Sprint All-Star Pre-race Race Thread

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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Anyone care about this race? I know many on here seem to want it eliminated or at least moved to another venue year to year.

I'm a fan of this race and I also like having it in the Charlotte area close to the teams facilities. While I've never been there for the All-Star even I have for the 600 a week later. It's a great area for a race if you're interested in seeing those teams facilities.

Anyhow, we're only a few days away from this event. Anyone here going this year?

Don't forget, this race is on Speed.

Friday, May 17
8:00 am NSCS Garage Opens
12:00 - 1:25 pm NSCS Final Sprint Showdown Practice
1:35 - 3:00 pm NSCS Final Sprint All-Star Race Practice
3:00 - 3:15 pm NSCS Sprint All-Star Race Pit Road Practice
5:15 pm NSCS Sprint Showdown Qualifying (2 laps - Impound)
6:00 pm NSCS Sprint All-Star Race, Qualifying (3 Lalps w/pit stop, 4 tire change)
8:00 pm NSCS Garage Opens
Saturday, May 18
2:30 pm NSCS Garage Opens
5:30 pm NSCS Sprint Showdown & Sprint All-Star Race Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
7:00 pm NSCS Showdown Driver Intorductions
7:30 pm NSCS The Spint Showdown
9:00 pm (approx) NSCS The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
 
Some new rules for their qualifying pit stops this year.....

There are two distinct rule changes for this Fridays All Star Qualifying pit stop and it’s got some crews guys wondering what’s going on. To give everyone an idea of what the rule was and what it is now, we will explain. For the last few years the pit stops that were done during the qualifying lap were realistic race style pit stops. The pit road speed limit was the same as the race and the pit stops were done like normal realistic race stops. Now, this year they have added two new rules which change the way the game is played completely. Below are the two rule changes.

Rule 1: There is no speed limit on pit road.
Rule 2: Pit Crews can’t leave the pit wall until the car is completely stopped in the pit box.

Some quotes from a few random pit crew members who wished to remain anonymous.....

Tire Changer–”I think the whole thing is completely ridiculous. We lost the Pit Crew Challenge and now we have the All Star Qualifying stop taken away from us as well. The format for the qualifying was on point the way it was. You had to have a fast race car and fast pit stop to sit on the pole. It was a total team effort. Now they changed it just so the driver can speed on pit road. I think it’s a joke.”
Tire Carrier–”It’s as waste of our time and a joke. We spend all year training and preparing for a time to show off what we can do and now we’re a joke. We just went from being important to being irrelevant. We have a 40 week season and this was one of the highlights and now it’s gone. It takes away all the importance of what we do and diminishes the importance of a pit crew. Very disappointed this is happening.”
Tire Changer–”We have to go to the track, glue up a set of tires, set up the pit box, and all for a dog and pony show. It’s ridiculous, the all star qualifier was a source of pride for all crew guys. Getting to do a live stop with no one else on pit road was great. This is now just a waste of an afternoon.”
Tire Changer–”If it’s all about the drivers, just have them speed down pit road and stop in the box, then leave. Don’t waste our time with what is not a real pit stop.”

from here
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Some new rules for their qualifying pit stops this year.....

There are two distinct rule changes for this Fridays All Star Qualifying pit stop and it’s got some crews guys wondering what’s going on. To give everyone an idea of what the rule was and what it is now, we will explain. For the last few years the pit stops that were done during the qualifying lap were realistic race style pit stops. The pit road speed limit was the same as the race and the pit stops were done like normal realistic race stops. Now, this year they have added two new rules which change the way the game is played completely. Below are the two rule changes.

Rule 1: There is no speed limit on pit road.
Rule 2: Pit Crews can’t leave the pit wall until the car is completely stopped in the pit box.

from here
Click to expand...
Sounds like the pit crew members are pretty upset. I'm curious as to why NASCAR changed the rules.
 
I'd like to attend the all star race one day, but I will be at the coke 600 the following week. I make the trip down every year, but can't afford the time for both and the coke 600 is much more of a priority.
 
It seems as though NASCAR is trying to fit the lost "pit crew challenge" into the all-star race in its own strange way. Change is a hard thing to accept and extremely hard for some, but you never know, it might work out good. I'm anxious to see how it goes and to hear the feedback after the fact.
 
I think the thing that I liked about the pit crew competition is that it not only was used for crew to crew comparison it also highlighted the individual positions on the crew.
 
I might be a little bias here, but I'm for anything that showcases the talent and hard work that the pit crews do and I agree with what the tire changers are saying. But, I really enjoy this race. So three days and counting.
 
A look back at some of DE's special paint schemes for the All-Star race.

BKUDn2tCAAATVH3.jpg:large
 
@TheOrangeCone
BREAKING: Only drivers whose name rhymes with Danica Smatrick are eligible to win fan vote for#SprintAllStar this year.
 
*WEAVER* said:
Somebody's gonna wipe out coming down pit road full speed and that will be the end of that.
Click to expand...
I'm willing to give these drivers more credit than that. If it were the whole pack coming in that might be a different story since none of these drivers were around when that was common practice. One at a time, I think they'll do just fine.
 
I feel bad for the pit crews because this week was more about them then any other week out of the race season.

That said, I think the new pit rules are going to make for some interesting racing.
 
I'm confused, there are 4 twenty lap sprints with an optional pit after the end of each. So how are they going to go one at a time that way for the four "heat" races. I know that the best average finish car gets to be at the front of the line for the last race, and that pit stop is mandatory. I can see cars coming in to pit, you can't run all four heats without any tires or fuel, going to have to at least have one pit..and then your going to have cautions probably. I think the pit crews are going to be plenty important.
 
StandOnIt said:
I'm confused, there are 4 twenty lap sprints with an optional pit after the end of each. So how are they going to go one at a time that way for the four "heat" races. I know that the best average finish car gets to be at the front of the line for the last race, and that pit stop is mandatory. I can see cars coming in to pit, you can't run all four heats without any tires or fuel, going to have to at least have one pit..and then your going to have cautions probably. I think the pit crews are going to be plenty important.
Click to expand...
This is about qualifying, not the race.
 
First race of year that I am going to, can't wait!

Taking a bunch of new people on their first NASCAR experience. I figured the All-Star race is the perfect race for a new person. The race is shorter, get to witness high speeds, racing under the lights, famous venue. I hope I bring home some new fans!
 
told ya I was confused.o_O. So the same ol same ol for the races. I'll just have to watch and see how it pans out. The timing will probably start when they cross the line, pit in, pit, and pit out. Smoke em in, smoke em out, just like the old days. I think the pit stop will be the centerpiece of the qualifying run. Regular qualifying is tenth to hundredth of a second separation. Adding the pit stop in there will make that part the most important timing area to win or loose. Soooo we'll see.
 
My favorite all-star race memory has to be Kyle Busch and Gordon fighting for the lead and out of nowhere Newman turned on the after burners and got 3 wide with Kyle and Gordon.
They were able to hold on for a little bit then of course one of them lost it and that was that. Still one of the coolest racing segments I remember at Charlotte.
 
NASCAR put out a news release earlier this year saying that the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote must finish on the lead lap of the Sprint Showdown to advance to the Sprint All-Star Race.

NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp confirmed Wednesday morning that the rule now only requires the car to be in raceable condition as determined by Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby.
Tharp denied that the rule was changed for the popular Patrick and said the entry blank typically has not required drivers to finish on the lead lap in recent years.
It appears that the lead-lap rule was in effect last year but not in the previous two years.
In last year’s prerace drivers meeting, drivers were told by race director David Hoots: “An additional driver in the lead lap will be added to the all-star race by means of a fan vote."
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Because this isn't blatantly obvious.
 
@nascarcasm
I really hate how #NASCAR tweaked the Sprint Showdown rules in a blatant attempt to ensure Scott Riggs makes it into the All-Star race.
 
@CandiceSpencer
#NASCAR President Mike Helton says when people ask why do you change the format for the All-Star Race? "Because we can"
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Anyone care about this race? I know many on here seem to want it eliminated or at least moved to another venue year to year.
Click to expand...

not really

like one of the disgruntled crewman said, it's a dog and pony show

I put it right up there with the awards banquet
 
Matthew2470 said:
I like the All Star event because it's NASCAR racing and it's not on a restrictor plate track.
Click to expand...
I think I would like the Nascar All Star event even if it was run in the parking lot at Hollywood Downs.:)
 
Hmmm parking lot of Hollywood Downs? Would that be a 2 mile or short track? Hope they have good seating so you can see the whole race..
 
pistolshooter said:
Hmmm parking lot of Hollywood Downs? Would that be a 2 mile or short track? Hope they have good seating so you can see the whole race..
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure they don't have seating in the parking lot so you would probably have to bring your own.:D
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Anyone care about this race? I know many on here seem to want it eliminated or at least moved to another venue year to year.

I'm a fan of this race and I also like having it in the Charlotte area close to the teams facilities. While I've never been there for the All-Star even I have for the 600 a week later. It's a great area for a race if you're interested in seeing those teams facilities.

Anyhow, we're only a few days away from this event. Anyone here going this year?

Don't forget, this race is on Speed.

Friday, May 17
8:00 am NSCS Garage Opens
12:00 - 1:25 pm NSCS Final Sprint Showdown Practice
1:35 - 3:00 pm NSCS Final Sprint All-Star Race Practice
3:00 - 3:15 pm NSCS Sprint All-Star Race Pit Road Practice
5:15 pm NSCS Sprint Showdown Qualifying (2 laps - Impound)
6:00 pm NSCS Sprint All-Star Race, Qualifying (3 Lalps w/pit stop, 4 tire change)
8:00 pm NSCS Garage Opens
Saturday, May 18
2:30 pm NSCS Garage Opens
5:30 pm NSCS Sprint Showdown & Sprint All-Star Race Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
7:00 pm NSCS Showdown Driver Intorductions
7:30 pm NSCS The Spint Showdown
9:00 pm (approx) NSCS The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Click to expand...
I like the race and I like it where and when it is. :D We need the pit crew challenge back big time though. :mad:
 
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