Million-Dollar Payday Awaits Winner of Annual Classic at Charlotte Motor Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 8, 2015) – Showcasing the sport’s top talent, NASCAR announced changes for the 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race that will elevate the excitement of this annual classic. Race coverage is set for 7 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 16 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (FOX Sports 1, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
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 – all of whom will compete for the $1 million prize awarded to the winner. Prior to this change, 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, Friday, May 15 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM).
The final spot belongs to the Sprint Fan Vote winner; voting at www.NASCAR.com/sprintfanvote and the NASCAR MOBILE application closes 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.
Drivers in the 2015 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will compete in cars that conform to all 2015 rules. The race format will consist of a total 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 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.
Fans can catch all the action from the Sprint Showdown and North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Friday night to All-Star qualifying and the biggest all-star event in sports, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, on Saturday with weekend packages starting at just $99. For just $20, fans can purchase a special Golden Ticket upgrade to secure a prime location with special early access to a reserved area directly in front of the stage for the Rayovac presents Little Big Town pre-race concert. A limited number of Golden Tickets are available and can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267).
NASCAR Honors Moms with Launch of First Mother’s Day Campaign
Fans Encouraged to Share Photos of the NASCAR Experiences They Had With Mom
For a Chance to Win Once-In-A-Lifetime NASCAR-Themed Prizes
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 6, 2015) — Family has always been a pillar of NASCAR®, as the sport was built by the contributions of iconic family names such as France, Petty, Earnhardt and Jarrett. From nurturing young drivers in their aspirations for a career in motorsports, to bringing families together at the track, to celebrating in Victory Lane, moms have served as the bedrock of NASCAR.
To further celebrate this tradition and spirit, NASCAR today launched “NASCAR with Mom,” a Mother’s Day initiative aimed at sharing and celebrating memorable NASCAR moments with Mom.
Leading up to Mother’s Day Weekend – through the #NASCARwithMOM sweepstakes supported by NASCAR’s Official Partners 3M, Ford and Goodyear – fans are encouraged to share their most memorable NASCAR Mom photos on social media using the hashtag #NASCARwithMOM or by visiting ww.NASCAR.com/NASCARwithMOM for the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime NASCAR experience.
The Grand Prize package includes a ride in the Goodyear Blimp and an all-inclusive VIP experience for two during the 2015 Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, including tickets with VIP access. Additionally, five first place prize winners will receive a NASCAR Racing Experience Qualifier for two. Fans can enter to win starting today through May 9 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
“Mothers have made an indelible impact on our sport since the moment it was founded in 1947 – from the legacies of Anne B. France and Lynda Petty to the modern-day accomplishments of others like Teresa and Kelley Earnhardt,” said Kim Brink, NASCAR senior vice president, marketing. “NASCAR with Mom honors the moments and memories fans and families in NASCAR have had with their mothers, and recognizes the critical role moms will play in the future of our sport.”
During Mother’s Day weekend, NASCAR, 3M, Ford and Goodyear will be also surprising moms and their children with unique experiences at the Acceleration Nation Experience at the track leading up to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, SpongeBob SquarePants 400 race at Kansas Speedway.
Superspeedway Qualifying Format Updated for Talladega, Daytona
New Structure to Feature Two Rounds to Determine Pole Winner
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 30, 2015) – NASCAR today unveiled modifications to the qualifying format at superspeedways across all three national series. The updated format will take effect at Talladega Superspeedway for the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next month.
Qualifying for May’s Talladega Superspeedway races, as well as the July events at Daytona International Speedway, will consist of the following:
Two rounds of qualifying, with the top-12 posted lap speeds advancing to the second round
Race vehicles taking one, timed lap in each round of qualifying
Each race vehicle will be released in a predetermined timed interval as determined by NASCAR, with the sanctioning body reserving the right to have more than one vehicle engaging in qualifying runs at the same time
Qualifying order for the first round will be determined by a random draw; final round qualifying order is determined by slowest to fastest speeds from the first round
A 10-minute break will occur between the first qualifying round and the final round
Upon completion of the first qualifying round, the field will be set with positions 13 and beyond determined from first round qualifying speed
The 12 fastest vehicles from the first round will have their speeds reset for the final round with starting positions 1-12 determined by the fastest laps in the final round
NASCAR will impound race vehicles following each qualifying lap; vehicles advancing to the final round will be allowed to adjust tape and utilize a cool-down unit during the 10-minute break only
The NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will be at Talladega Superspeedway May 1-3. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying will air live May 2 on FOX at 1 p.m. ET. The Winn Dixie 300 and GEICO 500 will air live on FOX on May 2 (3 p.m. ET) and May 3 (1 p.m. ET), respectively.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will utilize the format for the first time when the series returns to Talladega Superspeedway with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in October.
Qualifying procedures for the 2016 Daytona 500 will be announced at a later date.
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series.html
Graphics & Photos Courtesy of NASCAR