Head2Head: True All-Stars

The very definition of "all-star" is "made up wholly of outstanding performers." It should be the absolute best, the cream of the crop, the pick of the litter.

And while Saturday night's event at Lowe's Motor Speedway is an All-Star Race, the field looks conspiciously like any other race on the schedule. While other major sports showcase only their best players for one night in a special exhibition, how is it that more than half of the cars that race on a week-to-week basis are considered "all-stars?"

Just because somebody won a race in the previous two seasons, that doesn't necessarily constitute "all-star" in my book.

Not to pick on anyone's favorite driver, but Juan Montoya's lone top-10 run this season came at Talladega. Kurt Busch finished second at Daytona -- and hasn't cracked the top 10 since. Jamie McMurray? One top-10 finish in 11 starts, the same amount as Aric Almirola, who doesn't even have a ride this weekend. But they all won races in 2007, and here they are.

Don't get me wrong. I like seeing guys like Dale Jarrett get a chance to say goodbye, but his best finish in five starts this season was 16th, and he's been retired since Bristol. That's like asking Hank Aaron to replace Jeff Francoeur in right field for the Braves.

And when you factor in the entry list for the Showdown, there are several cars and drivers that haven't even made a race this season. Yes, Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL have their future stars games -- and maybe that's what the Showdown should be.

If this race is truly for the fans, then the fans should be allowed to choose the entire field for the main event, not just somebody from the Showdown. That, or hold elimination heat races from all entrants. Anything but arbitrary rules that cheapen the glamour of what should be NASCAR's night to showcase its very best.

Yes, the All-Star Race is great exposure for the sponsors and teams. I'm certain the folks at Lowe's Motor Speedway love the extra attention they get. And every driver has a passionate fan base. But what's the point of calling it an All-Star Race if it's really nothing more than all-inclusive?

• Mark Aumann, NASCAR.COM

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.

Look, we can all agree that the All-Star Race is a gimmick and not really a necessity in the sport. But the joy about All-Star weekend is it's a carefree time for the drivers and crews to have a little fun at their home track and try to win a million bucks.

So why do we need to burden it with a ton of rules about eligibility?

It's an exhibition, a time for the best in NASCAR to go all-out and not worry about points -- and make no mistake, the best are featured.

The only way you get into the race is if you won a Cup event in that or the previous season; are a previous All-Star winner; or are a past champion in the last 10 years. That gives you about 20-25 drivers that are guaranteed in the big show.

Of course, you have to involve the fans (what all-star event doesn't -- the event is for them, after all), so they choose a driver.

And then you have what is possibly the best race of the night, the Showdown, where the top-two finishers make it to the main event.

In a sport that features up to 50 of the best drivers in the world every weekend, the field for this weekend's All-Star race will be 24. That sounds like the best-of-the-best to me.

And one look at the Sprint Showdown entry list proves some pretty stout drivers won't be racing for the million.

David Ragan (currently 12th in the points), Kasey Kahne (seven Cup wins, currently 14th in points), Bill Elliott (former Cup champion), Michael Waltrip (two-time Daytona 500 winner) -- odds are more than one of these drivers who deserve a spot in the race aren't going to be there.

It's obvious to me, only the best drivers make the field, and besides, it's exciting to see guys try to race their way in. It's what makes the duel races at Daytona so exciting and it makes All-Star Saturday a remarkable all-day affair.

There are enough rules in NASCAR that everyone has to deal with on a weekly basis, let's leave the All-Star event alone and keep it for what it is -- a way to show appreciation to the fans and an opportunity for everyone in the sport to let their hair down and have some fun one weekend out of the grueling 40-plus week schedule.

• Bill Kimm, NASCAR.COM

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.