Friday, May 20, 2016

Sprint Showdown Set To Advance Three Drivers To All-Star Race

Weather cooperating, this year, Friday’s Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway (7 p.m. ET on FS1) will advance three drivers to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The winner of each segment will earn a spot in Saturday’s night’s contest. (The majority of Friday's on-track activity at Charlotte Motor Speedway has been canceled due to wet weather hitting the track for the second consecutive day.)


Biffle, Bowyer race their way into 2015 NASCAR All-Star Race
Patrick Won the Fan Vote

Below is the detailed format for the Sprint Showdown:

  • Segment 1 (20 laps): Field set by practice speed, winner advances to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and does not continue in Showdown;
  • Segment 2 (20 laps): Field set by pit-road order after mandatory minimum two-tire pit stop, winner advances to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and does not continue in Showdown;
  • Segment 3 (10 laps): Field set by pit-road order after mandatory minimum two-tire pit stop, winner advances to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (NASCAR Overtime rules apply).

Last year's Sprint Showdown winners Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer will both compete in the event again. Bowyer is the only driver in the Sprint Showdown field with multiple victories in the qualifying race (2014, 2015) and will go for his third in a row this year.

No driver has ever won the Sprint Showdown and advanced to win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Michael Waltrip (1996) and Ryan Newman (2002) used transfer spots in the Showdown to win the All-Star Race.

Denny Hamlin will attempt to win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the $1 million bonus that comes with it for the second straight season on Saturday.

Last year, the No. 11 Toyota driver pitted sixth, but a fast pit stop moved him to the point, prior to the 10-lap (now 13) dash to the finish. He proceeded to hold off Kevin Harvick for the victory.

Hamlin’s all-star win was the first for Joe Gibbs Racing.

If he visits Victory Lane on Saturday night, Hamlin would join Davey Allison (1991-92) and Jimmie Johnson (2012-13) as the only drivers to win consecutive All-Star races.

Who has qualified for the All-Star Race? 
Drivers who won points races in either 2014 or 2015, as well as previous NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winners and former Sprint Cup Series champions who had a full-time ride in 2014.


Drivers Locked into the All-Star Race


Driver Eligibility
 AJ Allmendinger  Win at Watkins Glen (2014)
 Aric Almirola  Win at Daytona (2014)
 Greg Biffle  Win in Sprint Showdown (2015)
 Clint Bowyer  Win in Sprint Showdown (2015)
 Kurt Busch  2 wins since 2014
 Kyle Busch  Win at Auto Club (2014)
 Dale Earnhardt Jr.  5 wins since 2014
 Carl Edwards  2 wins since 2014
 Jeff Gordon  4 wins since 2014
 Denny Hamlin  2 wins since 2014
 Kevin Harvick  7 wins since 2014
 Jimmie Johnson  7 wins since 2014
 Kasey Kahne  Win at Atlanta (2014)
 Matt Kenseth  Win at Bristol (2015)
 Brad Keselowski  7 wins since 2014
 Joey Logano  6 wins since 2014
 Jamie McMurray  Win in NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (2014)
 Ryan Newman  Win in NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (2002)
 Tony Stewart  Win in NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (2009)


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