2017 NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Format Change Idea

With the mass amounts of confusion seen last night in the Sprint All-Star race not only with the drivers, crews, and media covering the event on site and the television broadcast. It’s made clear that it was way too confusing. So here’s my idea on the Showdown and All-Star for 2017.

Showdown

Twin 20 lap heats set by even and odd based on practice speeds. Bottom 5 will be eliminated at the half-way mark of each feature and will pull off and go to the garage. 

10 lap main with inside row set by A-Heat and outside row set by B-Heat. Two tire mandatory green flag stop to be made within the 10 lap feature. Only green flag laps will count along with overtime rules.

Top-2 will move onto the Cup Series All-Star Race.

1 Fan Vote however if you were eliminated from the heats you cannot receive the fan vote.

(Showdown winning cars will be given 30 minutes to change tires/setup car for qualifying for the All-Star and will be the final three cars in qualifying order)

NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race – Will Take Place Immediately following the Showdown

Three segments 45/45/10 (100 laps)

Qualifying set per current rules three laps and a pit stop at speed. (No Change)

Segment 1 45 Laps: Open pit strategy through the race. However teams cannot change tires during the segment unless authorized by race officials. 

Three Minute break with predetermined inversion to be reviled during break. Teams can work on cars, change tires, but cannot work on engine and/or drive train. 

Segment 2 45 Laps: Open pit strategy through the race. However teams cannot change tires during the segment unless authorized by race officials. Every 10 laps last place will be sent to the garage and disqualified.

Three Minute break with full field inversion. Teams can work on cars, change tires, but cannot work on engine and/or drive train. 

Segment 3 10 Laps: 10 laps shootout with no rules. Only green flag laps count with over time rules.