This Sunday, June 13th is the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race and Open. The drivers are not racing for points, the Playoffs or a Championship. They are racing for bragging rights and ONE MILLION DOLLARS!
There are only a handful of ways to qualify to race in the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race.
- You must have won an NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race.
- You must have won a NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
- You must have won a points race in the previous year or current year. (For the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race that means if you won a points race in 2020 or 2021 you are in the race.)
- You must win one of the first two stages in the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open or be the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open.
- You must be the winner of the Fan Vote for the race.
With those criteria here are the 17 drivers that are locked in with a chance to win the $1 Million prize.
- Christopher Bell
- Ryan Blaney
- Alex Bowman
- Kurt Busch
- Kyle Busch
- William Byron
- Cole Custer
- Austin Dillon
- Chase Elliott
- Denny Hamlin
- Kevin Harvick
- Brad Keselowski
- Kyle Larson
- Joey Logano
- Michael McDowell
- Ryan Newman
- Martin Truex Jr.
When the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open is complete and the winner of the Fan Vote is revealed there will be 21 cars racing in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race.
This is the first time the All-Star Race is being held at Texas Motor Speedway. Here is the data about the track the drivers and teams will be competing on.
Texas Motor Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.5-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 20 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 24 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 2,250 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,330 feet
The NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open will be held immediately before the main All-Star Race. The All-Star Open format is as follows:
- The NASCAR Open will include three segments (20 laps / 20 laps / 10 laps).
- The winner of each segment will earn a spot in the All-Star Race as well as the winner of the Fan Vote. Fans may vote for their favorite driver by visiting NASCAR.com for details.
The NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race will be run with the following format:
- The race will feature six rounds, totaling 100 laps.
- Starting lineup for Round 1 will be determined via random draw.
- Rounds 1 through 4 will be 15 laps each; Round 5 will be 30 laps; the Final Round will feature a 10-lap shootout.
- At the beginning of Round 2, the field will be inverted via random draw (minimum of eight/maximum of 12) live on FS1.
- The round 2 random draw will also be seen live by fans attending the race on Big Hoss TV.
- Before the start of Round 3, the entire field will be inverted.
- At the beginning of Round 4, the field will be inverted via random draw (minimum of eight/maximum of 12).
- Starting positions for Round 5 will consist of the cumulative finish from Rounds 1-4. The lowest cumulative finisher starts on the pole, second-lowest starts second, and so forth. All cars must enter pit road for a mandatory 4-tire pit stop during Round 5.
- The starting positions in the Final Round are set by finishing positions of Round 5.
- Only green flag laps will count in the NASCAR All-Star race.
- The fastest team on pit road during the mandatory pit stop will earn $100,000.
- The race winner will be awarded $1,000,000.
Since the format for the All-Star Race is so different from every other race during the season, typical driver stats at the track really do not hold much indication for performance. Therefore, lets simply look at what active drivers have won in the NASCAR Cup-Series All-Star Race.
Kevin Harvick – 2 Wins (2018, 2007)
Chase Elliott – 1 Win (2020)
Kyle Larson – 1 Win (2019)
Kyle Busch – 1 Win (2017)
Joey Logano – 1 Win (2016)
Denny Hamlin – 1 Win (2015)
Kurt Busch – 1 Win (2010)
Ryan Newman – 1 Win (2002)
We will find out what extra four drivers will earn a spot in the main event when the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open starts at 5 p.m. central time (6 p.m. eastern time) eastern time Sunday, June 13th.
We will find out which driver wins bragging rights and ONE MILLION DOLLARS when the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race starts at 7 p.m. central time (8 p.m. eastern time) Sunday, June 13th.
It all takes place at Texas Motor Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
