BREAKING NEWS: NASCAR All-Star Race Format Update

Apr 29, 2022

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (APRIL 28, 2022) – NASCAR and Texas Motor Speedway today announced the format and eligibility for the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday, May 22, that features four stages and 125 laps of on-track competition for a $1 million payday, stage winner incentives, amplified roles for the pit crews, and a distinctive head-to-head elimination qualifying format.

The NASCAR All-Star Race returns to Texas Motor Speedway for the second consecutive season and this 38th edition brings some unique twists for the eligible Cup drivers pursuing the winner-take-all $1 million payday. The most prominent twist will come in the form of a four-round qualifying format with head-to-head elimination rounds and the pivotal role of the pit crews.

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING

NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE FORMAT INTENSIFIED WITH QUALIFYING ELIMINATION BRACKET, STAGE WINNER AND PIT CREW INCENTIVES

NASCAR ALL-STAR OPEN QUALIFYING

  • Traditional single-car, one-lap format in reverse order of the current 2022 owner points.

NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE QUALIFYING 

  • Round one is the traditional single-car, one-lap format in reverse order of the current 2022 owner points.
  • Fastest eight qualifiers transfer to a three-round, head-to-head elimination bracket.
  • Round two is the elimination bracket that features two cars staged in adjacent pit stalls near the end of pit road.
  • At the sound of an alert, each pit crew will perform a four-tire stop and, at the drop of the jack, drivers will exit their pit stalls (with no speed limit) onto the track.
  • First car back to the start/finish line advances to the next round.
  • Final pairing competes for the pole.

NASCAR ALL-STAR OPEN

STAGE 1 (20 LAPS)

  • All laps (green flag and yellow flag) will be counted during Stage 1.
  • The official leader at the conclusion of Stage 1 is eligible to participate in the All-Star Race and must report to a designated area in the garage at the conclusion of Stage 1.

STAGE 2 (20 LAPS)

  • All laps (green flag and yellow flag) will be counted during Stage 2.
  • The official leader at the conclusion of Stage 2 is eligible to participate in the All-Star Race and must report to a designated area in the garage at the conclusion of Stage 2.

FINAL STAGE (10 LAPS)

  • Only green flag laps will be counted during the Final Stage.
  • The official winner of Final Stage is eligible to participate in the All-Star Race and must report to a designated area in the garage at the conclusion of the Final Stage.

NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE

The new 2022 NASCAR All-Star Race format has provided a major incentive to win any of the opening three stages or the pit stop competition during the break between Stages 2 and 3.

STAGE 1 (25 laps)

  • Stage 1 winner will start on the pole in the final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stages 2 and 3.

STAGE 2 (25 laps)

  • Stage 2 winner starts second in final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stage 3.

– SPECIAL STAGE BREAK (Pit Stop Competition) –

Each team must pit and perform a four-tire stop. The team with the shortest time on pit road (pit in/pit out) wins the pit crew award and the driver will start fourth in the final stage as long as he finishes 15th or better in Stage 3.

STAGE 3 (25 laps)

  • Stage 3 winner starts third in final stage.

FINAL STAGE (50 laps)

  • Stage 1 winner starts first, Stage 2 winner second, Stage 3 winner third and pit stop competition winner fourth. If no “natural” caution occurs between laps 15-25, NASCAR will call an “All-Star” competition caution. Winner of the Final Stage earns $1 million.

NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE QUALIFIED DRIVERS

NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have currently clinched a NASCAR All-Star Race starting spot.

Drivers who currently have clinched a starting spot (through Talladega) and making return visits to the NASCAR All-Star Race are AJ Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, William Byron, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Michael McDowell, Martin Truex Jr., and Bubba Wallace.

Cup Series rookie Austin Cindric qualified for his first NASCAR All-Star Race appearance by winning the Daytona 500 in February.

Country music superstar Blake Shelton will perform a live 60-minute concert May 22 beginning at 3 p.m. as part of the NASCAR All-Star pre-race festivities. The full day of NASCAR competition and entertainment activities will conclude with a 60-minute post-race concert performed by legendary Mexican ranchero music group Banda MS.

Coverage of the NASCAR All-Star Race – sponsored by NASCAR’s Premier Partners Busch Light Beer, Coca-Cola, GEICO and Xfinity – will begin May 22 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1. The NASCAR Open will begin at 6 p.m. on FS1, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90, MRN, and 95.9 The Ranch and the NASCAR All-Star Race at 8 p.m. on FS1, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90, MRN, and 95.9 The Ranch.

TICKETS:
Tickets for the May 20-22 NASCAR All-Star Race Weekend, including the Blake Shelton concert, are on sale now at: https://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/events/season-tickets/.

MORE INFO:
Keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s busy schedule by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the speedway website and TMS mobile app.

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