Unique to NASCAR, the Sprint All-Star Race lineup has three spots remaining to be filled — and on-track competition — the winner and runner-up of the Showdown — will take care of two of the openings. The third will be determined by fans’ voting. This is the fifth year in which a driver will be voted-in to the field. Ken Schrader won the inaugural Fans’ Vote, in 2004. Other fan-vote winners include Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Petty and Kenny Wallace. More than 285,600 votes have been cast with drivers like #7-Robby Gordon, #9-Kasey Kahne [SPEED qualifying coverage says Kahne is leading], #19-Elliott Sadler, #37-Kenny Wallace and #55-Michael Waltrip among the top vote-getters. Voting ends at 7pm/et Saturday [May 17th]. The winner will be announced on NASCAR.COM and also during SPEED’s All-Star Saturday coverage, which includes the Showdown (green flag at 7:40pm/et) and All-Star Race XXIV. Fans can vote on NASCAR.COM, not sure where Patrick Carpentier stands in the voting, over the weekend in Darlington he said if he won the vote he would “I would run naked down pit road”. New this year, the driver does not have to finish on the lead lap but the car must be raceable and in good condition.(5-16-2008)
