NASCAR shakes-up All-Star format to make it 'must-watch' for fans
NASCAR has made changes to its All-Star race format ahead of the race later this month in a bid to make it 'must-watch' for fans
The changes mean the main part of the event switches to two 50-lap segments from the three 25-lap segments last year.
Mandatory pit stops will still be made under green flag running in order to shuffle the pack up, however the second part will feature a random draw decide the next nine, 10, or 11 cars that pit for four tyres.
Pit road will close for all the other drivers and those that did pit will emerge at the back for the final 13-lap shootout, the idea being that they will be on fresher rubber than those at the front.
Tweaks to the Sprint Showdown race are also being made. This will feature the same two 20-lap parts, with the addition of a final 10-lap sprint.
A mandatory minimum two-tyre pitstop will be made after each 20-lap segment.
The winner of each Sprint Showdown advances to the All-Star race.
Only green flag laps count (meaning NASCAR overtime rules apply) and one driver advances by fan vote.
The new format was put together with consultation from the Drivers Council, specifically 2012 Cup Champion Brad Keselowski who said on Twitter that it is designed to make it the "must watch race of the year" for fans.
"The hunters and the hunted. It'll come down to what driver can run the hardest with a million dollars on the line," he added.
Eligible drivers in the All-Star race include Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, and Martin Truex Jr.
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