NASCAR All-Star Race 2014: Last-Minute Preview for Saturday's Star-Studded Event

The best NASCAR drivers in the world have descended upon Charlotte, North Carolina, for the annual Sprint All-Star Race.

Although no points are on the line, the $1 million prize will be more than enough to motivate the drivers on Saturday night. Plus, the race is a good opportunity for guys who've struggled out of the gate to build some momentum in a low-pressure situation.

When: Saturday, May 17, at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina

Watch: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Rules

This is unlike any race you'll see on the Sprint Cup circuit. The event is only run over 90 laps. Those 90 laps are broken down into five different segments, and this is where it can get a little confusing.

Here's a breakdown of how the different segments will play out, according to NASCAR.com:

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Following the first three segments, there are optional pit stops and five caution laps. The field will be set by pit stop/stay out track position after each of the first three segments. Following the fourth segment, the running order will be repositioned based on the average finish for the first four segments prior to pit road opening for the mandatory four-tire pit stop. The order of cars returning to the track will determine the order for the fifth and final segment. The running order ties will be broken by the finish of the fourth segment.

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Obviously, it's important to maintain a high finish in the first four segments, but ultimately, that doesn't get you anything in the end.

Finishing on top in the fifth segment is what really matters. Whoever ends up in first place there will take the full $1 million purse. Having the different segments freshens things up and adds a little more drama later in the race.

The winner may come down to which driver has the best pit crew on the mandatory four-tire stop in the fourth segment.

Field

Driver	Car No.
Jamie McMurray	1
Brad Keselowski	2
Kevin Harvick	4
Kasey Kahne	5
Denny Hamlin	11
Tony Stewart	14
Clint Bowyer	15
Greg Biffle	16
Kyle Busch	18
Matt Kenseth	20
Joey Logano	22
Jeff Gordon	24
Ryan Newman	31
David Ragan	34
Kurt Busch	41
AJ Allmendinger	47
Jimmie Johnson	48
Brian Vickers	55
Martin Truex Jr.	78
Dale Earnhardt Jr.	88
Josh Wise	98
Carl Edwards	99

Jimmie Johnson enters having won the last two All-Star Races. Only Davey Allison has matched that feat, and no other driver has been victorious three years in a row.

The No. 48 car has yet to see Victory Lane in the 2014 season, so Saturday's race is a good chance for Johnson to snap out of his funk and kick on for the rest of the Sprint Cup campaign.

He said, per Jim Utter of the Charlotte Observer:

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I think some or many forget that, yes, we do have a lot of trophies and I'm very proud of them, but there have been plenty of slow starts, plenty of dry spells or stretches through a given season. One thing that's always constant about the No. 48 is we're going to work our guts out to figure it out. That's what we're in the middle of doing now. It isn't fun, that's for sure. It isn't a fun experience to work so hard and not get the reward that you want.

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Another driver to watch will be Josh Wise and the No. 99 car. He surprised many by winning the fan vote. Who can deny a Dogecoin-sponsored car?

Although Wise is only an outside shot to take the checkered flag, seeing the Dogecoin car on a NASCAR track is always enjoyable.

Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick, however, will be top contenders to dethrone Johnson. They sit 1-2 in the points standings by virtue of their two wins.

Both drivers have had some success in this event. Harvick won in 2007, while Logano boasts two top-five and three top-10 finishes in his three starts. According to NASCAR.com, his average running position of 4.3 is highest among active drivers.

In five years, the All-Star Race winner went on to claim the points title, with Johnson being the last to do so last year. Saturday's event may prove an indicator as to which drivers are primed for strong runs over the rest of the 2014 Sprint Cup season.