All-Star Lineup | Open Lineup | Practice Speeds
Stories to during Saturday night’s 34th annual Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
New Rules Package
NASCAR had mandated a different rules package for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cars that includes a restrictor-plate as well as a number of aerodynamic adjustments. The idea is to create closer and more competitive racing but there are many unknowns about how much of an impact the rules package will have on handling in traffic. After Friday’s wet weather that limited practice time, NASCAR added a combined practice session for Open and All-Star drivers today with Kyle Larson leading the session (Practice Speeds). The field will include all 2017 and 2018 race winners, plus former series champions and former All-Star race winners that are still competing full time. The three stage winners from the Open and a driver via the Fan Vote will also transfer to the main event.
Race Format
The format for the All-Star Race will include four stages – 30 laps, 20 laps, 20 laps and 10 laps. Only green flag laps will be counted in the Final Stage. Normal stage break procedures will be in effect, with one exciting addition: NASCAR Overtime will be in play for all stages. The Monster Energy Open will be three stages set at 20, 20 and 10 laps, respectively.
Open Competition
The field for the Open which precedes Saturday night’s main event is full of intriguing possibilities. Three of the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers – Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman and rookie William Byron – are among the Open field. Stewart-Haas driver Aric Almirola, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones, along with this year’s Daytona 500 runner-up Darrell Wallace JR., will be among the star-filled starting grid for the Monster Energy Open hoping to transfer to the All-Star race later Saturday night.
Harvick On Hot Streak
Kevin Harvick comes into the weekend still on a hot streak after his fifth win of the year last week at Kansas Speedway. He won the 2007 All-Star Race and looks to add another trophy to his collection. He’s making his 18th consecutive All-Star Race appearance, which will move him ahead of Dale Earnhardt, Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Labonte and into a tie with Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr., for the fifth-most consecutive appearances.
Back-to-Back for Busch?
Kyle Busch is the defending race winner and the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been very strong so far in 2018 with three wins on the board in the first 12 races. However, history is against Busch becoming a multiple All-Star Race winner. Since 1998 only one driver – Jimmie Johnson – has scored multiple victories in the event. Read More
Kenseth Up Front
Matt Kenseth qualified on the pole in just his second start back this season, driving the No. 6 Ford. His Roush Fenway Racing teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will start alongside him on the front row.
Truex Jr. Still Searching for All-Star Race Win
Martin Truex Jr. has been very strong at Charlotte Motor Speedway in recent years, including a Coca-Cola 600 victory two years ago when he led all but eight laps of the season’s longest race. But the defending series champion is still winless in the All-Star Race. The only time Truex came close to taking home the $1 million first-place prize was in 2010 when he finished runner-up.
Truex qualified for this year’s All-Star race in three different ways – race winner in 2017 and 2018 and being a NASCAR Cup Series champion. Saturday’s night race will mark his his third straight All-Star appearance and eighth overall.
Motor Racing Network – “The Voice of NASCAR” will have live coverage of Saturday’s All-Star Race, beginning at 5:30 p.m. (ET) – with live streaming at MRN.com.
