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Charlotte All-Star Race – Did You Know?

NASCAR travels to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend for the Monster Energy All-Star race Saturday evening.

The All-Star race lineup will feature 20 of NASCAR’S best. Those eligible for the event are drivers who won a points race in 2016 or 2017, past all-star race winners and series champions who compete full-time.

There are currently 16 drivers locked into the race. They include Chris Buescher, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr. and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Three drivers will earn a spot by competing in the Monster Energy Open which is comprised of three stages. The winner of each stage will move on to the All-Star race. The final 20th spot will be determined by the fan vote.

Joey Logano is the defending All-Star race winner and has the sixth-best driver rating (85.3) with an average finish of 7.3. Last year’s win was his first victory in this event where he also has three top fives and five top 10s. Logano is one of 22 different drivers who has won an All-Star race. But did you know that only two drivers, Davey Allison (1991, 1992) and Jimmie Johnson (2012, 2013) have won consecutive All-Star races?

Kyle Busch heads to the All-Star race in Charlotte with the series-best driver rating of 101.9 with three top fives and six top 10s. He leads all active drivers with three poles (2008, 2011, 2012) and has the best average starting position of 5.818 but is still looking for his first All-Star win.

There have been 32 All-Star races but did you know that only 31 have been held at Charlotte Motor Speedway? In 1986 it was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway and was won by Bill Elliott.

Elliott leads the series in All-Star poles with four (1987, 1997, 1998 and 2000) and he is one of only four drivers who has won consecutive poles. Davey Allison won back-to-back poles in 1991 and 1992, Kyle Busch won the 2011 and 2012 poles and Carl Edwards was the most recent, capturing the pole in both 2013 and 2014.

The first All-Star race was held in 1985 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. But did you know that it was won by Hall of Famer, Darrell Waltrip? He went on to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship the same year. Waltrip, however, was not the only one to win the All-Star race and the championship in the same year. Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990, 1993), Rusty Wallace (1989), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 2001) and Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2013) followed in his footsteps.

Although the All-Star race is a relatively short, exhibition race, winning it has proven to be a unique indicator of which drivers have mastered the 1.5-mile track. Did you know that seven times, seven different drivers, have gone on to win the Coca-Cola 600 the following weekend? Those drivers include Darrell Waltrip (1985), Davey Allison (1991), Dale Earnhardt (1993), Jeff Gordon (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2003), Kasey Kahne (2008) and Kurt Busch (2010).

One of the most memorable All-Star races occurred in 1992 when Davey Allison and Kyle Petty were contending for the win along with Dale Earnhardt who was in the lead. During the closing laps, Petty made contact with Earnhardt, who spun, setting up a battle between Allison and Petty. Allison won the race but the two drivers collided as they crossed the finish line. Allison was knocked unconscious and airlifted to the local hospital but, thankfully, was not seriously injured.

But did you know that Davey Allison is also one of only six drivers with multiple wins in this event? Allison (1991, 1992) Terry Labonte (1988, 1999) and Mark Martin (1998, 2005) have two victories each. Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990 and 1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001) have three wins while Jimmie Johnson leads the series with four All-Star wins (2003, 2006, 2012, 2013).

Be sure to tune in at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 20, for the 33rd running of the Monster Energy All-Star race to find out which driver will win bragging rights and the $1 million prize.

Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

May 17, 2017
NASCAR Racing Schedule and Format for Charlotte All-Star Weekend

NASCAR heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway this week for the Camping World Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 Friday night and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star race Saturday evening. Both events will be televised on FS1.

Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

Thursday, May 18:

On Track:
5-5:55 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice
7-7:55 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice

Friday, May 19:

On Track:
1-2:10 p.m.: Cup Series Practice (Monster Energy All-Star Race) – FS1
2:10-2:25 p.m.: Cup Series Pit Road Speed Practice (Monster Energy All-Star Race) – FS1
3-4:25 p.m.: Cup Series Practice (Monster Energy Open) – FS1
4:45 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
6:05 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying Round 1 (All-Star Race) – FS1
7:30 p.m. (approx): Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying Round 2 (All-Star Race) – FS1
8:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (134 laps, 201 miles) – FS1

Saturday, May 20:

On Track:
4:35 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (Open; Multi-Vehicle, Two Rounds) – FS1
6 p.m.: Cup Series Monster Energy Open (20 laps, 20 laps, 10 laps) – FS1
8 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race (20 laps, 20 laps, 20 laps, 10 laps) – FS1 (time approx.)

The All-Star Drivers:

The All-Star race will be made up of 20 drivers. There are currently 16 drivers who are locked into the race. They include Chris Buescher, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr. and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Three drivers will earn a spot by competing in the Monster Energy Open which is comprised of three stages. The winner of each stage will move on to the All-Star race. The final 20th spot will be determined by the fan vote.

Format:

The All-Star race will feature four stages (20 laps, 20 laps, 20 laps, 10 laps) for a total of 70 laps. The final stage of 10 laps will feature 10 drivers.

The winner of each of the first three stages will earn a spot in the final stage, as long as they are running on the lead lap after the third stage.

The cars with the best average finish in the first three stages will make up the remaining seven spots for the 10-car final stage.

The 10 cars will be lined up by the average finish of the first three stages and will be given the option to pit. Exit off pit road will determine the starting order for the final stage.

The winner will receive $1,000,000.

Strategy:

Each team will have one set of softer tires which will provide better grip and speed. The teams can use these tires at their discretion any time during the 70 lap event. But, if a team chooses to use the softer tires to begin the final stage, they will have to start behind the teams who are on regular tires.

Qualifying Notes:

Qualifying for the All-Star Race will include the “no speed limit” four-tire pit stop. Each team will have three timed laps and must include a mandatory four-tire pit stop with no enforced pit-road speed limits. The five quickest teams will advance to the final round of qualifying which will determine starting positions one through five. The team that completes the fastest stop will also earn the Pit Crew Competition Award.

Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

May 17, 2017
The Final Word – Kansas proves that driving fast does not have to look exciting to be hazardous

Kansas was a scheduled 400-mile contest but, truth be told, the highlight of this one arrived with 50 to go. It came in the form of a busted brake rotor, three destroyed cars, and a driver being airlifted to a local hospital. The event itself was just another 1.5-mile track, cars spread out hither and yon, and a generic sponsor non-iconic name attached. However, as they reached the 200th lap, we witnessed what could happen on this track, any track, to jerk us back to reality.

Danica Patrick was having a decent day, just outside the Top Ten. Joey Logano spent much of his day just inside it. How does a brake rotor come apart with such force that it blasts through the hood of a car? That is what happened to Logano, which caused the car to cut left on the only side that then had brakes applied to clip the rear quarter panel of Patrick. Going about 200 mph, she immediately got turned hard right into the wall, Logano turned back up to join her. That is when Aric Almirola hit the brakes but found himself helplessly sliding toward mayhem. He tore into the exposed front fender of Logano, which lifted the rear of Almirola’s car high into the air. It was all smoke and fire and carnage.

Patrick’s car was a smoking heap. Logano’s not much better. At least we saw them walking together toward the ambulance, he trying to explain, she not wanting to listen just yet. About a quarter-mile down the track, the Petty blue 43 was resting up against the outside wall. The window net was down, the driver was moving, but he was not leaving. We watched as they ripped back the roof of his car. We saw them lift Almirola out on a stretcher. Later, we saw the helicopter taking him for medical aid. Thankfully, we had seen him moving in the car, speaking to his rescuers. Those were good signs. Later, we heard Almirola had a compression fracture in his back but was headed back home the next day.

Patrick, who just had the stuffing knocked out of her in a crash at Talladega the week before, was once again roughed up like a Trump supporter trying to speak on a college campus. She was frustrated, she was at a loss as to how a brake rotor would let go like that, why she had to get collected again in something not of her own doing. She was concerned that her luck, or someone else’s, might run out. “One of these times, one of these really big accidents, someone is not going to be okay, Aric is not okay and his car looked the best of everybody.” It is hard to blame her for thinking that way. Two huge hits in as many races has to bring the topic front and center in her mind. Anyone’s mind. A race might not be terribly exciting to watch at times, but 200 mph is still damned fast if you happen to be in the driver’s seat and not in your favorite chair at home.

Martin Truex Jr. brought it home for his second win of the season. Ryan Blaney gave him some competition in the late going, but it was Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick moving ahead at the end in the battle of the bridesmaids. Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson both managed great points days themselves. Along with the likes of Logano, Almirola, and Patrick, Ryan Newman had a brutal Saturday night when he lost an engine late in the second stage. One big point for him. Having a win already in his quiver probably helps ease the pain somewhat.

Having two is even better, though it was an interesting day for Jimmie Johnson. He cruised through too many pit boxes at the end of the first stage to get penalized. He battled back, then cut a tire in the second while battling Kurt Busch. Back he came again, yet over the final laps, Denny Hamlin tagged the same Mr. Busch who clipped Johnson, who went for a spin to finish 24th. You rarely spin to win, but if you could Erik Jones would have taken the checkered flag. Three times he did the loop-de-loop over the course of the event to wind up 22nd. On the positive side, three times he spun, three times he missed hitting the wall. As they say, the lad is talented.

The brightest amongst the sports constellation will be out, as the all-star race is next on the schedule this Saturday in Charlotte. Almirola had not qualified, and I think it a safe bet to say he will not be available to seek one of the berths through the Showdown qualifier or the fan vote. Most of the top drivers for this season have already qualified, along with last year winner Chris Buescher and 2000 all-star race champ Dale Earnhardt Jr. Having to win one of the Showdown segments or the fan vote prior to the classic itself include Patrick, Jones, Blaney, Chase Elliott, Clint Bowyer and Trevor Bayne. That is some decent talent currently sitting on the outside.

Which brings us back to the man on the mend. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Aric.

May 15, 2017
Bristol Short Tracking or Charlotte All-Star?

BRISTOL, Tenn. — For three days in mid-May, hundreds of race cars will take to the high banks of Thunder Valley.

May 19 through May 21, Bristol Motor Speedway will host the first annual Short Track U.S. Nationals in which over 500 races cars of various short track racing classes will compete on the .533-mile short track that’s known as “The Last Great Coliseum.”

But it’s also running on the same weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. To facilitate those who can’t make it to the event, Bristol and Speed51.com partnered together to announce that they’ll carry the Short Track Nationals on the latter’s website as a PPV event.

“With the NASCAR All-Star weekend taking place at Charlotte Motor Speedway, we’ve looked for ways to give those who can’t attend the Short Track U.S. Nationals an opportunity to still enjoy the world’s largest short track race and glad we were able to partner with a leader like Speed51.com,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway.

Fans are also encouraged to attend both the All-Star Race and the Short Track Nationals since the All-Star Race is on May 20 and the main races for the Short Track Nationals don’t start until the next day.

March 22, 2017
Hamlin Holds Off Harvick for Sprint All-Star Race Victory

CONCORD, N.C.— With a deft move with three laps left in Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin delivered the first victory in the non-points showcase event to Joe Gibbs Racing and to Toyota.

As he drove into Turn 1 to start Lap 107, with Kevin Harvick glued to his bumper and ready to make a run at the million-dollar first prize, Hamlin moved up a lane in the corner and took Harvick’s line away, causing Harvick’s No. 4 Chevrolet to lose momentum.

“It was more defense than anything, but it turned into offense for me,” Hamlin said. “He (Harvick) kept getting closer and closer, and eventually he gets to that right rear quarter panel, and your race is done. Initially, I was looking in my mirror, and I knew it was going to be a defensive move to take his line.

“But I was just going to have to do something different, because I was starting to lose time. My laps time were dropping off, and I just had to do something different to try to salvage a win, and that was obviously the key move for us.”

Harvick didn’t disagree with that assessment.

“I had committed to the center of the corner and just really lost the front of the car up the racetrack, had to get out of the throttle,” Harvick explained. “As soon as Denny moved up that one time it kind of took the air off… Once I got to the middle of the corner the car just washed all the way up the race track and I had to lift way out of the gas to get the car back off the wall.”

If that was the on-track move that made the difference, the real Saturday night heroes were the crew members on Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota, who gained five spots for their driver during mandatory four-tire pits stops before the race’s final 10-lap segment.

Hamlin led the field to the green for the final segment and stayed in front the rest of the way, beating Harvick to the finish line by .823 seconds.

Kurt Busch ran third, followed by Jeff Gordon (making his final All-Star appearance), Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch, who showed excellent speed in his first competition since breaking his right leg and left foot in an XFINITY Series race at Daytona on Feb. 21.

Brad Keselowski took the lead after the first segment, thanks to a two-tire call by crew chief Paul Wolfe. Though Kurt Busch started the second segment with four fresh tires, Keselowski was able to keep the No, 41 Chevrolet at bay throughout the run.

Kurt Busch led one lap during the battle, nosing ahead at the stripe, but Keselowski pinned him down on the inside through Turns 1 and 2 and regained the top spot. Ultimately, Keselowski finished .349 seconds ahead of Busch in segment No. 2.

Both Keselowski and Busch took four tires between the second and third segments, and Keselowski led every lap en route to winning the third segment. Kevin Harvick got past Busch for second with four laps left.

But Kurt Busch restarted fifth to begin segment No. 4 and split the middle with a bold move into Turn 1. Three laps into the run, Busch passed Denny Hamlin for the lead, with Hamlin suffering the consequences of a two-tire track-position call that put him on the front row for the start of the segment.

Keeping Harvick a safe distance behind him, Busch won the fourth segment by 1.693 seconds over his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate, and the cars entered pit road during the caution before the final 10-lap shootout in order of average finish over the first four segments.

The top five entering the pits were Keselowski, Busch, Kasey Kahne, Harvick and Jeff Gordon, but Hamlin was first off pit road from stall No. 1, and Keselowski drew a speeding penalty that dropped him to the back of the field for the start of segment No. 5.

“I knew that was the race, and I went for it,” said Keselowski, who sped up in the final timed segment in an effort to beat Hamlin off put road.

That left Hamlin and Busch on the front row for the restart, with Harvick and Kahne behind them.

Notes: Kahne passed Hamlin, the pole winner on Lap 15 and went on to win the first segment… Danica Patrick took her car behind the wall with engine issues on lap 58 but returned to the track during segment No. 4, having lost 32 laps for repairs… Greg Biffle, who transferred into the All-Star race from Friday night’s Sprint Showdown, brushed the Turn 4 wall twice during the first segment and was never a factor thereafter.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race – NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Concord, North Carolina
Saturday, May 16, 2015

1. (1) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 110, $1,045,009.
2. (20) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 110, $249,784.
3. (16) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 110, $149,735.
4. (9) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 110, $119,705.
5. (17) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 110, $114,705.
6. (19) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 110, $108,705.
7. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 110, $102,555.
8. (11) Joey Logano, Ford, 110, $101,555.
9. (3) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 110, $100,555.
10. (7) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 110, $99,555.
11. (13) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 110, $98,530.
12. (4) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 110, $97,530.
13. (2) Greg Biffle, Ford, 110, $96,530.
14. (8) Aric Almirola, Ford, 110, $96,030.
15. (12) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 110, $95,430.
16. (14) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 110, $95,155.
17. (10) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 110, $95,030.
18. (18) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 110, $94,930.
19. (15) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 110, $94,830.
20. (6) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 78, $94,730.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 106.452 mph.
Time of Race: 01 Hrs, 33 Mins, 00 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.923 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 4 for 0 laps.
Lead Changes: 7 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: D. Hamlin 1-14; K. Kahne 15-25; B. Keselowski 26-32; Kurt Busch 33; B. Keselowski 34-75; D. Hamlin 76-77; Kurt Busch 78-100; D. Hamlin 101-110.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): B. Keselowski 2 times for 49 laps; D. Hamlin 3 times for 26 laps; Kurt Busch 2 times for 24 laps; K. Kahne 1 time for 11 laps.

May 17, 2015
Biffle, Bowyer, Patrick Take Different Routes into Sprint All-Star Race

CONCORD, N.C.— Greg Biffle led every lap of the caution-free first 20-lap segment of Friday night’s Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Clint Bowyer needed an early caution in the second segment to validate crew chief Brian Pattie’s four-tire call.

Though they arrived at the finish line through different routes, Biffle and Bowyer earned the two transfer spots into Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (May 16 on FOX Sports 1 at 7 p.m. ET) and will compete for the million-dollar top prize.

Ninth-place finisher Danica Patrick also made the field for NASCAR’s glamour non-points race at the 1.5-mile speedway, as the first multiple winner of the Sprint Fan Vote.

Biffle, who put a Roush Fenway Racing car into the Sprint All-Star Race for the 16th straight year, ran away from the rest of the field in the first segment, beating Bowyer to the stripe by 1.583 seconds, and took his car to the garage.

“I’m really excited,” said Biffle, who started second and traded paint with pole winner Paul Menard before assuming the top spot on the first lap. “We’ve worked really hard and we had good track position. We qualified well. It seems like we’re getting our cars a little bit better.

“We know we still have work to do, but when it got out in clean air it was pretty fast, and we were able to hold off Clint and have a pretty good lead. I definitely didn’t want to see a caution flag. I wasn’t ready for a restart and mix it up again, but we’re pretty happy with the car…

“I’ve never been so excited to win half a race in my life.”

Martin Truex Jr. was one of four drivers who changed two tires during the break between segments, and the driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet took the lead after close-quarters racing to start segment No. 2. But a caution for J.J. Yeley’s spin out of Turn 4 slowed the field on Lap 22, and put Bowyer in position to take advantage of his four fresh tires.

After two laps of breathtaking three-wide racing, Bowyer surged past Truex and Kyle Larson to take the lead for good. His winning margin over second-place Menard was 1.521 seconds, as Truex fell back to third and Larson pitted under green with a cut tire.

“You definitely don’t want to be known as the winner of the Sprint Showdown, but it’s better than going home,” quipped Bowyer, who like Biffle has suffered through an extended victory drought. “I’m glad we’re a part of that show… I almost did a burnout.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race – Sprint Showdown
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Concord, North Carolina
Friday, May 15, 2015

1. (2) Greg Biffle, Ford, Winner (Segment 1), 20

1. (4) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, Winner (Segment 2) 40,
2. (1) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 40,
3. (7) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 40,
4. (13) Sam Hornish Jr., Ford, 40,
5. (11) Chase Elliott(i), Chevrolet, 40,
6. (5) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 40,
7. (15) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 40,
8. (14) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 40,
9. (8) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 40,
10. (9) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 40,
11. (3) David Ragan, Toyota, 40,
12. (10) Michael McDowell, Ford, 40,
13. (17) David Gilliland, Ford, 40,
14. (23) Cole Whitt, Ford, 40,
15. (21) Matt DiBenedetto #, Toyota, 40,
16. (22) Jeb Burton #, Toyota, 40,
17. (19) Josh Wise, Ford, 40,
18. (24) JJ Yeley(i), Toyota, 40,
19. (26) Jeff Green(i), Chevrolet, 40,
20. (28) Alex Kennedy #, Chevrolet, 40, .
21. (29) Tanner Berryhill #, Chevrolet, 39,
22. (27) Brendan Gaughan(i), Chevrolet, 39,
23. (12) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 39,
24. (6) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 38,
25. (25) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 37,
26. (16) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, Electrical, 22,
27. (20) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, Engine, 20,
28. (18) Mike Bliss(i), Ford, Vibration, 6,

Average Speed of Race Winner: 102.37 mph.
Time of Race: 00 Hrs, 35 Mins, 10 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.521 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 2 for 0 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: 4; G. Biffle 1-20; M. Truex Jr. 21-22; K. Larson 23; C. Bowyer 24-40.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): G. Biffle 1 time for 20 laps; C. Bowyer 1 time for 17 laps; M. Truex Jr. 1 time for 2 laps; K. Larson 1 time for 1 lap.

May 15, 2015
Finley Factor: The Only Race More Pointless Than The Other Kansas Race
This weekend is my off-weekend from racing as I prepare for next weekend. Oh, you’re telling me that the All-Star race is this week. Tough.

I find the All-Star race to be incredibly pointless. There’s literally only one reason why it still goes on and that is so that Charlotte can keep people in the city for an extra week, something I doubt that most people still do, judging from the lack of interest in NASCAR itself.

Think of how strange that is economically. Who has time to go to Charlotte for nine days just to see five total races? The answer is old people because they don’t have kids to worry about taking to school and they are either retired or comfortable enough in their job to take off a couple of weeks. Doesn’t this contradict the information given in this AP article, about how NASCAR is now really trying to appeal to a younger audience? As a member of that 18-24 age, I can tell you right now that I have no time whatsoever to spend two weeks in a race city.

Sure, I’m not saying everybody going to All-Star race weekend are old. There definitely are families and 18-24-year-olds. But dollars to donuts says that the vast majority of those aren’t staying the whole two weeks. Instead, it appeals more to the older crowd; I’d guarantee the majority of fans doing the whole two weeks are older people. Granted that’s every race now, but I digress.

Here is probably the meat of my argument. Let’s look at what an All-Star event is. The appeal of an All-Star game or Pro Bowl is that this is the only time all year that the sport’s best players are on one field. Last year, when NBC got the television rights for NASCAR racing, NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus said, “It’s the All-Star game every weekend.” He’s not wrong. Every event in NASCAR is an All-Star event because all the best drivers and teams are on the same field at the same time every single week. In fact, the closest thing to a traditional All-Star event in NASCAR is the Whelen Modified Series when the East and West tour have a rarely combined race, like during Bristol week in August. Really the only three differences the All-Star race has from the 600 the week after is:
1. It’s a non-points event.
2. It’s shorter.
3. David Gilliland isn’t in it.
That’s practically it. The All-Star race used to also be one of the best races in NASCAR, except one year, it just wasn’t. I guarantee you, the reader, that whenever FOX runs commercials for the event, they aren’t going to use footage of Jimmie Johnson winning a boring race or Jamie McMurray in a snoozer last year, they are going to talk about crap that took place 25 years ago. The Pass in the Grass, Kyle Petty wrecking Davey Allison at the line, etc., featuring drivers long since gone from the sport. If they show any modern footage, they are going to just show two things; the Busch Brothers wrecking in 2007 and Carl Edwards destroying his car after winning in 2011.

This is kind of like if the Oakland Raiders were to advertise their preseason games using primarily footage from the 80’s back when they were an actual team, and the only modern footage they show is the 10 man defensive play from a few years ago, the week Al Davis died. It’s fine to use the historical footage, don’t get me out of a job now, but it can’t take up the vast majority of an event’s advertising. It just won’t work.

The All-Star traditionally is all about getting the win, to heck with even second place. The problem is that’s every single race now with the new Chase format. There is no more incentive past the million dollar payday for winning this race, which isn’t going to make people want to go or watch. Hey, let’s watch a millionaire win another million dollars!

The All-Star also suffers from being a night race. I’m going to talk about this more in a couple of weeks, but to make it short and sweet, there are too many night races and instead of being special, now night races are “just another race,” the only difference between it and Sunday is that it’s on a horrible night for television. Before places like Kansas and Texas getting night races, night races were able to overcome this to a degree because it felt special. Kansas got a 1.7 average in the ratings before the rain came in. That’s pretty pathetic and tells you virtually nobody cares about the track and the night anymore.

There are a few changes coming to this article in the coming weeks.

I’ve been super busy with the last month of school, final projects seemingly every week causing me to put the Factor on hold. Starting this week, the Factor will now be weekly again, and starting in two weeks I’m going to start doing book reviews. Book reviews are going to be books that either I use constantly in my research or new books I find interesting that I either buy or are given to me by the publisher. The first of these books will be a new book about the old Riverside International Speedway called, well, “Riverside International Speedway: A Photographic Tour of the Historic Track, Its Legendary Races, and Unforgettable Drivers.” It’s by freelance writer Pete Lyons and although I haven’t looked at much of it due to school, what I have seen has been pretty good.

Next week, the Factor will have a one week only expansion. To celebrate the International Day of Racing (My own name for next Sunday), I’m going to preview the Monaco GP and the Indianapolis 500 in addition to the Coca-Cola 600. It’s going to be an amazing Sunday, and I can honestly say that this is only behind Christmas as the best day of the year.

Also starting next week will be a new weekly article for Speedway Media called “From the Vault”, where I look back at a famous, or memorable to me, race that happened at the track the Sprint Cup Series is at that week. For example, next week I’m going to look back at the 2005 Coca-Cola 600, an incredible race full of just about everything any NASCAR fan could want.

Here are a quick bit of my general thoughts on Danica Patrick so far this season:

-She’s doing pretty well so far, improving greatly over the past two years. That being said, I think this is around her limit as far as being a driver. I wouldn’t get rid of her anymore unless there’s a better driver on the market that wants to run for the team, save for Kurt Busch (Nothing personal, just would be hard to find sponsorship).

-If I were a betting man I’d bet on Danica staying put in Stewart Haas. With Allmendinger locked into a deal now, the only real, better option they have is pursing Denny Hamlin unless Reagan Smith catches fire in the Xfinity Series. Of course, there’s also that crazy rumor I’ve heard recently of Clint Bowyer and Five Hour Energy paying a trip to the SHR shop….

-Danica isn’t going to Formula 1. If she does, I hope Haas is ready to join Caterham in death. Like I’ve said before, this really doesn’t have much to do with Danica’s talent save that she isn’t that great on road courses, which are a lot of drivers in NASCAR. It just has to do with age and now that she is doing decent I don’t see her giving up on NASCAR yet.
May 15, 2015
Kyle Busch Will Return to NASCAR Competition at Sprint All-Star Race

“I’m back.”

Kyle Busch made the statement on his Twitter page Tuesday morning, announcing his return to NASCAR competition. He included a video (below) which shows him as he gloves up, zips into his M&Ms firesuit and walks out of his hauler in full racing gear. The video ends with the words, #Rowdy Returns May 16.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was sidelined before the Sprint Cup season began after an accident in the season-opening XFINITY event at Daytona International Speedway sent his car into a non-SAFER barrier wall. Busch suffered a compound fracture of his right leg and a fractured right foot.

Busch has received medical clearance from NASCAR to resume racing, beginning Saturday night in the Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He addressed the media via a teleconference Tuesday afternoon to discuss his recovery.

“Today is an exciting day,” he began,”one that not a lot of folks would have thought possible that night in February down in the hospital in Daytona. Thanks to the good Lord, a tremendous medical team both in Daytona and of course Dr. Anderson here in Charlotte, the incredible support of my wife Samantha, my family and friends, everyone in the NASCAR community, and the many fans.

“I’m happy to say I plan to be back in the No. 18 M&M Toyota Camry for the Sprint All-Star Race this weekend. I want to thank everybody for their patience. It’s not an easy process and not a process that always has a clear-cut path either.”

Busch’s preparations for getting back behind the wheel of his No. 18 Toyota included testing in his late model cars.

“I was cleared to get out of the boot a couple weeks ago and was cleared to test my late model,” he said. “That test went really well. I was able to come back again and test again last week at Hickory. My medical team was there with me and then declared I was cleared to get back in the car again for the All-Star Race in the Sprint Cup Series.”

Busch commented on the advantages of choosing a shorter, non-points races, such as the All-Star race, for his return. This event will undoubtedly serve as a barometer to gauge his overall level of fitness and pinpoint any areas of concern.

“I think it’s a great race to come back to,” Busch said. “For one it’s shorter. It’s a non-points event. There’s mandatory cautions after every 25 laps and whatnot, so it gives you an opportunity to take a breather, take a rest, whatever it may be. That will allow me to make adjustments to myself as well as being behind the wheel of the 2015 Camry for the first time because I haven’t had an opportunity to race at all in this aero package and whatnot.”

Although Busch plans to participate in all on-track activity, Erik Jones will be standing by if needed. Busch and wife, Samantha, are expecting a child and with the due date of May 22 fast approaching, Busch wants to be prepared for any surprises, particularly the non-racing variety.

“We couldn’t be more excited as we get closer and the anticipation rises here he said. “We’re going hour by hour right now. It could be any hour that he decides he wants to be here.”

When asked what he had missed most, Busch was quick to answer, “I think the biggest thing I missed is being able to hold up trophies, being in Victory Lane. That’s probably the biggest thing.” He went on to say that he has also “really missed my team, just the guys there, being able to be with them each and every weekend; of course, spending the weekend in the motorhome, being there with Samantha and everything else.”

One of the biggest questions surrounding Busch’s return is his eligibility for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

“I know there’s been some good dialogue on the subject,” Busch noted, “but I’m not aware that there’s been a decision made at this point. As I mentioned last month, I’d love to race for a win and a spot in the Chase. I think the top 30 rule makes a lot of sense.

But for me, in my mind,” he continued, “it was intended for someone in my situation that has a car, sponsor and team that was set to run the entire year for a championship. I think it was set up to keep guys from being able to grab a win at a road course or restrictor plate track or something like that. We’ll see what happens. That’s in their hands. We’ll see what the decision is.”

NASCAR would have to grant a waiver to disallow the rule that a driver must attempt to qualify for all 26 regular season races to qualify for a Chase berth. That would overcome the first obstacle in Busch’s attempt to make the Chase. A win guarantees a spot in the Chase if that driver is ranked among the top 30 in the points standings; a daunting but not impossible task for Busch. NASCAR has the power to issue a waiver for this requirement, as well.

At this point, NASCAR has not made any decisions regarding Busch’s status though NASCAR chairman Brian France has indicated that the sanctioning body would like to “accommodate” him.

*Update May 13: On Wednesday NASCAR granted Busch a waiver from the requirement that a driver must start in every regular season race to be eligible for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. However, he still must be ranked in the top 30 in the Sprint Cup standings to remain eligible.

I'm back. #RowdyReturns https://t.co/gWCs00aH4p

— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) May 12, 2015

May 12, 2015
The Final Word – A NASCAR Supernova stars in Kansas

There are three major stars in NASCAR’s constellation of drivers. They are simply called Jimmie, Junior, and Jeff, and few could argue that this trio has shone the brightest. Jimmie Johnson has six championships, including five in a row. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the legacy of the legend, with 15 wins in his first five full seasons and four straight at Talladega. His track success might have cooled, but Junior Nation’s fervor has not. Jeff Gordon, the four time champion, won his third at Kansas, but his first since 2002, to all but lock his place in the Chase.

Gordon led in points, even without a win, but Saturday night he put a lock on a race he dominated. Well, for all but one other entry, he was the undisputed leader of the pack. Kevin Harvick had designs to add to his win total, only to fall just short. While both drivers have been stellar thus far in the season, only the wreck at Talladega mars Gordon’s record in 2014. Harvick has been a factor in every race, winning two, but he has been up front only until misfortune bit him hard at Las Vegas, Bristol, California, and Texas.

Winning is important, but it sure comes in handy to also be relevant week in and week out. Danica Patrick was just that the entire race, finishing seventh, while Tony Stewart was for a time before coming home 20th. One has a great track record, one does not, but both have driven SHR autos that have been providing sub-par results much of the year. Other than Harvick, one wonders how much are their woes car based. Just ask the fourth member of that stable, as Kurt Busch finished outside the Top Twenty for the ninth time in eleven attempts. If not for his win at Martinsville, which this season makes him relevant, being 28th in points would have otherwise left him an also ran a couple of points beyond the total of even Ms. Patrick.

However, a win is the golden ticket this season to challenge for the championship. Joey Logano and Harvick have a couple, with Gordon, Junior, and the Brothers Busch among the seven with one to their credit. Seven more are within the Top 16 in points, but a single win and a spot in the Top 30 vaults one up the ladder. Who will be next?

Before the World 600, the boys and girl have the All-Star race on their schedule this Saturday night at Charlotte. Nineteen are in, having won since the 2013 Daytona 500, by winning this race in the past, or by having been a Cup series champion. Three more will be added, with two coming from the top finishers from among the 23 car field that will run in the Showdown on Friday night. The other will come via a fan vote. If that goes the way I think it will, I would expect the All-Star race to include every driver mentioned above. Yes, even her.

Who will win on Saturday night? That is easy. Every driver who has ever won the All-Star race since Darrell Waltrip claimed the Winston back in 1985 has or will be either a Cup champion, the winner of the Daytona 500, the World 600 or the night race at Bristol. No exceptions.

A star won last Saturday night, and another should claim the prize in Charlotte this Saturday evening.

Darrell Waltrip – All-Star 1985 – Daytona 500 1989 – World 600 1978-79, 1985, 1988-89 – Bristol 1979, 1981-83, 1986, 1989, 1992 – Champion 1981-82, 1985

Bill Elliott – All-Star 1986 – Daytona 500 1985, 1987 – Champion 1988

Dale Earnhardt – All-Star 1987, 1990, 1993 – Daytona 500 1998 – World 600 1986, 1992-93 – Champion 1980, 1986-87, 1990-91, 1993-94

Terry Labonte – All-Star 1988, 1999 – Bristol 1984, 1995 – Champion 1984, 1996

Rusty Wallace – All-Star 1989 – World 600 1990 – Bristol 1994, 1996, 2000 – Champion 1989

Davey Allison – All-Star 1991-92 – Daytona 500 1992 – World 600 1991

Geoffrey Bodine – All-Star 1994 – Daytona 500 1986

Jeff Gordon – All-Star 1995, 1997, 2001 – Daytona 500 1997, 1999, 2005 – World 600 1994, 1997-98 – Bristol 2002 – Champion 1995, 1997-98, 2001

Michael Waltrip – All-Star 1996 – Daytona 500 2001, 2003

Mark Martin – All-Star 1998, 2005 – World 600 2002 – Bristol 1993, 1998

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – All-Star 2000 – Daytona 500 2004, 2014 – Bristol 2004

Ryan Newman – All-Star 2002- Daytona 500 2008

Jimmie Johnson – All-Star 2003, 2006, 2012-13 – Daytona 500 2006, 2013 – World 600 2003-05 – Champion 2006-10, 2013

Matt Kenseth – All-Star 2004 – Daytona 500 2009, 2012 – World 600 2000 – Bristol 2005-06, 2013 – Champion 2003

Kevin Harvick – All-Star 2007 – Daytona 500 2007 – World 600 2011, 2013

Kasey Kahne – All-Star 2008 – World 600 2006, 2008, 2012

Tony Stewart All-Star 2009 – Bristol 2001 – Champion 2002, 2005, 2011

Kurt Busch – All-Star 2010 – World 600 2010 – Bristol 2003 – Champion 2004

Carl Edwards – All-Star 2011 – Bristol 2007-08

Casey Mears – World 600 2007

David Reutimann – World 600 2009

Kyle Busch – Bristol 2009-10

Jamie McMurray – Daytona 500 2010

Trevor Bayne – Daytona 500 2011

Brad Keselowski – Bristol 2011 – Champion 2012

Denny Hamlin – Bristol 2012

May 13, 2014
Surprising and Not Surprising: 5-Hour Energy 400 at Kansas

Even with the surprising but thankfully slight delay of the race start for thunderstorms and lightning in the area, here is what else was surprising and not surprising from the first race at Kansas Speedway under the Saturday night lights.

Surprising: Weird and freaky things continue to happen at NASCAR races and the Kansas race was no exception. The lights went dark on the back stretch, the speedy dry truck lost a gear, and the car that was ‘Freaky Fast’, starting from the pole with a new track record, just could not pull off the victory, coming in second instead.

“What put us in second is I didn’t get down pit road very good there coming to the pit box,” Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Jimmy Johns ‘Freaky Fast’ Chevrolet said. “I kind of ran out of gas, and I was paying attention to the fuel pressure gauge instead of the pit road speed light.”

“I lost some time there,” Harvick continued. “It was a weird night.”

In spite of all the freakiness, this was Harvick’s eighth top-10 finish in 17 races at Kansas Speedway and his fifth top-10 finish in 2014.

Not Surprising: The race winner shed some pounds, had a blast, and felt like a kid again after scoring his first ‘w’ of the season. Jeff Gordon, behind the wheel of the No. 24 Axalta Coatings Chevrolet, became the ninth different driver to win for the year and scored his 89^th career victory.

“It just feels so good to get that first win of the season, especially this year with the point’s structure and how close we’ve been so many weekends,” Gordon said. “I think that that’s a huge weight off our shoulders.”

“I just feel so competitive out there, and that makes me feel young again,” Gordon continued. “I’m going to be 43 this year, but, man, if 43 is like this, I can’t wait for 50. This is all right. I’m having a good time. That’s why I feel young, because I’m just having a great time.”

Surprising: At least one Busch brother has felt that Kansas Speedway has been somewhat of a curse for him, however, this time it was not Kyle Busch but brother Kurt who felt that way after the race.

Kyle Busch, in the No. 18 Snickers Toyota, actually finished the race in the 15^th position, while Kurt, behind the wheel of the No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet, spun not just once but twice and finished 29^th.

“We definitely didn’t get the finish we wanted in our Haas Automation Chevrolet,” Busch said. “It was a disappointing day all around. We had the best qualifying session of the season this weekend, and we had high hopes for the race.”

“It just didn’t work out the way we planned,” Busch continued. “The car was loose, and we couldn’t tighten it up no matter what we tried. It’s just frustrating. We need to do better, and hopefully we will do better moving forward.”

Not Surprising: Danica Patrick was certainly thrilled with her career best finish of 7^th in her No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet at Kansas. But what really got her going was what she managed to do while racing six-time champ Jimmie Johnson.

“Honestly, the most rewarding part of my night was probably when I drove around the outside of the No. 48 (Jimmie Johnson) on a restart,” Patrick said. “That was probably my most rewarding thing of the night.”

“I say that with all the respect in the world,” Patrick continued. “It’s a big deal because he is Jimmie Johnson.”

“Aside from that I was really just overall proud that we stayed up front all day. That was the biggest thing.”

Surprising: Sometimes Goodyear gets thrown under the bus for any type of tire troubles, but this time the third place driver Kasey Kahne gave them all the credit in the world.

In fact, Kahne scored his first top 5 of the season in his No. 5 FarmersInsurance/Thankamillionteachers.com Chevrolet thanks to the tire manufacturer and their recent Kansas tire test.

“I think the Goodyear test here, for whatever reason, we were able to try some things and just look at stuff a little differently than what we had been, and it helped the 5 team, my guys, myself and Kenny (Francis, crew chief) and our communication together,” Kahne said. “It’s helped us a lot since then.”

“I feel like that’s been the key, and ever since we tested here, we’ve ran much better and been a lot more competitive.”

Not Surprising: Given the high speeds at Kansas and the freakiness of the night, it was not surprising to see some really violent crashes, including Jamie McMurray up in flames and David Gilliland in a horrific wreck with Justin Allgaier and AJ Allmendinger.

“I just lost all the steering and got into the fence and had a little fire,” the driver of the No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet said. “I don’t know if I ran over something but I ended up crashing.”

“I don’t know what happened,” Gilliland, driver of the No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford, said. “It looked like the 47 and 51 got together and the 51 came back up the track and I hit him and from there a lot of stuff happened.”

“We are alright though,” Gilliland continued. “Just a little sore obviously.”

“That is one of the hardest hits I have had in a while. Hopefully it will be the hardest one for a while to come too,” Gilliland said. “It was a hard lick. It was the hardest hit I’ve had in a long time.”

McMurray finished 39^th and Gilliland finished 37^th.

Surprising: Interestingly, there was only one Toyota in the top 10 when the checkered flag flew. Matt Kenseth, who had struggled for most of the race, managed to rebound and finish tenth in his No. 20 Dollar General Toyota.

“We were just pretty slow all weekend — as a group, really,” Kenseth said. “Lost that lap on that first run — I was in the ‘lucky dog’ spot a lot of times, just couldn’t catch a caution at the right times.”

“We were just off a little bit all week,” Kenseth continued. “Trying to figure out mile-and-a-half tracks — it was our strong suit last year. We’re really struggling this year as a group. We’re trying to figure it out.”

“We got lucky to finish 10th really.”

With his top-10 finish, Kenseth remains second in the point standings, now 15 points behind leader Jeff Gordon.

Not Surprising: Kyle Larson, to no one’s surprise, just keeps reeling off impressive finishes in spite of his rookie status. The driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet overcame obstacles to finish 12^th and score the Sunoco Rookie of the Race honors.

Surprising: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. surprisingly admitted it himself when he shared his frustration at finishing top five and leading nine laps, the same number as race winner and teammate Jeff Gordon.

“What stands out in the back of my mind was how fast the car was during the first half of the race,” Junior said. “We were just flying.”

“But I knew when the temps came down, the bottom was going to be faster and we were going to be in trouble because we were tight all weekend,” the driver of the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet continued. “We got real tight at the end of the race.”

“Just kind of frustrating there because we never really improved the front grip and struggled with it all weekend,” Junior said. “So, frustrated about that but a good result for us.”

Not Surprising: While it was not Darlington, a track where Mother’s Day has been traditionally celebrated by the sport, there was still a great outpouring of love and support for all mothers in the NASCAR garage.

In fact, driver after driver paid tribute to their mothers, as well as their wives, many of whom were mothers to their children.

So, as Mother’s Day comes to a close, the Cup Series will move next into its home track double header, with the All Star Race and then the Coca Cola 600, NASCAR’s longest endurance race, both at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the next two weekends.

May 11, 2014