Get caught up for Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Race (9 p.m. ET, FS1)
What: 31st-annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.
When: Saturday, May 16, 2015
TV/Radio: FOX Sports 1, MRN, Sirius XM
Distance: 110 laps (165 miles)
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Format Change
The format for this year’s Sprint All-Star Race will consist of four 25-lap segments, followed by a mandatory four-tire pit stop and ending with a 10-lap shootout. Teams will pit at the conclusion of the fourth segment in the order of their average finishing position through the four segments. The re-start order for the final segment will be determined based on the position of the cars as they exit pit road.
On the Front Row
1. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota (145.648 mph)
2. Greg Biffle, Roush Fenway Racing No. 16 Ford (144.643 mph)
Fastest in practice:
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota (188.884 mph)
Jamie McMurray, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates No. 1 Chevrolet (188.396 mph)
Transfers from the Sprint Showdown
First Segment Winner: Greg Biffle, Roush Fenway Racing No. 16 Ford
Second Segment Winner: Clint Bowyer, Michael Waltrip Racing No. 15 Toyota
Sprint Fan Vote Winner
Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 Chevrolet
Four-For-Three
AJ Allmendinger is making his fourth start in the All-Star Race this weekend. The JTG Daugherty Racing driver’s three previous starts came with three different teams – Red Bull Racing (2008), Team Penske (2012) and JTG Daugherty (2014).
Driver Rating
Best driver rating average for the Sprint All-Star Race based on past 10 races:
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota (108.1)
Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet (104.2)
Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota (88.3)
Big Vote for Big D
For the second time in three years, SHR driver Danica Patrick advanced into the All-Star race field by virtue of the Sprint Fan Vote. Patrick, who finished ninth in the second of the two 20-lap segments, also qualified via the Fan Vote process in 2013.
Race, Pit, Race
The unusual qualifying format for the race will feature single-car runs by drivers, and consist of two laps at speed with a pit stop for four tires in between. There will be no pit road speed limit enforced. The aggregate total time (on track and on/off pit road) will determine the starting lineup. Carl Edwards (JGR) has started on the pole for the last two All-Star events.
Former Sprint All-Star Race Winners in the Field
Jimmie Johnson (4), Jeff Gordon (3), Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1).