2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race XXIV
formerly Nextel All-Star Challenge and The Winston

UNOFFICIAL

Updated 5-3-2008
Rules below eligible drivers....

Rules for The Sprint Cup All-Star Race XXIV
Eligibility rules for Sprint Cup All-Star Race XXIV:
1st criteria: Drivers and car owners who have won races in the current and preceding year. If a driver leaves a team with which he has won a race, he remains eligible and the car owner's new driver also is eligible(through the last race before The All-Star Race)
2nd criteria: Drivers who are past Cup champions in the last 10 years
3rd criteria: Drivers who have won The All-Star Race in the past 10 years
4th criteria: The winning driver of the Sprint Open
5th criteria: Drivers who have won in previous years, not eligible by the above (not owners, just drivers)
(rules below table)
The Current UNOFFICIAL 2008 Field
 DriverEligibility
Race winners(drivers/owners) in 2008 and 2009
1 #12-Ryan Newman Feb 2008 Daytona
2 #99-Carl Edwards Feb 2008 California
3 #18-Kyle Busch March 2008 Atlanta
4 #31-Jeff Burton March 2008 Bristol
5 #11-Denny Hamlin March 2008 Martinsville
6 #48-Jimmie Johnson April 2008 Phoenix
7 #07-Clint Bowyer May 2008 Richmond
Previous NASCAR Cup champions
(not a 2008/2009 winner)
within the last 10 years
8 #20-Tony Stewart 2005
9 #17-Matt Kenseth 2003
10 #2-Kurt Busch 2004
11 #24-Jeff Gordon 2001
12 #43-Bobby Labonte 2000
Previous Winners of
The Sprint Cup All-Star Race
(not a 2008/2009 winner or past series champ) within the last 10 years
13 #8-Mark Martin 2005
14 #12-Ryan Newman 2002
15 #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2000
16 #29-Kevin Harvick 2007
Winning drivers from previous seasons not otherwise eligible
only if the above is NOT 20 or over
17 #2-Kurt Busch August 2007 Pocono
18 #5-Casey Mears May 2007 Charlotte
19 #1-Martin Truex Jr. June 2007 Dover
20 #42-Juan Pablo Montoya June 2007 Sonoma
21 #26-Jamie McMurray July 2007 Daytona
22 #16-Greg Biffle September 2007 Kansas
and....using 2007 rules
23 2009 Sprint Showdown Winner ?
24 2009 Sprint Showdown 2nd place finisher? ?
25 Fan Vote Winner ?
If 20 drivers are not eligible, winners from previous seasons still active on the Sprint Cup Series become eligible for The All-Star Race. All active drivers during that season become eligible, even if the field exceeds 20 competitors.

Active former Cup race winners not eligible (year of last win):
Kasey Kahne (2006)
Brian Vickers (2006)
Jeremy Mayfield (2005)
Elliott Sadler (2004)
Joe Nemechek (2004)
Bill Elliott (2003, won event in 1986, Champ in 1988), says he will retire after the 2008 season
Michael Waltrip (2003, won event in 1996)
Robby Gordon (2003)
Sterling Marlin (2002)
Johnny Benson (2002)
John Andretti (1999)
Kyle Petty (1995)
Ken Schrader (1991)

RETIRED/NOT ACTIVE in CUP in 2008
Ward Burton (2002)
Morgan Shepherd (1993)
Derrike Cope (1990)
Rusty Wallace (2004, won event in 1989, 1989 Champ)
Ricky Craven (2003)
Terry Labonte (2003, won event in 1988+1999, 1984+1996 Champ)
Ricky Rudd (2002)
Steve Park (2001)
Jerry Nadeau (2000)
Geoffrey Bodine (1996, won event in 1994)
Jimmy Spencer (1994)
Greg Sacks (1985)

Eligible drivers for the 2008 Sprint Showdown

What makes a driver eligible for the Sprint Showdown?
To qualify for the Sprint Showdown, drivers must be in the Top 50 of the final previous seasons Sprint Cup Series [drivers] point standings
or in the Top 50 of the current Sprint Cup Series [drivers] point standings as of March 11, 2008?.
Just because a driver is listed, doesn't mean they will be in the race.

    NEWS and RUMORS about the All-Star Race

    2008 News/Rules

  • All-star race will stay in Charlotte for now: Sprint Cup officials have changed the name and logo for the annual all-star race, added a few laps to each segment and indicated that the race will remain in Charlotte [NC] beyond this season. The race will be the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race XXIV. The event was previously known as the Challenge, but officials say they decided to call it what it is - a race. The race involving drivers not already qualified for the event, previously known as the Nextel Open, will now be called the Sprint Showdown. While the all-star race will still feature four segments, the former 20-lap segments have been lengthened to 25 laps each, giving drivers more time to actually race. The race, held annually at Lowe's Motor Speedway, appears to be staying at the track for some time. Sprint Cup Director of Marketing Dean Kessel said that he and Lowe's Motor Speedway President H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler have been in discussion about the 2009 race, which will be the 25th anniversary of the all-star event. During all-star week, the pit crew challenge has been moved to Thursday night, leaving a packed Friday night for fans. The start time for the all-star race will remain the same [Showdown at 7:30pm/et, All-Star race approx 9:00pm/et].(Scenedaily.com)(1-22-2008) Comment here

    2007 News/Rules, see more on the 2007 Nextel All-Star Challenge page

  • Key changes to the Nextel All-Star Challenge announced Tuesday:
    • 80-lap race broken up into four 20-lap segments
    • Optional pit stop after first segment and 10-minute break after second in which teams can work on cars
    • Mandatory pit stop after third segment, setting up 20-yard dash for $1M prize
    • Field expanded to allow both first- and second-place finishers of Nextel Open, plus one driver voted in by fans
    • Like past years, rest of field consists of drivers who have won races in the current and preceding year, past All-Star race winners, plus Nextel Cup champions from the last 10 years.(1-23-2007)

  • Nextel Challenges changes for 2007: Sprint Nextel and NASCAR unveiled several enhancements to the 2007 Nextel Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman and Nextel All-Star Challenge today during the annual media tour. “We anticipate the excitement will carry through the entire Nextel All-Star Challenge week,” said Dean Kessel, director of Nextel Cup Series marketing for Sprint Nextel. “We have worked with each of our partners, including NASCAR, SPEED and Lowe’s Motor Speedway, to develop a format that honors the spirit of what the Nextel All-Star Challenge activities should be about.”
    The Nextel Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman, slated for May 16 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena, will be directly linked to the Nextel All-Star Challenge, as the finishing order in the pit-crew competition will decide the selection order of pit stalls for the May 19 race. The Nextel Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman, now in its third season, will feature several new competitive elements.
    New Format: The Nextel All-Star Challenge’s new format consists of four, 20-lap segments and features teams that qualify for the event by winning a Nextel Cup Series event during the 2006 or 2007 seasons. Additionally, two drivers will qualify for the premier event by finishing first and second, respectively, after two 20-lap segments in the Nextel Open. Finally, one driver will once again join the Nextel All-Star Challenge field by winning the Nextel Fan Vote.
    Teams will have the option of pitting after the first 20-lap segment of the event, giving up their respective on-track position by doing so. A mandatory 10-minute stop will follow the second 20-lap segment. Teams will resume their position at the start of the third segment.
    Following segment three, all remaining participants on the track will circle the track under caution. Each team will then conduct a pit stop under race-like pitting conditions. The order of the teams exiting pit road will serve as the starting lineup for the fourth, and final, 20-lap segment. The Nextel All-Star Challenge will be broadcast live on SPEED. Additional details about the Nextel All-Star Challenge will be announced at a later date.(DEI site)(1-23-2007)

PAST WINNERS
OF THE SPRINT CUP ALL-STAR RACE XXIV

(formerly known as the Nextel All-Star Challenge and The Winston)
Year Driver
2007 Kevin Harvick

Matt Kenseth (seg 3)
Kyle Busch (seg 2)
Matt Kenseth (seg 1)
results
2006 Jimmie Johnson (2)
Kevin Harvick (seg 2)
Kyle Busch (seg 1)
2005 Mark Martin (2)
Ryan Newman (seg 2)
Mark Martin (seg 1)
2004 Matt Kenseth
Ryan Newman (seg 2)
Tony Stewart (seg 1)
2003 Jimmie Johnson
Kurt Busch (seg 2)
Tony Stewart (seg 1)
2002 Ryan Newman
2001 Jeff Gordon(3)
2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1999 Terry Labonte(2)
1998 Mark Martin
1997 Jeff Gordon(2)
1996 Michael Waltrip
1995 Jeff Gordon
1994 Geoffrey Bodine
1993 Dale Earnhardt(3)
1992 Davey Allison(2)
1991 Davey Allison
1990 Dale Earnhardt(2)
1989 Rusty Wallace
1988 Terry Labonte
1987 Dale Earnhardt
1986 Bill Elliott
1985 Darrell Waltrip
All but 1986 have been held at Lowes Motor Speedway, in 1986 it was at Atlanta

PAST WINNERS OF THE
SPRINT SHOWDOWN

(formerly known as the Nextel Open and the Winston Open
Year Driver
2007 Martin Truex Jr.

Johnny Sauter
(transferred in)
Voted In: Kenny Wallace
2006 Scott Riggs

Voted In: Kyle Petty
2005 Brian Vickers

Voted In: Martin Trux Jr.
2004 Sterling Marlin

Voted In: Ken Schrader
2003 Jeff Burton
2002 Jeremy Mayfield(2)
Ryan Newman
(No Bull 5 Sprint)
2001 Johnny Benson
Todd Bodine
(No Bull 5 Sprint)
2000 Steve Park
Jerry Nadeau
(No Bull 5 Sprint)
1999 Tony Stewart
1998 Jeremy Mayfield
1997 Ricky Craven
1996 Jimmy Spencer
1995 Todd Bodine
1994 Jeff Gordon
1993 Sterling Marlin(3)
1992 Michael Waltrip(2)
1991 Michael Waltrip
1990 Dick Trickle
1989 Sterling Marlin(2)
1988 Sterling Marlin
1987 Buddy Baker
1986 Benny Parsons
1985 none
All but 1986 have been held at Lowes Motor Speedway, in 1986 it was at Atlanta. The Winston Open was known as the Atlanta Invitational in 1986
2007 Nextel All-Star Challenge
2006 Nextel All-Star Challenge
2005 Nextel All-Star Challenge
2004 Nextel All-Star Challenge
2003 Winston
2002 Winston
2001 Winston
2000 Winston
1999 Winston

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