NASCAR All-Stars: Top Four Comment On Racing For A Million Bucks

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star event is a non-point segmented 100 lap race that features winners of recent Sprint Cup races, past All-Star race winners and Sprint Cup champions.

All seek generous prize money on the Charlotte Motor Speedway track including the big one night winning paycheck of $1,078, 309. 

It might be easy to miss the 309 dollar part or, in the world of big money racing, the 78 thousand dollar portion may not seem huge, but the one million dollar lion’s share gets ample attention from every driver. It’s one night's work for about $10,000 per lap.

Rules of entry and segment details follow fresh quotes from the top four drivers before and after the exciting and popular race.

Kurt Busch (No. 2 Dodge) (Finished First)

Before
“It’s a nice break in the schedule when you can spend a weekend at the race track not worried about the big picture at all,” Busch said. 

“It’s relaxing, yet with all the big money on the line, the adrenalin flows, the tempers flare and it’s as exciting as it gets for our sport.”

After
Busch discussed the big win in a variety of ways.
“It's an unbelievable experience,” Busch said.

“It's something that you sit there and you look at the greats that have won this race, the ones that have had so many years go by in between the wins, just to have an opportunity to go for it.

“One thing we have to work on at Penske Racing is this razor blade edge we're on. Sometimes we're a little bit loose, sometimes we're a little bit tight, and we can only just bolt on a set of tires. We need a little bit bigger window to be more competitive. 

Busch added,

“A big moment with getting the checkered flag at an All Star Race, to have a million bucks put up by Sprint. I have to thank them for that opportunity to win a million dollars. I think the biggest payday I've ever gotten. It's a really neat check when it comes in the mail.” 

Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 Toyota) (Finished Second)

Before
“I feel like we've got a better understanding of the race cars now and what we need in them for us to be competitive,” Truex said.

“We've just been chipping away at it, been solid and steady and working on our cars to make them faster each week, and in the last few weeks they've had great speed."

After
“It was fun to get in,” Truex said.

“We put a lot of effort into this race because it meant a lot for us to come out here and not only have fun tonight, but get ready for the 600 next week. We did what we came here for and just came up one spot short.”

Joey Logano (No. 20 Toyota) (Finished Third)

Before
Several weeks before the All-Star race, Joey Logano talked about being in the big spotlight.

“I think it's a really good thing, having that spotlight on you,” Logano said. “I think it's a real big deal to have. It's one of those things I was fortunate enough to have the spotlight on me.”

After
“I felt like I had a good car, I’m just bummed out that we didn’t win,” Logano said.

“That is what this race is all about is about winning. There is more give and take around your teammates, but at the same time it’s, ‘go cat go’ for a million bucks.”

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Toyota) (Finished Fourth)

Before
“So many great finishes I can remember and a lot of it just leads to drivers just going for a win,” Hamlin said.

“Not thinking about points. Not thinking about anything but winning. That's what makes for the amazing finishes that you see there."

After
Kyle Busch was angered by Hamlin’s late move on the final segment, but they both met with Joe and J.D. Gibbs to discuss the details.

“This is a good problem to have for our team," Hamlin said.

“For two guys to be wanting to go for the win like they are, that’s all we can ask for. Everything is going good between the 11 and the 18 (Kyle Busch) on the race track, we’re both battling for race wins each and every week. One thing that we do realize too is this individual race here is a different beast so the racing of each other is always going to be a little different.”

Getting into the race:

Sprint All-Star entry criterion:
A driver must win a points-paying Cup race since the beginning of 2009, scored an All-Star Race victory in the last 10 years or earned a Cup championship in the last 10 years.

Sprint Showdown entry
Two will be the first- and second-place finishers in the preliminary Sprint Showdown held just prior to the All-Star Race. (Martin Truex Jr. and Greg Bifffle)

Sprint Fan Vote entry
The other vacancy was filled by the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote where fans place one otherwise ineligible driver into the race. (Carl Edwards)

The special All-Star configuration:

The All-Star format is a 100-lap four-segment race ending with a 10-lap dash.

100 Laps: 50 Laps, 20 Laps, 20 Laps, 10 Green Flag Laps

The first segment 50-lap is split with a mandatory pit stop taking place in Lap 25 of the segment. That pit stop must be a four-tire stop and take place during a green flag conditions.

Following the first two segments, cars have the option of pitting, but they lose track position should they do so.

The second and third segments are twenty laps each. Following the end of the third segment, a ten-minute break takes place, allowing for adjustment of cars preceding the final segment, a ten-green flag lap shootout.

The popularity of the double-file restarts throughout the race prompted NASCAR to adopt this rule all year.

Kurt Busch photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com