NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge Background Information

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge is a popular race event. It was initially known as "The Winston". It was also known as "Nextel all-star challenge" until 2007. The race winners of the previous and the current season are eligible to take part in this event. The event winners of previous ten years and the past years' series championships are eligible to take part in this. Candidates who were among the top two people in the sprint showdown qualifying race too can participate in the race.

Previously there used to be one more qualifying race called the "No Bull sprint". However since the year 2003 there has been one qualifying race. The first race was run at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The participants in the race are known to make reckless moves and there are frequent crashes.

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge is played according to different formats that are changed from time to time. It was restructured in 2007. The format of 2007 is made of four segments. There was a rule that in the fourth quarter caution laps are not counted. In it the driver was given the choice of pit box. The main lap was brought down to 80 laps. After the first segment, the five lap caution time begins and drivers have the option of taking a pit stop. After the second part, a half time is given. After the third segment, a five lap caution period is there. The $1 million prize is awarded to the winner. In the 2008 tournament, there would be five more laps in every quarter.