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 Because the absence of points and a segment format designed to
encourage more aggressive driving, NASCAR's version of the all-star
game has generally been a throw away exhibition, often resulting in
cars on wreckers. But the rules testing may put more emphasis on
making it to the finish so that drivers and teams can evaluate under
racing conditions what might become standard rules next season.
On the other hand, the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway is about
bragging rights among the teams, almost all based in the Charlotte
area. Also, the multi-car teams will generally have more than one
car to evaluate under this one-race scheme. "Boys, have at it" may
again reign, especially given the unusual twist in the final
segment.
 To reduce aerodynamic side force on cars, teams will not be able to
use any "skew" in the set-up of the rear tires. Teams usually have
"toe out" on the outside tire and "toe in" on the inside tire at the
rear. "It will take some of the skew out of the car, which will take
some side force off the car," said Gene Stefanyshyn, the senior vice
president of innovation and racing development for the sanctioning
body. The rule adjustment is expected to slow corner speeds by about
three mile per hour.
This year's reduction in downforce has produced a positive response
from most drivers all season and generated the sort of close racing
evidenced at Dover International Speedway last Sunday, when Matt
Kenseth, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott dueled over the final 20
laps. But to choose this year's package, NASCAR ran three of the
2015 regular season races with rules different from those used to
determine who made the post-season Chase in the other 23 events.
That angered even some of the larger teams that adapt well to rules
changes and NASCAR evidently has listened to those complaints.
With eligibility rules that have limited the automatic invitees -
race winners from 2015 and 2016, plus past champions from this race
and the Sprint Cup - the entry will reflect an all-star format.
Perhaps most interesting will be the Sprint Showdown on Friday
night, which will determine three additional drivers - one each from
"heat" races. Among those eligible who need a victory of any kind
are Austin Dillon, Danica Patrick, Casey Mears, Clint Bowyer, Greg
Biffle and Kyle Larson. Unlike rookies or the journeyman drivers on
the less well-endowed teams, these drivers, who have not seen
victory lane in a long while or have never seen it in a Sprint Cup
car, need to demonstrate they can win races.
Two other drivers on the "needs to win" list are past Sprint Cup
champion Tony Stewart, who is among the 15 locked in starters on
Saturday night, and Kasey Kahne, who is a past all-star race
champion. It is possible to advance to Saturday night and win it
all. Kahne did that in 2008 when he advanced due to the fan vote,
which this year will account for two of the entrants to reach the
minimum of 20 drivers.
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The unusual twist in this year's 13-lap final segment will be a
lottery to determine which four cars must stay out of the pits and
finish the race on used tires. The other 16 drivers will pit for
either two or four tires and line up according to how they exit the
pits. For the first time in the all-star race's long and varied
history, the final segment might resemble actual points races, which
often feature a variety of tire strategies in the closing laps.
The last two all-star events have been yawners and the race
generally has had trouble living up to its first night race. That
was back in 1992, when the Charlotte track first installed the
lights that would eventually revolutionize racing for NASCAR and
Indy cars once other tracks more than 1.0 miles in length added
lights.
Davey Allison won the first night race in one of Robert Yates' Fords
after catching and slightly edging the Pontiac of Kyle Petty owned
by Felix Sabates. After contact at full throttle, Allison then
crashed into the front straight wall and had to be airlifted to a
hospital by helicopter due to a concussion. Before narrowly losing
to the oncoming Allison, Petty survived a Turn 3 battle with Dale
Earnhardt Sr.
In the days when NASCAR's popularity was trending upward, a sellout
crowd estimated by journalist in attendance at 100,000 watched the
race won by daredevil Allison and several thousand more gathered
outside the track to observe a limited view of the high banks in
Turn 3.
Attendance has had its ups and downs since then for the all-star
race, like other NASCAR events. Given the rules test at least
something more than going for bragging rights, otherwise known as
crashing rights, will be accomplished.
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