NASCAR Sprint Showdown 2012 Results: Reaction, Leaders and Post Race Analysis

NASCAR's main attraction on Saturday night may be the Sprint All-Star Race, but some exciting action will take place before it as well. 22 drivers will do battle in the Sprint Showdown in an effort to earn one of three coveted spots in the All-Star race later in the night.

The Showdown is essentially a 40-lap sprint, with the top two finishers qualifying for the All-Star contest. The third and final spot will be filled by the winner of the fan vote. Obviously, the Sprint Showdown field isn't as star-studded as the All-Star race itself, but there are plenty of talented drivers, and a few of them will be left out in the cold.

Here is all the information you need for Saturday night's Sprint Showdown. Check back after the race's completion for a full listing of results and analysis.

Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

When: Saturday, May 19, 7 p.m. ET

Watch: SPEED

Live Stream: TrackPass

Listen: Motor Racing Network

Starting Order

1. A.J. Allmendinger

2. Martin Truex, Jr.

3. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

4. Jeff Burton

5. Aric Almirola

6. Landon Cassill

7. Juan Pablo Montoya

8. Bobby Labonte

9. Travis Kvapil

10. David Stremme

11. Casey Mears

12. David Reutimann

13. Joey Logano

14. Stephen Leicht

15. Scott Speed

16. David Gilliland

17. Mike Bliss

18. J.J. Yeley

19. Jamie McMurray

20. Joe Nemechek

21. Josh Wise

22. Tony Raines

Projected Top 2

Martin Truex, Jr.

The 2012 Sprint Cup season has been filled with plenty of surprises thus far, but perhaps the most pleasant of them has been the progress of Martin Truex, Jr. Truex is in the midst of the best season of his career. He currently sits sixth in points, and he has accrued four top-five finishes and seven top-10 performances as well.

Truex qualified second for the Showdown and has an excellent chance to finish in the top two. I consider him the favorite to win the 40-lap race and to get involved in the All-Star race. Many fans are probably hoping that Truex is able to race his way in because, with the way he has performed this season, he may be a real factor to win later in the night as well.

Jeff Burton

Jeff Burton is coming off a very difficult 2011 season, and 2012 hasn't been a whole lot better either. He is just 17th in the points, with three top-10 finishes. Burton is a very savvy driver who can excel in a sprint race such as this one, though, so I like his chances to finish in the top two.

Burton has also had a ton of success at Charlotte over the course of his career. He has won there three times, with the most recent coming in 2008. Burton had a fast car in qualifying—he will start fourth—and there is every reason to believe that he will be near the front for the entirety of the race.

Projected Fan Vote Winner

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

If the likes of Martin Truex, Jr., Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano or Jamie McMurray are unable to finish in the top two in the Sprint Showdown, then they had better hope that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. does. If Junior is unable to qualify for the All-Star race based on his on-track performance, there is absolutely no doubt that he will win the fan vote.

Earnhardt has been voted NASCAR's most popular driver every year since 2003, and he is by far the biggest star in the Showdown. Earnhardt has run very consistently this season, so he could conceivably finish in the top two. But if he doesn't, he'll make the All-Star race regardless.

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