The NASCAR All-Star Race May Be A Cautionary Tale With Several New Rules
NASCAR will be waving the green flag for the All-Star Race on May 18 and possibly the yellow flag, but it’s up to the judges.
Qualifying for the event at North Wilkesboro Speedway will take place on Friday, May 16 and encompass three laps plus a four-tire pit stop. The total time will be used set the fields for Saturday’s heat races and Sunday’s All-Star Open while the pit stop time will set the order for pit stall choice.
All 2024 and 2025 race winners plus All-Star winners and Cup Series champions who race full time are eligible for the All-Star Race while other drivers will be fighting for two spots in the 100-lap All-Star Open that proceeds it on Sunday. One more spot in the All-Star Race belongs to the winner of the fan vote, who comes from the open drivers.
Two 60-lap heat races on Saturday night will set the starting lineup for the All-Star Race, one for each row, with the All-Star Open and fan vote winners lined up at the rear.
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The All-Star Race is 250 laps with a scheduled competition caution at 100 laps. As an added twist, officials can chose to throw a Promoter’s Caution at any time from 100 laps to 220 laps to bunch up the field. If the option isn’t exercised by lap 200 and a natural caution occurs, the Promoter’s Caution will not be used.
Another new feature is the Manufacturer’s Showdown. An equal number of cars from each manufacturer — Chevy, Ford and Toyota — based on the brand with the fewest cars in the race will be pitted against each other. The one with the lowest combined finishing position will be declared the winner. A tie will be broken by the highest overall finisher.
The pit crew challenge is scheduled to start at 6:10 p.m. ET on May 16 and will be followed by a CARS Tour race. The Truck Series is racing at the track on Saturday, May 17 at 1:30 p.m. and the heat races start at 5:10 p.m. ET. The Whelan Modified Tour has a 2:00 p.m. race on Sunday, May 18 before the All-Star Open at 5:30 p.m. and the All-Star Race at 8:00 p.m. ET.