All-Star Race adds 20 laps in 2015
The Sprint All-Star Race will be 110 laps in 2015.
The format for the race was revealed Wednesday and, like 2014, will consist of five segments. The first four segments will be 25 laps (up from 20 in 2014) and the final segment will be 10 laps.
The average position of the field through the first four segments will determine the order cars head to pit road before the final segment. Teams are mandated to change four tires, before the 10-lap segment and the order off pit road will determine the restart order.
The winner of the race will once again get $1 million. While the purse is a selling point to drivers and teams, we understand how it can be hard for fans to get excited about millionaire drivers and multi-million dollar teams running for a seven-figure check.
The race will also be run with the 2015 rules package. NASCAR has said that it was looking to have the specifications for 2016 cars to the teams by about the time of the All-Star Race and the exhibition race would be a perfect opportunity to showcase the new rules. However, NASCAR's release about the event made it clear that the current configuration would be used.
After making downforce and horsepower changes following the 2014 season, NASCAR is widely expected to make more changes to cars for the 2016 season.
There's also an eligibility change for the race. Previously, all Sprint Cup Series champions and All-Star Race winners from the past 10 years were eligible. Now, all Cup champs and All-Star Race winners are eligible, meaning 2003 title-winner and 2004 All-Star Race-winner Matt Kenseth and 2002 All-Star Race-winner Ryan Newman are eligible.
The following drivers will participate in the race. There are three more opportunities for drivers to win a race and get in before the May 16 exhibition. Three drivers will also advance from the qualifying race before the All-Star Race.
• AJ Allmendinger
• Aric Almirola
• Kurt Busch,
• Kyle Busch,
• Dale Earnhardt Jr.,
• Carl Edwards,
• Jeff Gordon,
• Denny Hamlin,
• Kevin Harvick,
• Jimmie Johnson,
• Kasey Kahne,
• Kenseth
• Brad Keselowski,
• Joey Logano,
• Jamie McMurray
• Newman
• Tony Stewart
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
