The Winston

Lore & Background

The first running of the race was held in 1985 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and was run there every year until 2019, except in 1986 when it was run at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Michael Waltrip became the first driver to win the All-Star race after transferring in from a qualifying race in 1996. Until 2001, the rule restricted only champions of the past five All Star Challenge events, but in 2005, the rule became the winners in the past ten years of either the NASCAR Cup Series or the All-Star Race.

For 2015, the full-time drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series or All-Star Race are now exempt, regardless of when they won the race. The All-Star Open (formerly the "Showdown" from 2008 to 2016) was restricted to the top 50 drivers in either the final standings of the previous year or current standings in the current year. From 2000 to 2002, and again starting in 2015, two qualifying races are implemented. In 2004, Nextel added a vote of race spectators, internet users and Sprint cellphone users to add one additional driver not in the field, but in the Showdown, and finishing on the lead lap, to the final starting field.

For 2008, the event's name featured the use of the edition of the race in Roman numerals, with the 2008 race's official name being the "Sprint All-Star Race XXIV". Also, the fan entry driver was changed, with the new formula coming from those attending races up to that point, Sprint retail locations and double votes from Sprint subscribers. In 2014, the Showdown race was moved to the night preceding the All-Star Race. To replace the event, Charlotte Motor Speedway president Marcus Smith announced that qualifying for the All-Star Race will take place shortly before the main event.

In 2020, the race was moved to Bristol Motor Speedway in July, as the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Charlotte from accommodating fans. The venue changed again in 2021 to Texas Motor Speedway, which replaced its spring date with the All-Star Race. In 2023, during NASCAR's 75th anniversary season, the race moved once more to North Wilkesboro Speedway. In 2026, the race was moved to Dover Motor Speedway. The following year, the race was moved back to North Wilkesboro.

Reader's Guide

Format history: One segment (1985–1986): The twelve race winners from the 1984 season participated in the inaugural running at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race was 70 laps with one pit stop required. A $10,000 bonus was paid to the leader of Lap 20. The race moved to Atlanta International Raceway in 1986, with a 200 kilometer format of 83 laps on Mother's Day.

Only winners from the 1985 season were eligible; the highest placed non-winner in final 1985 points, Geoff Bodine, was added for an even 10 cars. A 100-lap consolation race, the Atlanta Invitational, was held the same day. Three segments — 75 laps, 50 laps, 10 green flag laps (1987–1989): The race returned to Charlotte with a 135-lap, three-segment format. The 20-driver field consisted of the past nineteen race winners.

The remaining drivers participated in a 100-lap last-chance race, the Winston Open, with the winner advancing. In 1989, qualifying changed to a three-lap time trial with a quick-pit two-tire pit stop. Two segments — 50 laps, 20 laps (1990–1991): The race was cut to two segments of 50 and 20 laps. A ten-minute break was installed; during the break, a fan vote would determine whether to invert the field for the second segment.

In 1991, automatic berths were given only to race-winning drivers and owners in 1990 and 1991 up until The Winston. The Winston Open was reduced to 50 laps, with the winner advancing. 70 laps — 30 laps, 30 laps, 10 green flag laps (1992–1997): The race moved to Saturday night. The Winston revived the 10-lap shootout, and the Winston Open went to a 30-lap format. Starting in 1992, former NASCAR Champions were automatically invited.

The 1994 race was the only running won by a tire brand (Hoosier) other than Goodyear. In 1997, Jeff Gordon won with the "T-Rex" car; NASCAR banned the car from further competition. After Michael Waltrip's win by being the last car to transfer from the Winston Open, NASCAR changed the procedure by reverting to a format featuring the 1996 and 1997 race winning drivers and owners, and then adding the preceding year's race winning drivers not.