CONCORD, N.C. -- Next month's Sprint All-Star Race will look a little different.
On Wednesday, NASCAR announced changes to the event, which is set for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 16, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1.
The first change involves the field -- it will now include race winners from the 2014 and 2015 seasons in addition to all former Sprint All-Star Race winners and Sprint Cup Series champions who are full-time competitors.
Previously, former Sprint All-Star Race winners and Sprint Cup Series champions were eligible to compete for the $1 million prize only if they had accomplished the feat within the previous 10 years.
The next change involves the length of the race -- it will increase by a total of 20 laps. The first four segments are scheduled for 25 laps, and a final, 10-lap shootout will bring the total to 110 laps.
“These updates were made to ensure that our fans have every opportunity to see the best drivers in one of our crown jewel events and give them even more on-track action,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “Expanding this field and adding laps delivers that to our fans, raising the competition level and ensuring that this race continues to be the biggest all-star event in all of sports.”
The field will have a minimum of 20 drivers, and 17 are currently eligible -- including Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Two more spots are reserved for the winners from the two 20-lap Sprint Showdown segments, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, May 15 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. They will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1.
The last spot is reserved for the Sprint Fan Vote winner -- voting is now open and will close at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, May 15 just as the Sprint Showdown segments are getting underway.
The 31st running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will feature cars that conform to all 2015 rules. Drivers' average finish in the first four segments will determine the order cars will enter pit road for a mandatory four-tire pit stop following the fourth segment. The order that the cars return to the track following the pit stop will determine the starting order for the final, winner-take-all, 10-lap segment.
Pit stops will be optional following the first three segments.
The changes mark the second rules makeover in the last two weeks -- on March 30, NASCAR announced a new format for superspeedway qualifying starting with next month's race at Talladega.