NASCAR All-Star Race 2018: Format, Start Time, Lineup, TV Schedule and More

A cool $1 million hangs in the balance for some of the best drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series' All-Star Race on Saturday. 

NASCAR is once again switching up some of the finer details of the race in the hopes it's more entertaining as drivers pull off more passes with so much at stake. Remember, a few years ago the All-Star race tested the stage-based format fans have come to know and enjoy during the regular season. 

With a lineup featuring race winners over the past few seasons and automatic bids earned hours earlier in the Monster Energy Open, there's plenty of reason to believe this will be another classic event featuring top names. 

Here's a look at everything to know. 

Viewing Details

Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway

When: Saturday, May 19, at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Tickets: StubHub.com

Lineup

Ryan Blaney

Clint Bowyer

Kurt Busch

Kyle Busch

Austin Dillon

Denny Hamlin

Kevin Harvick

Jimmie Johnson

Kasey Kahne

Matt Kenseth

Brad Keselowski

Kyle Larson

Joey Logano

Jamie McMurray

Ryan Newman

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Martin Truex Jr.

2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Standings

1. Kevin Harvick	484
2. Kyle Busch	503
3. Joey Logano	491
4. Clint Bowyer	406
5. Martin Truex Jr.	376
6. Austin Dillon	241
7. Brad Keselowski	396
8. Kurt Busch	393
9. Denny Hamlin	380
10. Ryan Blaney	365
11. Aric Almirola	342
12. Kyle Larson	336
13. Jimmie Johnson	286
14. Erik Jones	285
15. Alex Bowman	271
16. Chase Elliott	266

Format and Preview 

Steve Helber/Associated Press

NASCAR is standing pat with its four-stage format this year. Stage 1 lasts for 30 laps, Stage 2 ends at the 50th lap and Stage 3 at the 70th—meaning a 10-lap sprint to close the event with $1 million at stake. 

Different is the fact this year's version runs 10 laps longer than a year ago. There aren't any mandatory stops, eliminations or shuffling of the order either. 

But the biggest change comes in the form of the aero package. Charlotte Motor Speedway's 1.5 miles will feature restrictor plates for the first time. Meaning, less horsepower, a closer field and more passes and potential thrilling slingshots as drivers jockey for position. 

"A lot of that depends on how the cautions fall and how this new aero package uses the tires," Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief Adam Stevens said, according to NASCAR.com's Chase Wilhelm. "It's a new tire combination, as well. There's so many unknowns, it's almost impossible to predict."

What is predictable? Some of the drivers bound to be in contention. Kevin Harvick is just having fun toying with the field at this point. He won three races in a row earlier in the season and has two more consecutive wins under his belt. 

As Stewart-Haas Racing pointed out, Harvick has now placed himself alongside Jeff Gordon: 

Then there's Kyle Busch, the other three-race winner already this season. He won this event a year ago as well, so he's bound to be in contention late, restrictor plates or not. 

For others, this weekend's main event is a way to keep trying new things in an effort to build some regular-season momentum. Impacted by changes to spoilers this year, Martin Truex Jr. is one guy still looking for a breakthrough. 

"We would definitely like to have more than we have at this moment," Truex said, according to ESPN.com's Bob Pockrass. "We had a tough stretch of races where maybe we had a chance of getting some of those. We're off just a tick right now and still just trying to get dialed in."

Designed to entertain while paving the way for future changes to the series itself, the All-Star race will once again accomplish both feats at once with a huge assist from talented drivers with unique storylines treating this like an event they need to win. 

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.