Bruton Sweetens The All-Star Pot

SMI's Bruton Smith

When the money’s on the line, NASCAR’s best drivers better keep their foot on the gas.

With a $1 million payday, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway already offers the richest per-mile winner’s purse in motorsports, at more than $7,400 for each mile raced. But this year, the pot gets even sweeter with the introduction of Bruton’s Big Bonus.

When NASCAR’s best take to the high banks of the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway, drivers will have a million more reasons stay up front from the first green flag until the checkered falls. If one driver wins all four 20-lap segments and bests the field in the final 10-lap shootout, he will double his winnings and take home Bruton’s Big Bonus of an additional $1 million.

“My dad, Bruton Smith, says that three things motivate people – love, fear and money,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “These drivers love to race and they fear losing with backyard bragging rights on the line. Now we are doubling down with $2 million up for grabs. This is motivation like never before to get up on the wheel for the fans.”

The May 18 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will consist of 90 total laps; four 20-lap segments followed by a mandatory four-tire pit stop and a 10-lap sprint to the big-money finish.

"I don't have a strategy, but to win," said Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 2 Penske Racing Ford, when he helped unveil the additional $1 million bonus. "I'll let the crew chief figure that stuff out. I'm just going to go out there and race as hard as I can to lead every lap, win every segment. And now it looks I've got reason to do so."

Drivers currently eligible for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race are Marcos Ambrose, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Keselowski, Joey Logano, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart. In addition, the top two finishers from the Sprint Showdown and the Sprint Fan Vote winner will be added to the field, plus any additional driver who wins a Sprint Cup Series race prior to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

Photo: David Griffin/Icon SMI