Instead of three knockout rounds of the fastest one-lap speed to set the starting lineup, Friday’s qualifying featured two rounds of a special three-lap segment which included a pit stop with no speed limit on pit road after the second lap.
Kyle Larson had the fastest three-lap time in the second round, earning the pole for Saturday’s race for a $1 million prize. Kyle Busch will join him on the front row as he seeks his first All-Star win.
The four-stage knockout format for the All-Star Race (8 p.m. ET, FS1) will reward winning and incorporates a strategy component. Each team will have one set of softer tires — for better grip and, thus, speed — available to use at its discretion in the 70-lap exhibition race. The one caveat: Teams that choose to use the softer tires to start the final 10-driver, 10-lap stage must start behind those that use regular tires.
The winner of each of the first three stages of the All-Star Race will lock up a spot in the final stage, as long as they remain on the lead lap after the third stage. The cars with the best average finish in the first three stages will make up the remaining spots needed to fill the 10-car final stage.
A total of 20 drivers will be driving in the All-Star race Saturday night. Four drivers qualified for the main event through the Monster Energy Open on Saturday: Stage 1 winner Clint Bowyer; Stage 2 winner Ryan Blaney; Stage 3 winner Daniel Suarez and fan vote winner Chase Elliott.
Here is the current starting lineup for Saturday night’s All-Star Race (70 laps):
Kyle Larson Kyle Busch Kevin Harvick Jimmie Johnson Kurt Busch Dale Earnhardt Jr. Brad Keselowski Matt Kenseth Denny Hamlin Jamie McMurray Chris Buescher Joey Logano Kasey Kahne Martin Truex Jr. Ryan Newman Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Clint Bowyer Ryan Blaney Daniel Suarez Chase Elliott
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