The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' All-Star Race “will be split into five segments this year, with a mandatory pit stop before the final 10-lap sprint for the $1 million prize,” according to Jenna Fryer of the AP. The event, which will be held May 19 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, “will be 90 laps and begin with four 20-lap segments.” The winner of each segment “will move to the front of the field right before the cars head down pit road for their mandatory stop.” Drivers will then “line up in the order they leave pit road to start the final segment.” The new format is “designed to place a premium on winning one of the first four segments, as well as showcase pit crews for the mandatory stop before the 10-lap shootout.” NASCAR and Sprint “are consistently working with track officials to spice up the annual all-star event, and Sprint this year is introducing a contest to allow fans to do the driver introductions via video entries that will be shown on Charlotte's 80-foot television screen.” Fryer noted this is the “eighth time since the race's 1985 debut that the format has been changed.” Sprint VP/Corporate Marketing Steve Gaffney said that he would “be open to adding a competition element to the All-Star race some day.” The event is currently “a no points, dash for cash that leads into the track's marquee Coca-Cola 600 on May 27.” Gaffney said, "Relative to other properties, I like the degree there is some sort of competitiveness like MLB has achieved by awarding home field advantage for the World Series. So, can we think about different ways moving forward where something comes out of the all-star race results in some sort of competitive advantage?”(AP, 3/27). Charlotte Motor Speedway GM and SMI President & COO Marcus Smith said, “We always get together after the All-Star Race with NASCAR and the guys at Sprint and talk shop. We like to just kind of see how the race went and we talk about ways to make it even better and this year, it's going to be really cool because every segment is going to be that much more important because the winner of each segment is going to get to be in the front of the line for that 10-lap shootout for the $1 million” ("NASCAR Now," ESPN2, 3/27).
CONTEST DETAILS: One fan will have the opportunity to introduce their favorite driver during pre-race on-track ceremonies through the “Sprint All-Star Announcers” contest. From March 30-May 6, fans can submit brief videos introducing their favorite driver to Sprint.com/Speed. The winning videos will be used to introduce the starting lineup for the race, as well as be shown on the track’s video board and on Speed’s live race broadcast. Also, Sprint is again asking fans to help determine the starting lineup by voting for their favorite eligible driver via mobile phone or at NASCAR.com/allstar. The driver receiving the highest number of votes will earn a spot in the field (THE DAILY).
