The 24th Sprint Cup All-Star Race, this sport’s version of an all-star game, will be run with all the pageantry, glitz and glamour that even the best promoter could imagine.
What in the world is a Victory Challenge, you ask. It is a burnout competition. Yep, a burnout competition. The official description of this far-fetched display is a competition to prove who is best at celebrating a victory. Before the race tonight, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson will each lay down their best burnout, turn two donuts, and drive into a designated area, a so-called Victory Lane. These guys will be judged on “style points” and elapsed time.
This is a non-points event with only 24 drivers and $1 million to the winner. Drivers can be eligible to participate in the All-Star race five different ways. Drivers or car owners with race wins in the current or preceding year qualify along with past Cup champions. The 21 drivers who qualify by one of these three criteria are locked into the race.
The winner and the runner-up of the 40-lap qualifying race, the Sprint Showdown, will move on to the main event. The 24th driver will be determined by a fan vote.
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