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ALL-STAR: Changing Format Good for Fans, Racers Alike
Written by: Tom Jensen   
04/24/2007 - 07:00 PM
Harrisburg, NC
 
The green flag drops to start the NASCAR Nextel Cup All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway.More photos  HERE ( (Photo: Craig Jones) ยป More Photos

NOTE: Click HERE for SPEED's complete All-Star lineup, photo galleries and more.

For years, cynical race fans have charged that NASCAR makes up the rules as it goes along. When it comes to the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge, there's more than a kernel of truth to that charge: The rules have constantly changed for NASCAR's annual gathering of the best of the best at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Understand, though, that's not a bad thing. In fact, just the opposite. The constant format tweaks that LMS President H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler and his minions have come up with have kept the event fresh for most of its 22-year history, and the 2007 edition is no exception, as the format has been modified once again.

One thing is constant, however: The NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge is one of the biggest and most prestigious races of the season, one that drivers will do most anything to win. With a million dollar purse and no points on the line, nothing matters but winning or losing.

"It's the best of the best competing," said
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who won the race as a rookie in 2000. "There's no points. There's no reason to be conservative. There's no excuse for not having your 'A' game for that race. It ain't, 'Well, I took fourth or a top five because it was a great points day or whatever, we just didn't have what it took for the win.' It's all about, there's no excuses, man. You come with your 'A' game, you run hard and that's what you get at the end. And that was the best that you had that night."

Earnhardt, like the rest of this year's field of 21 drivers, will have to contend with a changed format this time out. The NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge's new format consists of four 20-lap segments and features teams that qualify for the event by winning a Nextel Cup race during 2006 or '07. Four others will be in the race by virtue of being either past series champions or past winners of this event. Two more drivers will qualify for the premier event by finishing first and second after two 20-lap segments in the preliminary Nextel Open. Finally, one driver will once again join the race by winning the NASCAR Nextel Fan Vote.
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