The 36th NASCAR All-Star Race is set for Wednesday night, July 15th (tomorrow). For the first time in NASCAR history of the race it will take place on a short track!
That’s right, Bristol Motor Speedway!
The first NASCAR All-Star Race was held in 1985 Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 1986 All-Star Race was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Every year since then the event was held at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Moving the race to a short track has the potential of making this the most exciting All-Star Race in the history of the event with NASCAR! As always, this race cannot help or hurt your chances of winning the championship. There are no points to be won.
This race is simply about money and bragging rights. The winner of the NASCAR All-Star Race claims a ONE MILLION DOLLAR PAY DAY! They also get the bragging rights that come with the money. What will be exciting for the fans will be a challenge for the teams and drivers.
Bristol Motor Speedway Data
Track Size: 0.533-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 24-28 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 24-28 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 4-8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 4-8 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 650 feet
Backstretch Length: 650 feet
Who gets to take part in the NASCAR All-Star Race? Drivers who have won a points race in 2019 or 2020 have earned a spot in the race. Any driver who has won a NASCAR All-Star Race and compete full-time are locked in the race. Any full-time driver that has won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship has earned a starting spot in the All-Star Race.
Drivers that fall into those qualifying factors and are locked in the NASCAR All-Star Race are: Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Justin Haley, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Erik Jones, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr. and Cole Custer. See the NASCAR All-Star Race starting order determined by a random draw here.
Those 16 drivers will be joined by four more drivers. Those drivers will be determined Wednesday. The three winners of the three stages of the NASCAR All-Star Open will advance to the All-Star Race main event. The winner of the Fan Vote will also get the chance to race for the million.
NASCAR All-Star Open Format (85 total laps)
Stage 1 – 35 laps (Winner Advances to All-Star Race)
Stage 2 – 35 laps (Winner Advances to All-Star Race)
Stage 3 – 15 laps (Winner Advances to All-Star Race)
NASCAR All-Star Race Format (140 total laps)
Stage 1 – 55 laps
Stage 2 – 35 laps
Stage 3 – 35 laps
Stage 4 – 15 laps
There are other factors that will likely make the race more exciting to watch. The cars will have a light generated under-glow for something visually exciting to see. The race will also feature the new “choose rule” that will allow drivers to choose which lane they line up in for restarts. This will change the look of the traditional restarts. The strategy around this new rule could also have an impact on the ultimate winner of the race. You can find out more about the NASCAR All-Star Race at NASCAR.com.
I am looking forward to seeing a NASCAR All-Star Race unlike any NASCAR race I have ever witnessed before!
Television coverage of the event begins at 5 P.M. central time (6 P.M. eastern time) Wednesday, July 15th on FS1. The NASCAR All-Star Open is set for 6 P.M. central time (7 P.M. eastern time) with the NASCAR All-Star Race starting at 7:30 P.M. central time (8:30 P.M. eastern time).
By: Buck Stevens
