2012 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Predictions
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
This week the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Charlotte, North Carolina for the annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The race this week is unlike any other you will see during the season. The drivers don’t receive any points for where they finish. It’s all about who takes home the checkered flag and the big prize of over $1 million.
The race is held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which just so happens to be the site of next week’s Coca-Colo 600. How the drivers attack the All-Star race isn’t anything like what you will see at the Coca-Cola 600. Not to say the drivers don’t want to win every race, but you will see a lot more cautious drivers when their are points on the line. It’s an all-star event unlike anything you see in other sports. While it’s technically an exhibition, the drivers in the field aren’t going to treat it like one. Anytime you throw a $1 million prize for the winner, you are going to see a lot of reckless driving. Add in the fact that you don’t lose any points if you don’t finish the race, it’s easy to see why this is one of the most anticipated events of the season.
If you aren’t familiar with the All-Star Race, the format is completely different than what you are use to. In order to even take part in the race, drivers must meet a certain criteria, but for the most part all the big names will be in action. In order to qualify for the race you must have either won a Sprint Cup race in 2011 or 2012, won the Sprint Cup Title in the past 10 years, or won the All-Star race itself in the past 10 years.
Those that don’t meet one of the three criteria will have a chance to earn a spot by finishing first or second in the Sprint Showdown, which is a 40-lap preliminary race held right before the actual All-Star race. Fans also have the chance to add another driver to the field, as there is a fan vote for anyone left out after the Sprint Showdown. While most of the big names have already qualified, Dale Earnhardt Jr is one driver who will need to finish in the top 2 of the Sprint Showdown or win the fan vote.
The race itself is also ran a little differently. There are five separate races within the actual race itself. There are four 20-lap segments, and then a 10-lap finale that decides it all. Something new to this year’s race, is the winner of each of the first four 20-lap segments will earn the 1-4 starting positions in the final 10-lap run for $1 million.
Last year it was Carl Edwards who made his way to victory lane. A couple interesting facts about Edwards win. He came into the race as the points leader in 2011 and had never won the All-Star race in his career. Good news for fans of the No. 16 car. Greg Biffle leads the 2012 points standings and is the points leader in 2012.
Normally I pick three drivers and give my analysis on why I like them to win. Normally you can look back at past success on specific tracks and how a driver has been doing on similar racetracks to really get a good feel for who should be in contention. None of that matters at the All-Star Race. There are going to be a ton of wrecks and you just don’t know who is going to be left standing. While I won’t be giving out any analysis, I will list the three drivers I feel have a great shot at winning the race.
1. Greg Biffle
2. Tony Stewart
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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