Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Race is truly one of the most thrilling and spectacular races of the entire year. However, there are thirty-five drivers that will race their hearts out to secure a spot in the night’s feature event.

With only the top-two finishers transferring – and one from the Sprint Fan Vote – the Sprint All-Star Showdown provides just as much excitement as the main event. Thirty-five drivers will have two twenty-lap segments to get the job done and transfer into the All-Star race with the big boys. If not, they have to hope the fans are on their side and have selected them to be the third and final transfer into the show.

For many of those thirty-five drivers, the All-Star Showdown provides a release from the week-in, week-out routine. A non-points event, teams show up with a little something extra the hood and a driver willing to do whatever it takes to win. With no testing this season, many are also looking at Saturday night’s event as a way to try some things before next week’s 50th running of the Coca-Cola 600.

“On Saturday night, we have 20 laps to get it done.  Either we are going to race our way into the All-Star race, or we'll pack it up and head home,” Paul Menard pointed out. “For the guys that aren't in the All-Star race, this weekend is a good chance to see what you have and to possibly try a couple different things for the Coke 600 next weekend.”

“I really enjoy Saturday night racing and it’s great to be home for a few weeks,” Roush Fenway Racing’s David Ragan added. “I’m looking forward to the All-Star race. It’s a good race to try some stuff since there are no points on the line and get ourselves ready for the Coca-Cola 600 next weekend. We just need to find some more speed and get back in rhythm. Hopefully we race our way into the actual All-Star Challenge, but either way we’ll take the track time and make it work to our advantage.”   

“This weekend’s All-Star events give teams the opportunity to try some different settings as we look ahead to the Coca-Cola 600,” Ragan’s Roush teammate Jamie McMurray explained. “Our Crown Royal team is aiming at racing our way into the All-Star race Saturday night, and either way, the All-Star weekend is always a pretty exciting time for all of us.  Since the race isn’t for points, it seems like the racing is even a little more aggressive than normal because there’s nothing to lose.  I’m looking forward to racing at Charlotte this week because it’s always nice to have a chance to be home for two weeks and see family and friends.” 

While the stars in the night’s main feature seem to get all of the attention and limelight, those thirty-five drivers competing in the night’s first 40-lap shootout will be gunning for glory and will certainly put on one heck of a show.

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