodney Childers have been a tough combination this year, having already scored two victories. Childers is very Chad Knaus like in his ways and has been known at times to push the envelope when it comes to set ups and pit calls which produces plenty of rewards but also comes with a high risk. This do or die attitude fits right in at the All-Star Race where Kevin Harvick can put his right foot down pretty firmly when he has to. Also, don’t put it past this team to experiment and test new ideas in this event in preparation for the Coca-Cola 600 and events later in the year.
Kyle Busch
JW: The best driver to never win an All-Star race? That could be Kyle Busch. NASCAR’s All-Star Driver Rankings have Busch in the top spot ahead of Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth. Kyle has an average finish of eleventh with three top five runs. This is the type of race that one would expect Busch to excel at, let the driver loose and go for it. But, that go for it attitude has bitten Busch in the past, notably with a wreck involving brother Kurt. But, I think this is a different Kyle Busch and a calculating Kyle Busch. This year, Kyle Busch will break through and take home the All-Star trophy.
Tony Stewart
DM: The Sprint All-Star Race could be viewed as a test for Tony Stewart in his continued comeback from his serious leg injury last August. So far this season, the results have been mixed and the All-Star event provides the format Stewart is most known for—flat out racing for the win. There are no worries other than the checkered flag and it could be just the thing Tony Stewart needs to find his groove again. If Tony Stewart is mixing it up for the lead and charging for the victory, things are just fine with the #14 team, but if he’s mired in the pack, riding around, it could be a long year for the three-time Sprint Cup Champion.
Matt Kenseth
JW: Matt Kenseth seems to find the way to the front no matter where he starts. That is the case in this race as well. While most drivers have an average running position that is closer to the front than their average finish, Kenseth is the opposite. Kenseth’s average finish of sixth is two positions better than his average position through the race. What that means is watch for the 20 Home Depot Toyota to be charging through the field at the end of the race as Kenseth looks to capture his second All-Star win.
Kyle Larson
DM: Kyle Larson will have to race his way into the big show through the Sprint Showdown qualifying race. He needs to finish in the top two in that event and so far this season, has shown he is plenty capable of accomplishing the feat. His strong runs on similar tracks this season bode well for his chances and it would be a treat to see this rookie showcase his abilities in the big dance. Kyle Larson is used to hammer down events via his sprint car background and he could do quite well against the best of the best in the Sprint All-Star race. The first step is getting there and if he does…watch out!
Austin Dillon
JW: Only Dale Earnhardt Jr and Ryan Newman have won the All-Star race in there rookie season. Could Austin Dillon add himself to that list? Earlier this season Dillon had a fourth place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a twentieth place run at Texas Motor Speedway, two other 1.5 mile tracks like Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dillon had a great start to his rookie season, but like his teammates, he has faded over the last few weeks. I will be interested to see if the early season success can return to the Richard Childress Racing teams at Charlotte. Personally, I would love to see the #3 back in the All-Star race and bring back memories of the excitement that Dale Sr. brought to the event. The first step this weekend for Dillon and the team is getting through the Sprint Showdown on Friday and getting a shot at Saturday’s All-Star race. Being able to run both races would be great experience and set Dillo