Full Throttle

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers return to their Saturday night racing roots at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and a 10-lap shootout for the fans. Last year’s Fan Vote and race winner, Kasey Kahne, and Jeff Gordon — in search of a record fourth all-star victory — talk about the competition and the fans. Plus, find out why the top racer in Driver Rating will have to race his way into the main event.

“From a fan standpoint, it really drives the race,” said Mark Martin (No. 5 CARQUEST/Kellogg’s Chevrolet). “A 10-lap shootout is a huge, huge deal. It puts a lot of excitement in it, a sense of urgency. I think it’s a good move. Sparks will fly once again at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.”

What goes around has come around in this case. The all-star race used to have a 10-lap final segment and it produced some of the most thrilling finishes in the history of the event and NASCAR overall for that matter. That includes Martin’s 1998 all-star victory, when he weaved his way through the pack over the course of the 10-lap final segment, and then got the win when Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) ran out of gas on the last turn of the last lap.

Borrowing from some time-tested short-track terminology, this amounts to NASCAR’s ultimate “dash for cash.” The all-star champion will win $1,022,975.

Twenty-one drivers will vie for those seven figures which will mean trying to position themselves well for the final segment. This will not be easy. It will be somewhat tricky, which to some stock car purists is the true beauty of the all-star race, 10 all-out closing laps notwithstanding.