NASCAR has announced changes for the 2015
NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, set for 7 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 16 at Charlotte
Motor Speedway.
The field will include race winners from the
2014 and 2015 seasons, as well as all former NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
winners and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions who are full-time competitors,
with a $1 million prize awarded to the winner. Previously, former NASCAR Sprint
All-Star Race winners and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions were eligible only
if they accomplished the feat within the previous 10 seasons.
In addition, the five-segment race will increase
by a total of 20 laps, with the first four segments each scheduled for 25 laps
as compared to 20 in recent years. With the final 10-lap shootout, the race now
totals 110 laps.
“These updates were made to ensure that our
fans have every opportunity to see the best drivers in one of our crown jewel
events and give them even more on-track action,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR
executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “Expanding this
field and adding laps delivers that to our fans, raising the competition level
and ensuring that this race continues to be the biggest all-star event in all
of sports.”
The 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will
have a minimum field of 20 drivers. There are currently 17 drivers eligible,
with three additional spots available. Two of those are reserved for the
segment winners from the two 20-lap Sprint Showdown segments beginning at 7
p.m. ET on Friday, May 15.
The final spot belongs to the Sprint Fan Vote
winner, with voting at www.NASCAR.com/sprintfanvote and the NASCAR MOBILE application closing at
7 p.m. ET on May 15. The winner of the Sprint Fan Vote will be announced in
Victory Lane following the conclusion of the Sprint Showdown.
This year’s format will consist of five
segments: four 25-lap segments, with the average finish of the first four
segments determining the order cars will enter pit road for a mandatory
four-tire pit stop following the fourth segment. Running order ties will be
broken by the finish of the fourth segment. The order of the cars returning to
the track following the mandatory pit stop determines the starting order for a
final winner-take-all 10-lap segment.
All laps will count in segments one through
four. In the fifth and final segment, only green flag laps will be counted.
There will be optional pit stops during the breaks following each of the first
three segments, with the field set by the pit stop/stay out positioning during
the five caution laps.
The following drivers are currently eligible
to compete in the 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: AJ Allmendinger, Aric
Almirola, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff
Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth
(2004 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winner), Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Jamie
McMurray (2014 winner), Ryan Newman (2002 winner), Tony Stewart (2009 winner).
This will be the 31st running of the NASCAR
Sprint All-Star Race. McMurray is the defending race winner.
At first glance, this appears to be a better format than they've had in the past. We'll just have to see how it works out.
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