Statistical Advance: Analyzing The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

Below are notebook item facts for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Showdown and NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race:

The NASCAR Sprint Showdown
• The NASCAR Sprint Showdown started in 1986 as a pre-cursor to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
• Beginning in 1987, the race allowed more drivers the opportunity to participate in the All-Star event by “racing their way in.”
• Over the years, 20 different drivers have gained entry into the All-Star Race via the Showdown. There have been a total of 32 transfers into the All-Star Race.

The NASCAR Sprint Showdown By-the-Numbers:
22 – Races
189 – Drivers
17 – Winners
32 – Transfers to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
7 – Years more than one driver transferred to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: 1991 (three), 1996 (five), 1992 (two), 2000 (two), 2001 (two), 2002 (two) and 2007 (two)
5 – Most transfers into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, driver (Sterling Marlin)
5 – Most transfers to the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, season (1996)
4 – Most wins in the NASCAR Sprint Showdown (Sterling Marlin)
2 – Transfer drivers who went on to win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: Michael Waltrip (1996) and Ryan Newman (2002)

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race
Format
• Time trials will be three laps, including a four-tire pit stop. Total elapsed time of the three-lap qualifying run will determine starting positions for the race. The pit road speed limit will be in effect when cars enter pit road but will not be in effect when cars exit.
• The 2008 edition of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will run a total of 100 laps on the 1.5-mile tri-oval – making it the longest in the event’s 24-year history.
• There will be four segments – with each being 25 laps. (The first four-segment race was held in 2007 with four equal segments of 20 laps each.)
• All restarts will be double-file and the “Beneficiary” rule will be in effect throughout the race.
• Green and yellow-flag laps will count in the first three segments. In the final segment, only green-flag laps will be scored.

Tidbits
• There are 17 race winners from 2007-08, two past All-Star race winners and two past series champions not otherwise eligible in the event
• All but one of the All-Star races has been held at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The lone exception was the second event in 1986, which was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
• Terry Labonte participated in 20 All-Star races, more than any other driver.
• Rusty Wallace holds the record for consecutive appearances with 19 – a mark which will be tied by Mark Martin this season. The race has featured a field that ranged from 10 drivers in 1986 to 27 in 2002.
• 16 different drivers have posted All-Star race victories; five have won more than one.
• Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990 and 1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001) are the only three-time winners of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
• Davey Allison (1991 and 1992), Terry Labonte (1988 and 1999) and Jimmie Johnson (2003 and 2006) are the only other drivers to post multiple victories in the All-Star race. Allison is the only driver to ever win consecutive All-Star events.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Ryan Newman (2002) are the only drivers to win the All-Star race in their rookie season.
• Jeff Gordon is the youngest winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at 23 years, 9 months and 18 days (1995). Mark Martin is the oldest at 46 years, 4 months and 12 days (2005).
• Jimmie Johnson has a 5.17 average finish in six appearances in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the best of any driver with more than two appearances.
• The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has been won from the pole position three times; all three came in consecutive years: Dale Earnhardt (1990) and Davey Allison (1991 and 1992).
• Dale Earnhardt (1990), Davey Allison (1991) and Jeff Gordon (1995) are the only drivers to sweep all segments en route to an All-Star race victory. Earnhardt and Allison did so in a two-segment race, while Gordon’s was three.
• Michael Waltrip (1996) became the first driver to win the All-Star race from a “transfer” position. Waltrip, who finished in the final transfer spot (fifth) in the NASCAR Sprint Showdown and therefore started from the rear of the main event, came from last (20th) to post his first All-Star victory.
• In 2002, Ryan Newman won a “last chance” race – an extension of the NASCAR Sprint Showdown, and secured the final transfer spot (27th). Newman went on to win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
• Brothers Terry Labonte (20 races) and Bobby Labonte (13) have identical 10.0 average finishes in the All-Star race.
• Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won six All-Star races: Jeff Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson (two) and Terry Labonte (one).
• Five drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same year: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990, 1993), Rusty Wallace (1989), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 2001), Jimmie Johnson (2006).

Lowe’s Motor Speedway Data
Track Size: 1.5 miles
• Banking/Corners: 24 degrees
• Banking/Straights: 5 degrees
• Frontstretch: 1,980 feet
• Backstretch: 1,500 feet

Participating Drivers
Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr., Winner of NASCAR Sprint Showdown, Second-place finisher of NASCAR Sprint Showdown, Winner of NASCAR Sprint Fan Vote

Eligibility
• Race winners from 2007 and 2008
• Event winners (past 10 years)
• Series champions (past 10 years who have competed in at least one series event during 2007 or 2008)
• Top two finishers in NASCAR Sprint Showdown
• NASCAR Sprint Fan Vote Winner (must finish on lead lap of NASCAR Sprint Showdown)

Format
• Four 25-lap segments
• Finishing order of NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Race determines order of pit stall selection
• Mandatory pit stop after third segment.