NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: Preview, Start Time, Hot Picks and More

Everything is on the line for a million-dollar payoff, where points don't matter, as some of the best drivers in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series race with the old adage "checkers or wreckers."

The field is made up of drivers who have won races in 2011 and 2012, a driver voted in by the fans and the winner and runner-up from the preliminary Showdown Race.

The race consists of four 20-lap segments and a final 10-lap race for the big check. The winners of each 20-lap race line up in positions one through four coming down pit road for the final mandatory pit stop.

NASCAR is a team sport and the All-Star Race not only emphasizes winning, but the error-free performance of the pit crews. How they leave pit road is how they line up.

The pit stop prior to the final 10-lap run is critical for the driver who will eventually be celebrating in Victory Lane. The fastest driver with the best car may sacrifice the win with a less-than-perfect pit stop.

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is a dress rehearsal for the Coca-Cola 600 on May 27.

Carl Edwards is the defending winner of the race, but there are many other storylines surrounding the event. Could this be the turning point for Jeff Gordon, who has won this race three times?

Once again it will be up to the fans to vote Dale Earnhardt Jr. in, so we wait to see if Junior Nation gets the job done for the driver of the No. 88. If they don't, he will need to win or place in the Showdown.

There are some wild-card drivers, including Trevor Bayne, Paul Menard and Marcos Ambrose, who will make their first All-Star Race appearance.

Kurt Busch will be in contention with his No. 51 out of Phoenix Racing. He is the last driver to win the All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600, in 2010.

Martin Truex, Jr. should make a strong showing in the preliminary race; he is the favorite to grab the win in the Showdown or at least finish second and make the All-Star show.

The top five drivers based on average finishes are as follows:

Matt Kenseth has one win, four top-five and eight top-10 finishes, two poles and an average of 6.5.

Tony Stewart  has one win, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes with an average of 7.1.

Ryan Newman has one win, three top-five and six top-10 finishes, one pole and an average of 9.2

Jeff Gordon has three wins, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes with an average of 9.3.

Carl Edwards has one win, three top-five and four top-10 finishes with an average finish of 9.3.

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is always an event full of unexpected twists, when drivers have nothing to lose and everything to gain in the non-points race.

The pre-race festivities are colorful and loud with the introduction of the drivers and teams being presented on a stage.

The entire evening is a spectacle under the lights and presented with typical Charlotte Motor Speedway showmanship.

Date: Saturday, May 19

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

TV: SPEED 7:00 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90