10 Reasons the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Is a Must-Watch

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is a non-points, high-stakes show with the sport's best drivers. Action can be dramatic as drivers go for it all, purely for the pride of winning and that one million dollar reward.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is never a track to hold back on showmanship. The pre-race festivities recognize drivers and teams in a manner not seen at the races for points.

It is a loud, colorful and fun event for the fans and teams. The cars often sport spectacular special paint schemes that are dazzling under the lights at CMS.

The All-Star Race race honors the teams, and how they perform may make the difference between the fastest driver being a winner or contender.

This slideshow will highlight the reasons the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is a special race, and why it is an event that is not to be missed, even for those who may not be regular fans of NASCAR.

Introductions

The All-Star race celebrates not only the driver, but the team. Each member of the pit crew, the crew chief and the driver are all introduced on a stage.

They then have a chance to interact a bit with the fans as they stroll from a stage down a ramp. 

The fans gather around to retrieve caps being thrown about from team members, reach to grasp a hand, cheer for their favorites and get photos.

The introduction is always a production of music, lights and things that go boom in the night.

Race Format

The night of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is all about winning, and the changes made to the format this year emphasize that even more.

A preliminary 40-lap Showdown Race is run first with the winner and runner-up securing a spot in the All-Star Race.

The All-Star Race is run in four 20-lap segments and one final 10-lap race for the big bucks.

The winner of the first four segments line up in front of the field coming down pit road for the final mandatory pit stop.

How that pit stop plays out could be crucial to the driver who wins the race.

Pit Stops

Having a fast car and being in the lead isn't always a guarantee that a driver will win the race and it will be especially true with the final mandatory pit stop for the last 10-lap segment.

The over-the-wall gang for a car must execute a fast, flawless pit stop. There may also be some wild strategy calls with tires and fuel by the crew chief to get the car rolling quicker.

How they leave pit road is how they line up to race. The 10-lap finale is not a lot of time to gain lost track position when drivers are racing full throttle for that big check.

Pit Crew Perfection

A couple days before the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, pit crews get to prove just how fast they are at the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge.

Crews must perform their usual duties, then push their car to a finish line. This event is often a predictor of just who might have the advantage when it is all on the line during that final pit stop for the All-Star Race.

NASCAR racing is a team sport and a driver can be the best, but without a first-class pit crew, wins and top finishes vanish.

Celebration of Lights

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will celebrate the 20th anniversary of  "One Hot Night" when Charlotte Motor Speedway did what no other major track had done.

They contracted with Musco Lighting to install lights around the 1.5-mile track so races could be held at night.

In 1992 the first event, now known as the All-Star Race, was a huge success.

Atmosphere of Event

Charlotte Motor Speedway puts on a show much like a rock concert with lots of glitz, music, fireworks and showmanship for the All-Star Race.

It is the perfect event for someone who wants to dip their toe into NASCAR racing. The racing is short in comparison to a normal race and it is a great way to get hooked on the sport.

For true NASCAR fans, it is just an exciting event with a lot on the line. Usually some dramatic situations are guaranteed to unfold.

Specialty Paint Schemes

While many teams have cars that look very much like they do on any given race day, others bring out some sparkling, specialty paint schemes.

Over the years, there have been some really cool ones, so it remains to be seen what we might see at this year's All-Star Race.

Bragging Rights

The All-Star Race is a prestigious race to win even though no points are awarded. Racing is intense and the winner is forever known for their victory at the event.

Not only does the driver get bragging rights, but the crew chief, team and even the fans get to chime in on the win. If your driver wins the All-Star Race, it will be just as much fun as any points race.

Competition is tough in this race and it is a field of the best drivers in NASCAR's premier series. Don't think for a minute that winning this race isn't a big deal.

The Unexpected

There is great pressure to win in each of the four 20-lap segments and even more in the final 10-lap run.

It is inevitable that things will go wrong when you least expect it, and often it can be very costly to a potential winner.

Wrecks and spinning cars are always part of the All-Star Race.

Why They Race Hard

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race awards a check for one million dollars to the winner of the final 10-lap segment.

Racing for this kind of money can bring out the best and worst in drivers. The new format for the All-Star Race this year promises even more intensity with the competition.

When the payday is this big, you are going to see some great racing.