CONCORD, N.C.— Hendrick Motorsports drivers and teams have their eyes on the prize as they compete to take home the $1 million purse in this weekend’s NASAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
And the changes to this year’s All-Star Race format may make this race the most thrilling one yet.
“I think the All-Star race outcome is really going to depend on tire falloff,” said Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS. “The rules are pretty interesting and for the teams that are required to pit based on where they finish, hopefully there’s a ton of tire falloff and you can make up those positions lost in a very short final segment.”
Rookie Chase Elliott will compete in the Sprint Showdown for a chance to advance to the All-Star Race.
And remember, Elliott can also join his three Hendrick Motorsports teammates in the All-Star Race via fan vote, so #VoteChase while the polls are still open.
Here’s what you should know prior to this weekend’s series of events:
BROADCAST INFORMATION: Saturday’s race will air live on FOX Sports 1 at 9 p.m. ET. Can’t make it to the television? Listen to the race live on MRN and SiriusXM to catch the radio coverage. Here is the full broadcast schedule:
Friday, May 20:
1:30 p.m. ET: Sprint Cup Series Sprint Showdown Final Practice, FOX Sports 1
3 p.m. ET: Sprint All-Star Race Final Practice, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m. ET: Sprint Cup Series Sprint Showdown race, FOX Sports 1
Saturday, May 21:
7 p.m. ET: Sprint Cup Series Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
9 p.m. ET: Sprint All-Star Race, FOX Sports 1
THIS WEEK’S PAINT SCHEMES: Kasey Kahne will drive the No. 5 Hendrick Automotive Group and Quicken Loans Drive Home a Winner Sweepstakes Chevrolet SS for this weekend’s All-Star Race. 3M will be the primary partner on board Rookie of the Year contender Elliott’s No. 24 Chevrolet SS as Elliott works to race his way from the Sprint Showdown Friday evening into the Sprint All-Star Race Saturday night. Johnson is staying true to his ‘home’ colors and will pilot the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet’s traditional blue and silver scheme with yellow 48s, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the patriotic No. 88 Mountain Dew Chevrolet SS.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AT THE ALL-STAR: In 31 All-Star Races, Hendrick Motorsports has scored eight wins, 34 top-five finishes, 52 top-10s and led 657 laps. Most recently, Johnson won the 2013 event after leading 10 laps to earn a record fourth All-Star victory. Kahne, Johnson and Earnhardt are all eligible for this year’s All-Star Race, with Elliott currently vying for a spot in the race through fan voting.
KAHNE AT THE ALL-STAR: Kahne seeks to return to Victory Lane in this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The Enumclaw, Washington, native has participated in the Charlotte Motor Speedway exhibition race every year since the start of his Sprint Cup career in 2004. This year, Kahne qualifies for the race by virtue of being an All-Star Race winner in 2008, when he received the most fan votes and went on to win the $1 million victory purse. In 2006, Kahne started on the pole position in the event.
ALL-STAR PURSUIT: To race with the best, you have to be the best and that is exactly what Elliott’s goal will be this Friday evening. The 20-year-old rookie will attempt to qualify for NASCAR’s Sprint All-Star Race by first competing in the Sprint Showdown. If Elliott wins Segment 1, Segment 2 or Segment 3, he will then advance to the main event on Saturday for the chance to earn $1 million. Elliott is coming off of his career-best finish of the year, a third-place result at the “Monster Mile."
FOUR TIMES AN ALL-STAR: Johnson has won the storied All-Star Race a record four times. His first win came in 2003 when the race was called “The Winston.” He won again in 2006 as well as earning back-to-back wins in 2012 and 2013. Last year at the event Johnson finished 15th.
EARNHARDT AT THE ALL-STAR: Earnhardt earned a victory in his first start in the All-Star Race on May 20, 2000. It was a 70-lap event, and he took the lead from Dale Jarrett on Lap 69 to lead the final two laps and win the race. Earnhardt has made every All-Star Race since 2000, although he has had to run the Sprint Showdown twice. Both times, Earnhardt transferred to the All-Star Race – once by winning the fan vote (2011) and once by winning the Showdown (2012). In the last four All-Star events, the Kannapolis, North Carolina, native has earned a best finish of fourth (2014) and a lowest finish of 10th (2015).