A rule change for the Sprint All-Star Race will allow #20-Matt Kenseth and #31-Ryan Newman to compete in the event, NASCAR confirmed to NASCAR Talk on Thursday. NASCAR stated that it changed the eligibility requirements so that any full-time driver who is a former Cup champion or former All-Star winner is eligible for the non-points event. Previously, a driver had to have won a Cup title within the past 10 years or won the All-Star event within the past 10 years to be eligible. Eliminating the limit on when a driver won a Cup title or the All-Star race is important for Kenseth and Newman. Neither driver meets the criterial of a race win either this year or the preceding year to be eligible. Both were winless last year and have not won this year. Kenseth’s title came in 2003. Newman’s All-Star win came in 2002.(NBC Sports)(3-20-2015)
