The winner of NASCAR’s all-star race, The Winston, will enjoy a million-dollar payday in 2003. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and its Winston brand today announced the purse increase and revisions to the format for the 2003 edition of The Winston. Like last year, it’ll be “Survival of the Fastest” as drivers will be eliminated from the grid following both the first and second segments, leaving just the 14 fastest drivers to compete for the million-dollar winner’s share of a $3.5 million purse in the final 20-lap dash around Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Also new in 2003, the “Survival of the Fastest” format will apply to The Winston Open. Only one winner from the Winston Open will advance to The Winston. The No Bull Sprint has been eliminated. As in years past, The Winston Open will be 30 laps, but this year, those laps will be divided into two segments of 20 and 10 laps, respectively.. After the first 20-lap segment, the top-14 cars will advance to the final 10-lap segment. There will be a caution period between segments during which teams may pit, but will lose track position. The Winston Open is composed of drivers and teams who participated in a NASCAR Winston Cup event during the current or previous season and are not otherwise eligible for The Winston. The Winston Open and The Winston will be held on Saturday, May 17th. The Winston Open Qualifying: Qualifying session will consist of two laps for each team with the quickest lap determining that team’s qualifying position. The Winston Qualifying: Qualifying procedures for The Winston continue to focus on team performance. Each team will complete three laps around Lowe’s Motor Speedway with a mandatory four-tire pit stop during the qualifying attempt. Drivers will have to obey the pit-road speed limit entering pit road, but there is no speed limit exiting pit road. The green flag and checkered flag must be taken on the track. The total elapsed time of the pit stop and laps will determine the pole position for The Winston. The winning team will earn $50,000. The Winston Open: This 30-lap event is for all NASCAR Winston Cup teams that are not already eligible for The Winston. In the first segment, all laps count including caution laps. The race will be divided into two segments of 20 and 10 laps, respectively.. After the first 20 laps, there will be a caution period. The top-14 cars will advance to the final 10-lap segment with the winner of the race advancing into The Winston. For the second segment of The Winston Open, only green-flag laps count. If a late-race caution occurs, every attempt will be made to ensure a green-flag finish. The Winston: This race will be 90 laps [135 miles] and run in three segments of 40, 30 and 20 laps. The field will be inverted for the final segment as determined by fan voting. Segment No. 1: The first segment will be 40 laps. (At the present, the field for The Winston would be 23 cars — 18 race winner from 2002, one race winner from 2003, two NASCAR Winston Cup champions not otherwise exempt, one car owner (#38) not otherwise exempt and the Winston Open winner). Teams must make a mandatory green-flag, four-tire pit stop at some point during this segment, and each team must complete the final lap on the racetrack. All laps count including caution laps. If there is a late-segment caution, every attempt will be made to ensure a green-flag finish. The top-20 finishers from the first segment will advance to the second segment. The winner of the first segment will earn $50,000. There will be a 10-minute break following the first segment. Teams may change tires and make chassis adjustments. Segment No. 2: The second segment will be 30 laps. Only the top-20 finishers in the first segment advance to the second segment. The first-segment finish will determine the double-file starting order for the second segment. There are no pit-stop requirements, but teams may pit if they wish. All laps count including caution laps. If a late-segment caution occurs, every attempt will be made to ensure a green-flag finish. Only the top-14 finishers in the second segment will advance to the final segment. The winner of the second segment will earn $50,000. There will be a 10-minute break following the second segment. Teams may change tires and make chassis adjustments. The field will be inverted as determined by fan voting. Segment No. 3: The final segment will be 20 laps. The top-14 finishers in the second segment will compete in the third and final segment with the field inverted as determined by voting by the fans. The start of the final segment will be double file. Only green flag laps count. The winner of the final segment will earn $1 million. Total Purse: $3,500,000.( Lowe’s Motor Speedway PR ) and see the full story and who is eligible for the Winston and Winston Open on my The Winston 2003 page (4-16-2003)
