NASCAR All-Star Race

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Lore & Background

The event began in 1985 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which was then known as NASCAR's longest and fastest non-restrictor-plate superspeedway. Originally titled "The Winston," the race adopted this unique moniker due to tobacco advertising restrictions that forced other events to use generic names on television. The first running featured twelve winners from the 1984 season in a 70-lap format with one mandatory pit stop. In 1986, the race moved to Atlanta Motor Speedway for a Mother's Day run, featuring a shorter 83-lap distance and a consolation event called the Atlanta Invitational. Michael Waltrip made history in 1996 as the first driver to win after transferring from the qualifying "Showdown" race (then known as the Winston Open). The format has evolved significantly over the decades, shifting from one segment to three, and even utilizing inversion rules where fans voted on whether to flip the field for the second segment between 1990 and 1991.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere at the All-Star Race is defined by its unique formats and dramatic turns. In 2004, Nextel introduced a fan vote allowing spectators, internet users, and cellphone subscribers to add one driver to the field, provided they finished on the lead lap in the Showdown. By 2008, this fan entry formula expanded to include attendees at races up to that point and Sprint retail locations. The race has seen historic moments like Davey Allison's 1992 victory, where he crashed crossing the finish line battling Kyle Petty but still claimed the win while spending the evening in the hospital. Jeff Gordon won in 1997 with his famous "T-Rex" paint scheme, a dominance so complete that NASCAR banned the car from further competition. In 2014, the Showdown race moved to the night before the main event, replaced by on-track qualifying shortly before the final green flag.

Reader's Guide

Participation rules have shifted frequently throughout the event's history. Initially restricted to the past five All-Star winners, eligibility expanded in 2005 to include Cup Series or All-Star winners from the past ten years. By 2015, full-time drivers with any Cup or All-Star win were exempt regardless of when they won. The "All-Star Open" (formerly the Showdown) has served as a gateway for non-qualifiers, originally restricted to the top 50 drivers in standings. Qualifying formats have varied wildly: from one-lap time trials to the No Bull 25 Shootout twin races between 1998 and 2000. Since 2020, the venue has changed annually due to the pandemic and other factors, moving from Charlotte to Bristol in 2020, Texas Motor Speedway in 2021, North Wilkesboro Speedway for NASCAR's 75th anniversary in 2023, and finally to Dover Motor Speedway for the 2026 running.

Did You Know?

• In 1986, the race was run at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Mother's Day because Charlotte could not accommodate the field, and a consolation race called the Atlanta Invitational was held for drivers who didn't qualify.
• The 2004 Nextel All-Star Race introduced a fan vote that allowed one additional driver to enter the final field if they finished on the lead lap in the Showdown.
• Jeff Gordon's 1997 "T-Rex" car was so dominant during the race that NASCAR subsequently banned it from further competition.
• Davey Allison won the 1992 race after crashing across the finish line while battling Kyle Petty, spending the night in the hospital instead of victory lane.
• The 2026 All-Star Race is scheduled to be held at Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware.