Active former Sprint Cup race winners not eligible (year of last win):

Carl Edwards (2008)
Greg Biffle (2008)
Clint Bowyer (2008)
Jeff Burton (2008)
Martin Truex Jr. (2007)
Juan Pablo Montoya (2007)
Elliott Sadler (2004)
Joe Nemechek (2004)
Bill Elliott (2003, won event in 1986, Champ in 1988) - part time
Michael Waltrip (2003, won event in 1996), part-time
Terry Labonte (2003, won event in 1988, 1999; 1984, 1996 Champ), could be eligible if he has a ride, has not run the race since 2005
Robby Gordon (2003)
John Andretti (1999)
Geoffrey Bodine (1996, won event in 1994)
Derrike Cope (1990) - runs part time in all three series

RETIRED/NOT ACTIVE in Sprint Cup in 2010
Dale Jarrett (last win in 2006, 1999 Champ) - retired
Jeremy Mayfield (2005) - suspended
Johnny Benson (2002) - part time truck series
Ward Burton (2002) - retired
Morgan Shepherd (1993) - runs Nationwide
Rusty Wallace (2004, won event in 1989, 1989 Champ) - retired broadcaster at ESPN
Ricky Craven (2003) - retired, works for ESPN
Ricky Rudd (2002) - retired
Sterling Marlin (2002) - unknown
Steve Park (2001) - runs in Camping World East series
Jerry Nadeau (2000)
Kyle Petty (1995) works for TNT & SPEED
Jimmy Spencer (1994) - retired, SPEED
Ken Schrader (1991) - run ARCA and short tracks
Greg Sacks (1985) - unknown

• To be eligible for the Sprint Fan Vote (and the Sprint Showdown), drivers must have finished in the top 50 of the final 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver point standings, attempted to qualify for the 2010 Daytona 500 or competed in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event during the 2009 or 2010 season. The driver accumulating the most votes, who also finishes the Sprint Showdown qualifying race on the lead lap, will earn a spot in the prestigious All-Star field. The Sprint Fan vote winner will be announced immediately following the completion of the Sprint Showdown.

• Drivers currently eligible for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Showdown:
  

  ENTERED
  

  The Sprint Showdown - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - Charlotte Motor Speedway - 5/22/2010
  Last Update: 5/21/2010 11:42:00 PM
  
  
  1. AJ Allmendinger #43
  2. Marcos Ambrose #47
  3. Norm Benning #57
  4. Greg Biffle #16
  5. Todd Bodine #64
  6. Clint Bowyer #33
  7. Jeff Burton #31
  8. Kevin Conway #37
  9. Derrike Cope #75
  10. Carl Edwards #99
  11. Bill Elliott #21
  12. David Gilliland #38
  13. Robby Gordon #7
  14. San Hornish Jr. #77
  15. Travis Kvapil #34
  16. Casey Mears [to sub for Vickers in the #83]
  17. Paul Menard #98
  18. Juan Pablo Montoya #42
  19. Joe Nemechek #87
  20. Max Papis #13
  21. David Ragan #6
  22. Tony Raines #36
  23. Robert Richardson Jr. #92
  24. Elliott Sadler #19
  25. Regan Smith #78
  26. Reed Sorenson #32
  27. Scott Speed #82
  28. Martin Truex Jr. #56
  29. Michael Waltrip #55
  30. J.J. Yeley

      
      NOT ENTERED
      

  31. Aric Almirola
  32. John Andretti
  33. Dave Blaney #66 not entered
  34. Mike Bliss #09 not entered
  35. Patrick Carpentier [no ride]
  36. Terry Cook [no ride]
  37. Erik Darnell [no ride]
  38. Jeff Fuller
  39. Michael McDowell, Waltrip in the #55
  40. Scott Riggs #90 not entered
  41. Boris Said
  42. Johnny Sauter
  43. David Stremme #26 not entered
  44. Mike Wallace

  ---

• Purse/Race Awards:
  All-Star Challenge: $2,923,839; winner gets $1,018,700
  Sprint Showdown: $897,587; winner gets $51,735

• Kurt Busch wins the All Star Race: #2-Kurt Busch won the Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning over $1 million. It is Busch's first All-Star race win and Penske Racing's 2nd win. #56-Truex Jr., who won the Sprint Showdown, finished 2nd, followed by #20-Logano, #11-Hamlin, #14-Stewart, #17-Kenseth, #71-Labonte, #39-Newman, #29-Harvick and #12-Keselowski. 13 cars were left after some late wrecks with #88-Earnhardt Jr. finished 11th followed by #16-Biffle and #48-Johnson [who won two segments and was running fast before spinning out with two laps to go. #18-Busch felt his teammate #11-Hamlin put him in the wall, Busch fell back and cut a tire down and hit the wall and took out #9-Kahne. Other's who did not finish: #83-Mears, #5-Martin, #1-McMurray, #00-Reutimann, #24-Gordon and #99-Edwards.
  See race results, awards and notes on my All-Star / Sprint Showdown Resaults page.(5-22-2010)

• All-Star Race Notes and Facts:
  • Kurt Busch won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, pocketing $1,078,309.
  • This is Busch's first All-Star race win in his ninth try.
  • Penske Racing scored its second All-Star win.
  • Busch led three times for 20 laps, including the final eight. Busch is the eighth driver to win over a million dollars in the All-Star race.
  • Busch won the first segment, was fifth in the second segment and 11th in the third segment.
  • It is the second win for Dodge in the All-Star race; Kasey Kahne won in 2006.
  • Jimmie Johnson (13th) surpassed $3 million in All-Star winnings Saturday night, most of all drivers.
  • The driver winning the All-Star race has gone on to win the Coca-Cola 600 six times.
  • Segment 1 winner: Busch: $25,000.
  • Segment 2 winner: Jimmie Johnson: $25,000
  • Segment 3 winner: Johnson: $125,000
  • Truex Jr. won the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte to transfer to the All-Star race. It marked Truex's second Showdown win (2007).
  • Greg Biffle finished second to transfer into the All-Star race. It was Biffle's seventh All-Star race, all consecutive.
  • Carl Edwards was the fan-vote winner to transfer into the All-Star race. He finished 10th in the Showdown. It was Edwards' fifth All-Star race appearance.(ESPN)(5-24-2010)

• Race Fast Facts - NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race:
  #2-Kurt Busch won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, his first victory in the event.
  This is his fourth top-five and fifth top-10 finish in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. His previous best finish was second in 2003.
  #56-Martin Truex Jr. (second) posted his second top-10 finish in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
  #20-Joey Logano (third) posted his second top-10 finish in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-22-2010)

• Segment 4 restart after 4 tire pit stops: All team were requitred to make pit stops for 4 tires after the 10 minute break before segment 4. #48-Jimmie Johnson won segment 3 and led before the pit stops, the order after the pit stops:
  Pos Car Driver Lap Led
  1 11 Denny Hamlin 90 0
  2 18 Kyle Busch 90 23
  3 48 Jimmie Johnson 90 56
  4 5 Mark Martin 90 0
  5 20 Joey Logano 90 0
  6 1 Jamie McMurray 90 0
  7 12 Brad Keselowski 90 0
  8 00 David Reutimann 90 0
  9 16 Greg Biffle 90 0
  10 56 Martin Truex Jr. 90 0
  11 2 Kurt Busch 90 11
  12 29 Kevin Harvick 90 0
  13 24 Jeff Gordon 90 0
  14 14 Tony Stewart 90 0
  15 99 Carl Edwards 90 0
  16 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 90 0
  17 39 Ryan Newman 90 0
  18 17 Matt Kenseth 90 0
  19 83 Casey Mears 90 0
  20 71 Bobby Labonte 90 0
  21 9 Kasey Kahne 90 0

• Johnson wins segment 3: #48-Jimmie Johnson won segment 3 of the Sprint All Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning $125,000. #11-Hamlin finished 2nd, followed by #5-Martin, #12-Keselowski, #18-Busch, #20-Logano, #1-McMurray, #16-Biffle & #56-Truex Jr. There is now a 10 minute break, teams can do anything on the car normally done during a regular pit stop BUT change tires, the results:
  Pos Car Driver Lap Led
  1 48 Jimmie Johnson 90 56
  2 11 Denny Hamlin 90 0
  3 5 Mark Martin 90 0
  4 12 Brad Keselowski 90 0
  5 18 Kyle Busch 90 23
  6 20 Joey Logano 90 0
  7 1 Jamie McMurray 90 0
  8 00 David Reutimann 90 0
  9 16 Greg Biffle 90 0
  10 56 Martin Truex Jr. 90 0
  11 2 Kurt Busch 90 11
  12 29 Kevin Harvick 90 0
  13 24 Jeff Gordon 90 0
  14 14 Tony Stewart 90 0
  15 99 Carl Edwards 90 0
  16 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 90 0
  17 39 Ryan Newman 90 0
  18 17 Matt Kenseth 90 0
  19 83 Casey Mears 90 0
  20 71 Bobby Labonte 90 0
  21 9 Kasey Kahne 90 0
  (5-22-2010)

• Johnson wins segment 2: #48-Jimmie Johnson won segment 2 of the Sprint All Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning $25,000. #1-McMurray finished 2nd, followed by #5-Martin, #11-Hamlin, #2-Busch, #18-Busch, #00-Reutimann. #12-Keselowski, #56-Truex Jr. and #20-Logano. Seven drivers stayed out and did not pit: #'s 48, 1, 5, 2, 18, 00 & 20. The results:
  Pos Car Driver Lap Led
  1 48 Jimmie Johnson 70 36, $25,000
  2 1 Jamie McMurray 70 0
  3 5 Mark Martin 70 0
  4 11 Denny Hamlin 70 0
  5 2 Kurt Busch 70 11
  6 18 Kyle Busch 70 23
  7 00 David Reutimann 70 0
  8 12 Brad Keselowski 70 0
  9 56 Martin Truex Jr. 70 0
  10 20 Joey Logano 70 0
  11 16 Greg Biffle 70 0
  12 14 Tony Stewart 70 0
  13 99 Carl Edwards 70 0
  14 29 Kevin Harvick 70 0
  15 24 Jeff Gordon 70 0
  16 39 Ryan Newman 70 0
  17 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 70 0
  18 83 Casey Mears 70 0
  19 9 Kasey Kahne 70 0
  20 17 Matt Kenseth 70 0
  21 71 Bobby Labonte 70 0

• Kurt Busch wins segment 1: #2-Kurt Busch won segment 1 of the Sprint All Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning $25,000. #18-Busch finished 2nd, followed by #48-Johnson, #20-Logano, #1-McMurray, #00-Reutimann, #12-Keselowski, #11-Hamlin, #17-Kenseth & #24-Gordon, the results:
  Pos Car Driver Lap Led
  1 2 Kurt Busch 51 12, $25,000
  2 18 Kyle Busch 51 23
  3 48 Jimmie Johnson 51 16
  4 20 Joey Logano 51 0
  5 1 Jamie McMurray 51 0
  6 00 David Reutimann 51 0
  7 12 Brad Keselowski 51 0
  8 11 Denny Hamlin 51 0
  9 17 Matt Kenseth 51 0
  10 24 Jeff Gordon 51 0
  11 56 Martin Truex Jr. 51 0
  12 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 51 0
  13 16 Greg Biffle 51 0
  14 39 Ryan Newman 51 0
  15 5 Mark Martin 51 0
  16 9 Kasey Kahne 51 0
  17 29 Kevin Harvick 51 0
  18 99 Carl Edwards 51 0
  19 14 Tony Stewart 51 0
  20 83 Casey Mears 50 0
  21 71 Bobby Labonte 50 0
  

• Truex Jr. wins Sprint Showdown: #56-Martin Truex Jr. won the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the 2nd time Truex Jr. has won the Showdown. Truex will transfer into the Sprint All Star Challenge as will #16-Greg Biffle who finished 2nd. Reports have #99-Edwards, who finished 10th, winning the Sprint Fan Vote. #31-Jeff Burton finished 3rd followed by #98-Menard and #47-Ambrose. The results:
  #56-Truex Jr. - transfers to the Sprint All Star Challenge
  #16-Biffle - transfers to the Sprint All Star Challenge
  #31-Burton
  #98-Menard
  #47-Ambrose
  #6-Ragan
  #77-Hornish Jr.
  #43-Allmendinger
  #34-Kvapil
  #99-Edwards - fan vote winner
  #19-Sadler
  #21-Elliott
  #32-Sorenson
  #82-Speed
  #7-Gordon
  #13-Papis
  #46-Yeley
  #37-Conway
  #75-Cope
  #57-Benning -1 lap
  #92-Richardson Jr. -2
  #55-Waltrip -2
  #33-Bowyer -6 out
  #38-Gilliland -19 wreck
  #36-Raines -22 out
  #78-Smith -24 wreck
  #42-Montoya -24 wreck
  #64-Bodine -27 out
  #87-Nemechek -33 out

• Race Fast Facts - NASCAR Sprint Showdown:
  #56-Martin Truex Jr. won the NASCAR Sprint Showdown, his second victory in the non-points event.
  This is Truex's fourth top-10 finish in the Sprint Showdown.
  Truex transfers into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. It will be his fourth appearance in the event.
  #16-Greg Biffle (second) posted his second top-five finish in the Sprint Showdown.
  Biffle transfers into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. It will be his seventh appearance.
  #99-Carl Edwards also transfers into the race via the Sprint Fan Vote.
  This will Edwards' fifth appearance in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-22-2010)

• Sprint Showdown - Segment 1: #6-Ragan finsihed first in Sprint Showdown segment 1. On lap 17, #42-Montoya and #78-Smith wrecked bring out the caution, so the competition caution for lap 20 was called off. All cars pitted but Ragan, #16-Biffle and #38-Gilliland. The segment 1 results:
  #6-Ragan
  #16-Biffle
  #38-Gilliland
  #31-Burton
  #56-Truex Jr.
  #77-Hornish Jr.
  #19-Sadler
  #43-Allmendinger
  #33-Bowyer
  #98-Menard
  #99-Edwards
  #47-Ambrose
  #82-Speed
  #55-Waltrip
  #32-Sorenson
  #34-Kvapil
  #21-Elliott
  #46-Yeley
  #57-Benning
  #13-Papis
  #37-Conway
  #7-Gordon
  #75-Cope
  #92-Richardson Jr.
  #36-Raines
  #78-Smith - wreck
  #42-Montoya - wreck
  #64-Bodine - out
  #87-Nemechek - out

• Race Coverage of the All-Star Challenge at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, May 22, 2010.
  Television (TV): SPEED at 7:30 pm/et; pre-race show at 4:00 pm/et; green flag approx 7:46pm/et
  Radio Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite NASCAR Radio
  Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
  SPEED, Sunday, May 23 at 12:00am/et and SPEED, Wednesday, May 26 at 12:00pm/et

• Top five vote getters announced for the Sprint All Star Vote: Sprint announced the top five vote recipients in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Fan Vote along with (in alphabetical order) #43-AJ Allmendinger, #47-Marcos Ambrose, #31-Jeff Burton, #99-Carl Edwards and #19-Elliott Sadler. Fans have casted a record 1.1 million votes in this year’s NASCAR All-Star Fan Vote. Voting will continue until one hour prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 22, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fans can cast votes for their favorite eligible drivers using the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile application, by visiting NASCAR.com or at the Sprint Experience, located in the midway at every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. As an incentive for Sprint customers, every wireless vote submitted from a Sprint or Nextel device counts double in the driver standings. The eligible driver accumulating the most votes, who also finishes the Sprint Showdown qualifying race, will earn a spot in the prestigious All-Star field. The Sprint Fan Vote winner will be announced immediately following the completion of the Sprint Showdown.(5-22-2010)

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The 2010 All-Star Challenge format is as follows:
· Segment 1: 50 laps with a mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 25 at which time teams must pit and take on four tires. Following the end of Segment 1, the caution flag will be displayed for an optional pit stop.
· Segment 2: 20 laps with the caution flag displayed at the end of Segment 2 for an optional pit stop.
· Segment 3: 20 laps with a 10-minute break at the end of Segment 3. Teams may make normal adjustments to their cars during this break. The finishing order after the third segment determines the field’s lineup for the pace lap prior to the start of the fourth segment.
· Segment 4: Once the field takes a lap behind the pace car, all cars must enter pit road for a four-tire stop. The order in which the cars exit pit road is how they will line up for the 10-lap shootout with only green-flag laps counting.

The 2010 Sprint Showdown:
· Segment 1: 20 laps with the caution flag displayed for an optional pit stop
· Segment 2: 20 laps

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• Pit Stall Selections - All Star Race: The selections of pit stalls for the Sprint Showdown and All-Star Challenge at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been made. #11-Hamlin got to choose first since his pit crew won the Pit Crew Challenge and chose pit stall one for the All-Star Race. The finishing order of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge determined the order of pit selection for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
  #6-Ragan will start first in the Sprint Showdown. Qualifying was rained out and was set by the qualifying order. Ragan's team choose pit stall 1
  #2-Busch who was awarded the first position when qualifying was canceled, which was set by qualifying order, chose pit stall 22, which is the 2nd pit stall on pit road with an opening in front of it. With 21 cars in the All-Star race and 29 in the Sprint Showdown, most have openings in front or in back of each.
  To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the All Star Challenge & Sprint Showdown Pit Stall Selection charts.(5-22-2010)

  ---

• All-Star Challenge qualifying rained out: due to weather, so the field was set by the rules on the entry blank, by the qualifying draw [just for this race, not for points races]. #2-Kurt Busch will start first, followed by #20-Logano, #12-Keselowski, #1-McMurray, #18-Busch, #00-Reutimann, #48-Johnson, #24-Gordon, #83-Mears, and #39-Newman. #11-Hamlin would start 12th, but lost an engine is practice and will have to go to the back.(5-21-2010)
  
  
• Coverage of Qualifying for the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for Friday, May 21, 2010 at 5:00pm/et with Sprint All-Star Race qualifying to follow.
  TV: SPEED at 5:00pm/et
  Radio: MRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio
  Jayski.com: Jayski's FREE Semi-Live Qualifying Page.
  Qualifying Re-Air: on SPEED at 11:30pm/et
  
  

• Sprint All-Star Challenge practice [the only practice] at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, some results and notes:
  #48-Johnson 184.710
  #2-Busch 183.480
  #39-Newman 183.119
  #5-Martin 182.952
  #29-Harvick 182.710
  slowest of 18: #17-Kenseth 178.968 & #71-Labonte 178.006
  incident: #11-Hamlin blew an engine early and laid oil on the track, causing a 10 minute delay.
  See fast speeds, average speeds, laps run on my All Star Race Practice Speeds page.(5-21-2010)

• Sprint Showdown practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway is over, some results and notes:
  #42-Montoya 184.508
  #31-Burton, 184.407
  #56-Truex, Jr 183.874
  #43-Allmendinger 183.599
  #16-Biffle 182.667
  slowest: #92-Richardson 171.898 & #57-Benning 167.723
  incidents: #19-Sadler hit the wall in turn 4 midway through the session, scraping up the side of the car. The team will repair it. #82-Scott Speed got loose off turn 2 and smacked the wall. He will have to go to a backup car.
  See fast speeds, average speeds, laps run on my All Star Race Practice Speeds page.(5-21-2010)

• Qualifying Order: for the Sprint All-Star Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 18 cars/drivers are listed. The first driver scheduled to go out is #2-Busch. The final driver scheduled to go is #88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
  See the full qualifying order on the All Star Race Qualifying Page.(5-21-2010)

• Showdown Qualifying Order: for the Sprint Showdown Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is posted. 29 cars/drivers are listed. The first driver scheduled to go out is #6-Ragan. The final driver scheduled to go is #38-David Gilliland.
  See the full qualifying order on the All Star Race Qualifying Page.(5-21-2010)

  ---

• Friday, May 21–NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Qualifying & NC Education Lottery 200
  9:00 - 10:00 am NCWTS Practice
  10:20 am - 11:50 am NCWTS Final practice
  12:00 -1:20 pm NSCS Final Sprint Showdown practice
  1:30 pm.- 2:50 pm NSCS Final Sprint All-Star practice
  3:30 pm NCWTS NC Education Lottery 200 Qualifying (Two laps/All positions)
  5:00 pm NSCS NASCAR Sprint Showdown Qualifying
  6:00 pm NSCS NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Qualifying (Three laps with a four tire pit stop)
  8:00 pm NCWTS NC Education Lottery 200

• Saturday, May 22 – NASCAR Sprint Cup Showdown & All-Star Race
  7:30 pm NSCS NASCAR Sprint Showdown
  9:00 pm NSCS NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race

  (Four segments)
  Segment #1: 50 laps • Segment #2: 20 laps • Segment #3: 20 laps • Segment #4: 10 laps

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• Newman's car to honor Jr. Johnson: This weekend, Ryan Newman’s #39 Chevy not only will carry the nowfamiliar sponsor logos for Tornados, the maker of bold, rolled snacks, but it will also carry a special decal commemorating the induction of Junior Johnson into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame on May 23. Johnson was a bootlegger who became one of NASCAR’s most successful drivers (50 wins) and owners (132 wins and six championships). It seems fitting that his name is coupled this weekend with Newman’s sponsor, whose tagline is “Bold is How We Roll.”(Stewart Haas Racing)(5-22-2010)

• Special scheme for the #2 at both Charlotte races: Kurt Busch will be driving his special Miller Lite Vortex Bottle color scheme during the two-week stretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(Tom Roberts PR)(5-20-2010), see an image of the scheme on my #2 Team Schemes page.(5-20-2010)

• McMurray to run special scheme at Sprint All Star race: The National Wild Turkey Federation’s flying turkey logo will appear on the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’s Bass Pro Shops sponsored #1 Chevy driven by Jamie McMurray in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the #3 Chevy Silverado driven by Austin Dillon in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. McMurray will be trying to win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 22nd at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bass Pro Shops salute to the NWTF is a part of the Conservation Fund’s “Racing for America’s Wildlife” program. The program is designed to engage the NASCAR community in conserving America’s hunting and fishing heritage through habitat protection, restoration, education, and outreach. The NWTF is an over 500,000 member conservation organization with chapters across the United States, Canada and 10 other foreign countries. The Federation has worked with its volunteers, partners and wildlife agencies to restore wild turkey populations to 49 states and in parts of Canada. Bass Pro Shops is a dedicated supporter of NWTF’s Women in the Outdoors, JAKES, and Wheelin’ Sportsmen outreach programs.(Bass Pro Shops/EGR). see an image of the scheme on my #1 Team Schemes page.(5-20-2010)

• Kyle Busch to run a M&M's Pretzel scheme UPDATE: Kyle Busch is scheduled to run a #18 M&M Pretzel Special the All Star Challenge and Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. See am image of the scheme on my #18 Team Schemes page...mmmm, m&m's AND pretzels.
  At the 2009 NACS show, Mars Snackfood US unveiled its M&M’s Pretzel Chocolate Candies, which combine sweet and salty in every bite-size piece. M&M’s Pretzel Chocolate Candies are kosher certified and feature a crunchy, salted pretzel center covered in M&M’s brand milk chocolate and coated in a colorful candy shell. The product will be available in May 2010.(4-17-2010)
  UPDATE: The new salty and sweet Pretzel M&M’s Chocolate Candies blue colors will adorn Busch’s #18 Toyota for the next four events, including Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star race, and the SPrint Cup Series races at Charlotte, Pocono and Michigan. The scheme is to help promote the launch of the newest sweet creation from Mars Chocolate North America.(True Speed Communication), see an image of the scheme on my #18 Team Schemes page.(5-20-2010)

• Cavalia to sponsor Ambrose in the Sprint Showdown: Not far from the roaring engines inside Charlotte Motor Speedway there is a different kind of horsepower found underneath a 110-feet-high White Big Top with 71,400 square feet of canvas. The world’s largest touring White Big Top holding court in uptown Charlotte is home to Cavalia - - a lavish multimedia, equestrian extravaganza featuring 62 majestic horses and 40 artists, including acrobats, aerialists, riders, musicians and dancers. Cavalia announced for the first time that they will sponsor Marcos Ambrose and JTG Daugherty Racing’s efforts during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. For the Showdown, The #47 Cavalia Toyota Camry will sport a sleek black look with majestic horses from the captivating fast-paced performance featuring harmony between horse and human. On May 9th, Ambrose took his wife Sonja and daughters Adelaide and Tabitha to Cavalia to witness the tribute of horses, which is also a celebration of the relationship between man and horse. The show takes place on a 160-foot wide stage that allows the horses to express themselves in all their beauty, their grace and their strength and at times in total liberty. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec (Canada), Cavalia is the brainchild of Normand Latourelle who has become renowned for producing popular events around the world and is in Charlotte thru May 28th.(JTG Daugherty Racing), see an image of the car on my #47 Team Schemes page.(5-19-2010)

• Pit Bulls scheme for Biffle in All-Star race: The #16 3M Ford Fusion will have a slightly different look when it takes the track for the 2010 All-Star weekend. In addition to having a special paint scheme for the night race, the car will also feature the 3M Pit Bulls logo on the lower hood and decklid. The 3M Pit Bulls was the name chosen by the fans through a 3M Car Care promotion for the #16 team pit crew. In an effort to honor their hard work, 3M has decided to put their logo on the car for the Sprint All-Star weekend. Randy Taylor, 3M NASCAR Program Manager, unveiled the paint scheme to the Pit Bulls last weekend in Talladega and the reaction was overwhelming excitement and pride in both their team and their sponsor. A diecast model is being made to commemorate this special paint scheme. It will be available online at www.3M.com/racing.(RFR), see an image of the scheme on my #16 Team Schemes page.(5-13-2010)

• RCR to honor Earnhardt's induction into HOF at All-Star race: Richard Childress Racing will further honor the legendary Dale Earnhardt's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame with special paint schemes in races over the next two weekends. The #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Austin Dillon, will pay tribute to the seven-time Cup Series champion in the May 14 NASCAR Camping WorldTruck Series Dover 200 at Dover International Speedway. Jeff Burton and the #31 Caterpillar team will honor the legendary driver of the #3 in the May 22 Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway. "It's a privilege to run this special paint scheme to honor Dale Earnhardt on the same weekend he will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame," said Burton. "It's a tremendous way to remind fans about the great things Dale did in the sport, his legacy that we still carry on and celebration of his induction into the inaugural class." Earnhardt is one of five NASCAR legends who make up the inaugural class of NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees. The others, who will be inducted during a May 23 ceremony in Charlotte, include Bill France, Bill France, Jr., Junior Johnson and Richard Petty.(RCR), see an image of the #31 scheme on my #31 Team Scheme page.(5-12-2010)

• Special Long John Silver's scheme for Kvapil: Front Row Motorsports and Long John Silver's will once again partner this season to help bring the popular Long John Silver's $1 Baja Fish Taco to NASCAR fans across the nation. Long John Silver's announced that its $1 Baja Fish Taco colors will be the primary sponsor of the #34 Ford driven by Travis Kvapil; Kvapil will carry these colors at the Autism Speaks 400 at the Dover International Speedway on May 16 and the All-Star Showdown at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 22.(Front Row Motorsports/Breaking Limits)(4-1-2010), see an image of the car on my #34 team paint schemes page.(5-12-2010)

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• Tire:
  Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials
  
  Number of Tires:
  All-Star: Left-side - 850, Right-side - 850;
  Coca-Cola 600: Left-side - 1,500, Right-side - 1,500;
  Nationwide: Left-side -- 575, Right-side -- 575
  
  Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4390; Right-side -- D-4234
  
  Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.3 in.; Right-side -- 88.3 in.
  
  Technical Inspection Inflation:
  Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
  Right Front -- 55 psi; Right Rear -- 50 psi
  
  Minimum Recommended Inflation:
  Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
  Right Front -- 54 psi; Right Rear -- 50 psi
  
  Estimated Pit Window: Every 50-55 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup).
  
  Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same tire codes during Charlotte Speed Weeks . . . teams in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will run the same right-side tire code with a different left-side code at Charlotte . . . for the Sprint Cup and Nationwide cars, this is the first time they have run this left-side code (D-4390), but they have run this right-side code (D-4234) several times in the past . . . Cup and Nationwide teams have run this right-side with a different left-side at Las Vegas and Charlotte in 2009, and Las Vegas and Darlington in 2010 . . . compared to what was run at Charlotte last year, this new left-side features a minor construction change to help give the cars more grip . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Charlotte . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.
  
  

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NASCAR odds Sprint Showdown
All Star Race
All Star Wekend Preview by Micah Roberts

World Sports Exchange:
All Star Challenge
Sprint Showdown

Weather Channel - Mooresville, NC

Weather Channel - Concord, NC

Weather Channel - Charlotte, NC

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Race Weather

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• Sprint Showdown Race Festivities/Officials:
  Grand Marshal: David Kirk, Sprint Customer
  Command to start engines: David Kirk
  Invocation: MRO's Billy Mauldin
  Military Flyover: 4 T-38's, Vance AFB, Oklahoma

• All Star Race Race Festivities/Officials:
  Grand Marshal: Richard Petty & Junior Johnson
  Command to start engines: Richard Petty & Junior Johnson
  Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Michael Jordan
  Invocation: Joe & Tyler Gibbs
  National Anthem: Kandi Burruss
  Military Flyover: none

  NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Notes
  * There have been 25 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races
  * The first All-Star Race was in 1985
  * 24 have been held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In 1986, the event was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and won by Bill Elliott. That season was also the first year for what is now known as the Sprint Showdown.
  * 83 drivers have run in at least one All-Star Race.
  * There have been 17 different winners of the All-Star Race.
  * Terry Labonte and Mark Martin have each participated in 20 races, more than any other driver.
  * The race has featured a field that ranged from 10 drivers in 1986 to 27 in 2002.
  * Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990 and 1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001) are the only three-time winners of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
  * Davey Allison (1991 and 1992), Terry Labonte (1988 and 1999), Mark Martin (1998 and 2005) and Jimmie Johnson (2003 and 2006) are the only other drivers to post multiple victories in the All-Star Race. Allison is the only driver to ever win consecutive All-Star events.
  * Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Ryan Newman (2002) are the only drivers to win the All-Star Race in their rookie season.
  * Jeff Gordon is the youngest winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at 23 years, 9 months and 18 days (1995). Mark Martin is the oldest at 46 years, 4 months and 12 days (2005).
  * Jimmie Johnson has a 6.0 average finish in eight appearances in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the best of any active driver.
  * The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has been won from the pole position three times; all three came in consecutive years: Dale Earnhardt (1990) and Davey Allison (1991 and 1992).
  * The deepest in the field an All-Star Race winner has started was 27th, by Ryan Newman in 2002.
  * Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won six All-Star Races: Jeff Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson (two) and Terry Labonte (one).
  * Five drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same year: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990, 1993), Rusty Wallace (1989), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 2001) and Jimmie Johnson (2006).

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