changes announced for Nascars All-star event

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More drivers will be around for the end of this year's NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge, the sport's all-star event scheduled for May 22 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, under format changes announced Tuesday.
Gone is the "Survival of the Fastest" format used last year, when the event was still called The Winston, in which drivers finishing at the back of the pack were eliminated after the first two segments of the three-segment event.

"It's an all-star event and all the stars should participate," Lowe's Motor Speedway president H.A. (Humpy) Wheeler said. "That's what the fans come to see."

The race will continue to be run in segments of 40, 30 and 20 laps, with the winner after the final segment collecting a first-place prize of approximately $1 million.

This year, however, an inversion of the field will be moved from between the first and second segments to the end of the first segment, with a number between six and 12 to be drawn at random to determine how deep the inversion goes after segment 1.

Another change is that all former winners of the all-star event who are still active will be eligible for this year's event. Previously, only winners from the past five years were eligible.

That adds Mark Martin, the 1998 winner, and Geoffrey Bodine, the 1994 champion, to the list of race winners from 2003 and 2004 who're eligible to compete. Under the rules as announced Tuesday, there are now 23 drivers eligible.
 
What a load of @#$!!! Is this series even going to look the same in 5 years??? I love this race because it is like a Saturday night dirt track shoot out (Racing Heritage)...I say keep it the same format and the winner take all!!

What's next, Larry Foyt runs for two laps and collects $50,000??? :angry:
 
So is there even gonna be a Winston Open or whatever the heck it's gonna be called?
 
I'm glad to see every driver will have a chance to run every lap. I really didn't like "Survival of the Fastest."

Well, they will have the chance to run every lap if they don't wreck. LOL
 
Golly folks,

Read the format of the Nextel All-Star event. This is taking the place of the old Winston now that Winston is no longer associated with NASCAR.

From the looks of what is posted, about the only real differences are that none of the competitors will be dropped out after the first two segments and they've opened the field up to two other former winners of the Winston; Geoffery Bodine and Mark Martin.

What the dickens is so bad or so wrong with that?
Or do some of you folks simply need something to constantly complain about?

Have a nice day!
 
TRL.

I think that some of these youngsters who dislike the Bodines should really take the time to look at what that family has brought to not just the top tier of NASCAR racing, but to racing as a sport.

I know a lot of current drivers who would love to have the record that Geoffery has been able to post in his career; not to mention the advances in safety and driver comfort, etc. which he introduced over the years.

As for Mark Martin: he has to be the absolute all-time best non-champion that any racing series has ever seen.

But of course those are all past accomplishments and carry no weight at all in today's society. Unfortunately, it would seem that too many of today's generation have forgotten that in order to know where we are and where we're going, we have to look at where we've come from and what we've accomplished in the past.

I'd also add:
Thank God all things are in a constant state of change. Without change, would we not become quite bored very soon?
 
Amen, boB.

While personally having a deep loathing against Brett, I do admire what the family has accomplished. Don't forget the bobsled that Geoffrey helped design.

Mark is one of my personal heros. The things he went through in his early years makes him deserving of honors.

Both had earned the right to be called "champion."
 
I always was under the impression to be in the Winston you had to have been a winning driver...well that's what I want to see current winning drivers racing their butts off...why do people want to see mid-packers running? Not a slant on Mark Martin...Bodine yes.
 
More changes, and still more changes to come I'm sure -_- till Nascar is finally happy.
 
Originally posted by boB@Apr 28 2004, 12:40 PM
TRL.

I think that some of these youngsters who dislike the Bodines should really take the time to look at what that family has brought to not just the top tier of NASCAR racing, but to racing as a sport.

I know a lot of current drivers who would love to have the record that Geoffery has been able to post in his career; not to mention the advances in safety and driver comfort, etc. which he introduced over the years.

As for Mark Martin: he has to be the absolute all-time best non-champion that any racing series has ever seen.

But of course those are all past accomplishments and carry no weight at all in today's society. Unfortunately, it would seem that too many of today's generation have forgotten that in order to know where we are and where we're going, we have to look at where we've come from and what we've accomplished in the past.

I'd also add:
Thank God all things are in a constant state of change. Without change, would we not become quite bored very soon?
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Well said Bob. I agree totally. I also like the fact that all past champions get to keep coming back. It makes it like the masters, where you always see the guys who have won before.

enough of this what have you done for me lately society. How about a little respect for those who have come before.
 
Well, personally I feel pretty dang good we're even going to continue have an event such as this. The "Winston" was an event the title sponser put on and footed the bills for, so for Nextell to be willing to carry on that event with some changes (their perogative, their event) is a great thing.

Sorry but ifa guy/girl has won this event in the past, he/she is entitled to run it as long as they are racing. Under the circumstances I'd say Geof qualifing for 1 race is pushing that rule because he's not running regularly but I'm not paying the bills.

Be thankful we're having it, Nextell could've just discontinued it all together.
 
NASCAR's considering doing away with both the Bud Shootout and the Nextel All-Star Event.
If Anyone's interested I'll try to find that site and post a link to the article.
I'm alsoi against doing away with either or both events,so it'll probably happen ;)
I kind of liked the elimination of the back-packers after the 1st and 2nd segments,but I'm not upset about the changes per se,just seems like too many changes within the last year IMHO.
If NASCAR wants to change something why don't They do away with the fan participation of the inversion,every year the fans pick the maximum number allowed anyway,so what's the point? ;)
 
Originally posted by boB@Apr 28 2004, 02:40 PM


But of course those are all past accomplishments and carry no weight at all in today's society. Unfortunately, it would seem that too many of today's generation have forgotten that in order to know where we are and where we're going, we have to look at where we've come from and what we've accomplished in the past.
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But who can blame them for that? They're just following NASCAR's lead.

It's the long time fans, among whom I number myself as being after watching the sport since the early 1970s, by and large who are most upset at what they see the sport becoming. As I said earlier elsewhere, give it 5 years and the rank and file fan won't even remember Rockingham.
 
Well here we go again. :) The race hasn't even run yet and NASCAR/Nextel is ruining the sport for the fans. If what was posted is all the changes, it is rather minor........a couple of older drivers are eligible and the field will not be reduced for the final segment. I've heard "back packers" and even a vague reference to "field fillers". Y'all know, of course, these are the top drivers in the sport.........I don't think those terms apply. :blink: Everyone screams "heritage"...........well just what is heritage if it doesn't include all past champions or winners that are still active? And the "All Star Challenge" (the old "Winston" or whatever you want to call it) is a non-points event.......put on for the shear fun of the fans. Not just the fans of the current hot drivers in the sport........fans of all the top drivers (present and past). It's not Saturday night at the local dirt track.......it's Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The format may have similarities but it was never meant to be the same format. It's not heats the cars are running........it's segments (not even the same term......and it never was). All I can say about that grip is if you like the dirt track format, go to the dirt track. I'll stay home and watch the "Challenge". :)

I'm with boB and TRL.........a lot of you guys would find a problem with any change. A lot of you would rather NASCAR still be concentrated entirely within the Southeast quadrant of the United States running mostly at Bristol, Martinsville, Richmond, Darlington, Rockingham and maybe a race each at Charlotte, Daytona, and Homestead. Let's see that's eight tracks.........how would you get 36 races spread out over those? No, don't tell me........I couldn't stand the arguments. :(

I also don't agree that this is true..........I count myself as one of those long time fans.

It's the long time fans, among whom I number myself as being after watching the sport since the early 1970s, by and large who are most upset at what they see the sport becoming.
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why do i got the fellin that we are going to have one big wreck in this race? :unsure: :unsure:

I don't really mind change, but some of the things they are doing i dont like. The old point system was to many points IMO and this new one well im not judgin it yet ask me in nov how i fell on it.

I liked the old set up of "the winston" but im not going to judge it by what i read, just what i see in a few weeks.
 
Amen, DEW. As an old-timer, I have no problem at all with the changes to the All-Star race. It's a Saturday shoot-out, no points, no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners free for all.

Things need shaking up once in a while, or it will get stale.
 
I'm a minority once again, but that's OK I'm used to it. I never liked the Winston, mainly because of the segments and the field inversions. Want to run an all-star race? Fine. Just quit all the baloney, start it, end it, and knock off all the tinkering.

They don't reverse the score at halftime of the Pro Bowl, why does NASCAR have to do all this? Oh yeah, for all those fans who don't like to see wrecks but nonetheless love them.
 
Originally posted by EatMorePossum@Apr 28 2004, 07:55 PM
Oh yeah, for all those fans who don't like to see wrecks but nonetheless love them.
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not to make a threed drift, but at the bush race when they had there big one, it happand all most in front of us, and as soon as ppl saw the smoke they was jumping up and down cheering. :unsure:
 
I don't understand why people get up and cheer when there's a wreck. Can anyone explain it to me please. :(
 
Originally posted by nascar20@Apr 28 2004, 08:17 PM
I don't understand why people get up and cheer when there's a wreck. Can anyone explain it to me please. :(
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Neither do I, nascar20, neither do I.

I can't cheer until I see all the drivers get out --- unhurt.
 
I sure can't explain it. But having only attended California personally, I can only speak for that track. I can say it's not really cheering........it's people jumping up and screaming to get others' attention to what's happening on the track. The year Dale Jr wrecked and got his concussion happen almost right in front of us (and we were rather low on the track too). There was a lot of people yelling and ooing and aaing, pointing and jumping up...........then, before the car came to a stop, dead silence! It's a reaction...............I wouldn't call it cheering. And, I cannot believe fans in California are any different than fans in Alabama. I've said this before (on this very forum, in fact) and was told I was wrong........but, I know what I saw and heard. And it was not cheering. Last year with Steve Park's first lap wreck.........we were right there when it started in turn one!! Same thing.
 
I heartily agree with Bob, TRL, DE W and Eagle 1.
Tired of all the fussin. Racin is about fun and excitement.
I feel fortunate, in this day and age to even have a sponsor that was willing to take over from Winston.
I too, had my misgivings at first. Prolly most of us did.
I am just happy as a piggie in a milk bath that we are gonna have an All-Star race again.

Smile, fans!!!!! It ain't all bad. :D :rolleyes: :D :rolleyes: :D :rolleyes: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
 
Originally posted by DE_Wrangler_2@Apr 28 2004, 08:33 PM
I sure can't explain it.  But having only attended California personally, I can only speak for that track.  I can say it's not really cheering........it's people jumping up and screaming to get others' attention to what's happening on the track.  The year Dale Jr wrecked and got his concussion happen almost right in front of us (and we were rather low on the track too).  There was a lot of people yelling and ooing and aaing, pointing and jumping up...........then, before the car came to a stop, dead silence!  It's a reaction...............I wouldn't call it cheering.  And, I cannot believe fans in California are any different than fans in Alabama.  I've said this before (on this very forum, in fact) and was told I was wrong........but, I know what I saw and heard.  And it was not cheering.  Last year with Steve Park's first lap wreck.........we were right there when it started in turn one!!  Same thing.
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I agree, with the exception of some figure 8 races, I have never seen fans cheer when anyones life was put in jepardy.



The only problem I see with the change is that the racing in the middle of the pack will not be as intense without the danger of not making the next segmeant. On the other hand twenty three drivers going for $1,000,000 is more exciting than ten. Also, most dirt tracks start 24 cars in their feature events, not ten.
 
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