ALL-STAR SUPERSTAR: Dale Earnhardt Jr. made history on May 20, 2000, when he became the first rookie to win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Earnhardt led two laps that night. In nine appearances in the all-star event, Earnhardt has scored one win, three top-five finishes and eight top-10s.
LAST TIME: Last year’s all-star event was divided into four segments, and Earnhardt was the runner-up in the second and third ones. Earnhardt, who started the event 11th, led 14 laps that night and ultimately crossed the finish line eighth.
EARNHARDT’S ENTRY: Earnhardt locked up his spot in this year’s all-star event when he took the checkered flag last June at Michigan International Speedway. Earnhardt has added security because he won the all-star event in 2000, and winners from the past 10 seasons are eligible to participate.
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ALL-STAR PIT CREW: The fifth annual NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge kicks off the all-star weekend on Thursday by providing crew members with a chance to test their skills. Thursday’s finishing order is like qualifying. It will determine pit selection for Saturday’s all-star event. The No. 88 pit crew members include: front-tire changer Kip Wolfmeier (Kingdom City, Mo.), front-tire carrier Ben Fischbeck (Waynesville, Mo.), rear-tire changer Greg Burkhart (Archdale, N.C.), rear-tire carrier Matt Myers (Ford City, Pa.), gasman Chris Fasulka (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), catch can Jason Dalrymple (Concord, N.C.) and jackman Mark Jacobs, (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.). The event begins at 7 p.m. local time Thursday at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.
DALE’S DESIGN: Earnhardt’s No. 88 Chevrolet will have a different look for Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The 34-year-old driver chose white as the primary color for his Chevrolet, which will sport the Dale Jr. Foundation logo.
THE DALE JR. FOUNDATION: Founded in 2007, the Dale Jr. Foundation is a charity dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals, especially youths, the resources to improve their confidence and education. In 2008, the group supported more than 250 charitable organizations through its fundraising efforts. This year, Earnhardt is running his Foundation’s logo on his No. 88 Chevy and also matching the financial gifts donated by his fans through the “Hard Card” program.
CHASSIS CHOICE: This weekend, crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and the No. 88 engineers will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-488. Earnhardt last raced this chassis at Las Vegas Motor Speedway where he posted a 10th-place finish.
AFTER DARLINGTON: Leaving Darlington, S.C., Earnhardt maintains his 18th-place position in the driver standings. He ranks 89 points behind 12th-place Carl Edwards.
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HENDRICK IN THE ALL-STAR: Hendrick Motorsports, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, has fielded at least one entry in each all-star race since the event first was held in 1985. With six victories, car owner Rick Hendrick is the winningest owner in the all-star event, which is celebrating the 25th event this year.
ALL-STAR MEMORY: While every current driver at Hendrick Motorsports has scored at least one career win in the all-star event, Jeff Gordon leads his teammates with three trips to Victory Lane. Gordon won in 1995, 1997 and 2001, but the 1997 event is the one most people remember. That day—May 17, 1997—Gordon rocketed from his 19th starting spot to Victory Lane driving “T-Rex,” a Monte Carlo named after chassis engineer Rex Stump and its Jurassic Park paint scheme.
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