NASCAR has unveiled the format for this year's All-Star Race, which takes place at Dover Motor Speedway on May 17 and features major changes.
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Chief among them is the removal of the All-Star Open. This race previously featured drivers without a guaranteed spot in the All-Star Race through a points win, a past All-Star Race win, or a championship. It would send two drivers to the main event. A third would join through the fan vote.
This is no longer the case. Now, every driver in the Cup Series field will start the main event. They will compete in two, 75-lap segments that open the event. The final, 200-lap segment will only feature 26 drivers going for the $1 million prize.
NASCAR has announced the new format for the All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway. pic.twitter.com/CnvjfWwZuT
— John Newby (@JohnNewby_) February 25, 2026
How will NASCAR determine which drivers compete in the final segment? The first group will be those who have a past All-Star Race win, a Cup Series championship, or a points win in either 2025 or 2026. They must be full-time drivers.
The current lineup of drivers with guaranteed spots includes William Byron, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, Josh Berry, Austin Dillon, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Shane Van Gisbergen, Bubba Wallace, and Kyle Busch.
The first two segments in the race will take the field to 25 drivers. The combined finishes from these two segments will determine which drivers advance. The 26th and final spot will go to the winner of the All-Star Race Fan Vote.
Other All-Star Race notes
- The Pit Crew Challenge will return as part of qualifying. Drivers will take the green flag, complete one full lap, and then return to their stall for a four-tire stop. They will then exit pit road and race to the checkered flag. The team with the fastest total time will win the pole for the All-Star Race.
- NASCAR will invert part of the field after the first 75-lap segment of the main event. The top 26 drivers from the first segment will invert their positions for the start of the second segment. The rest of the field will line up based on their finishing order.
- All laps will count during the main event, unlike the Clash where cautions did not count against the lap total. The final segment of the race will feature a competition caution. The current approximate time will be Lap 225 of 350.
