This week the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is not about points or the playoffs … it is about the payoff … the ONE MILLION DOLLAR payoff!
That’s right, it is a race for the fans and for the money in the 2018 All-Star Race. Drivers that have won a race in the 2017 or 2018 season, are former winners of the All-Star Race or are former Cup Series Champions are eligible to race for the one million dollars Saturday night.
If a driver does not fall into one of those three categories they can still have a shot at the money in one of four ways. Preceding the main event Saturday night will be the Monster Energy Open that will consist of three stages. The winners of the first two stages of the Open will advance to the main event as will the winner of the Monster Energy Open (the winner of the third and final stage of that race).
The fourth and final ticket to the main event will be the winner of the Fan Vote. You can cast your vote for this driver here now.
With that all explained, here is the list of drivers that will get to race for the one million dollars…
2018 Monster Energy All-Star Race Entry List
Ryan Blaney
Clint Bowyer
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Austin Dillon
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
Matt Kenseth
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Larson
Joey Logano
Jamie McMurray
Ryan Newman
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
Monster Energy Open Race Winner
Monster Energy Open Stage 2 Winner
Monster Energy Open Stage 1 Winner
Fan Vote Winner
When the All-Star Race begins the drivers and teams will be racing the following format…
Monster Energy All-Star Race Fromat
Stage 1 – 30 laps
Stage 2 – 20 laps
Stage 3 – 20 laps
Stage 4 – 10 laps
NASCAR Overtime will be in effect for all stages, a stage cannot end under the yellow flag.
There will be NO mandatory pit stops during the race this year.
The field will NOT be inverted for the fourth and final stage of the race this year> This could make for some interesting pit strategies in the third stage of the race.
ONLY GREEN FLAG LAPS WILL COUNT in stage four of the race.
There are also some other car requirements that can be seen in the video below.
What drivers have performed well in the All-Star race in their careers? Let’s take a look…
Top 10 All-Star Driver Ratings
Kyle Larson………………………… 117.6
Kyle Busch…………………………. 103.7
Jimmie Johnson…………………….. 98.1
Kurt Busch…………………………… 89.6
Kevin Harvick……………………….. 86.4
Joey Logano…………………………. 82.8
Matt Kenseth………………………… 81.5
Kasey Kahne………………………… 76.8
Chase Elliott…………………………. 76.5
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 74.2
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2017 Monster Energy All-Star races (13 total).
Jimmie Johnson is the only active drive to have won multiple All-Star races during his career with four wins (2003, 2006, 2012, 2013).
Kyle Bush won the 2017 Monster Energy All-Star Race and is joined by Ryan Newman (2002), Matt Kenseth (2004), Kevin Harvick (2007), Kasey Kahne (2008), Kurt Busch (2010), Jamie McMurray (2014), Denny Hamlin (2015) and Joey Logano (2016) as active drivers with a single All-Star win.
With no points on the line and one million dollars to the winner, the Monster Energy All-Star race can become a “checkers or wreckers” scenario for the drivers. The dash for cash will take place this Saturday, May 19th starting at 5 PM central time (6 PM eastern time) with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open followed by the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race starting at about 7 PM central time (8 PM eastern time) at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
