{"id":4478,"date":"2018-05-18T20:16:00","date_gmt":"2018-05-19T00:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=4478"},"modified":"2018-05-18T20:16:00","modified_gmt":"2018-05-19T00:16:00","slug":"nascar-chevys-all-star-race-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2018\/05\/18\/nascar-chevys-all-star-race-field\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR – Chevy’s try to earn their way into Stacked All-Star Race Field"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Saturday, one of the most anticipated events of the NASCAR<\/strong> season will take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway<\/strong>. The Monster Energy Cup Series comes into town as some of the best drivers in the series will compete for $1,000,000, and we have everything someone might need to know about Saturday\u2019s races.<\/p>\n

Chevy’s try to race into Stacked All-Star Race Field<\/h1>\n

Qualifying<\/h2>\n

Qualifying this year will be a combined effort from both open and all-star race drivers. It can be seen Friday afternoon at 6:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.<\/p>\n

UPDATE:<\/strong> Open Qualifying has been cancelled due to rain, All-Star Race Qualifying is scheduled to start at 6:45 p.m. ET still.\u00a0As of May 18, 2018 @ 2:35 p.m. ET.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Open<\/h2>\n

TV Information<\/strong>
\nDate:<\/strong> Saturday, May 19
\nTime:<\/strong> 6:00 p.m. ET
\nTV:<\/strong> Fox Sports 1
\nFormat:<\/strong> Three segments (20 laps | 20 laps | 10 laps)
\nThe Winner of each segment will advance to the All-Star Race.<\/p>\n

All-Star Open Starting Lineup
\n<\/strong>1. Aric Almirola
\n2. Erik Jones
\n3. Alex Bowman
\n4. Chase Elliott
\n5. Paul Menard
\n6. William Byron
\n7. Daniel Suarez
\n8. Darrell Wallace Jr.
\n9.\u00a0A.J. Allmendinger
\n10. David Ragan
\n11.\u00a0Chris Buescher
\n12. Michael McDowell
\n13. Matt Dibenedetto
\n14. Ty Dillon
\n15.\u00a0Corey LaJoie
\n16. Ross Chastain
\n17. Landon Cassill
\n18. Gray Gaulding
\n19.\u00a0B.J. McLeod
\n20. Reed Sorenson
\n21. Timmy Hill<\/p>\n

The All-Star Open format hasn\u2019t changed for this season. Like last year, the three winners of the three Open segments will race their way into the show. The question is just, which young gun will break out of their shell and race into it?<\/p>\n

The Open is stacked with a variety of young, unproven cup drivers that will be able to showcase themselves without the big talent on the track.<\/p>\n

Aric Almirola<\/h3>\n

Almirola is the perfect example of this. Stewart-Haas Racing has been the most dominant team in the series this season. With the big dogs already qualified, look for Almirola to punch his ticket early.<\/p>\n

Chase Elliott\u2019s Past Great Runs<\/h3>\n

Much like the theory about Almirola, Chase Elliott has thrived in the Open in the past, he just doesn\u2019t yet have a segment win. For the past two season\u2019s, Elliott has been voted into the All-Star Race, but this year, I predict that the youngster will race his way in.<\/p>\n

The Chevrolets won\u2019t be outnumbered<\/h3>\n

Over half the field, 12 of 21 cars to be exact, of the Open is made up of Chevrolets. If that\u2019s alarming, it should be. Chevy\u2019s performance this season has been down all over the place. Since the manufacturer has so many cars with a lot of talent in the Open, look for them to dominate. If they can\u2019t, then Chevy will absolutely need to change their methods.<\/p>\n

The Fan vote<\/h2>\n

This year\u2019s Monster Energy Fan Vote is one of the most wide-open votes that the series has seen over the years. If Chase Elliott races his way in, there are a variety of drivers who could be picked.<\/p>\n

Past Fan Vote Winners
\n2017:<\/strong>Chase Elliott
\n2016: <\/strong>Chase Elliott
\n2015: <\/strong>Danica Patrick
\n2014: <\/strong>Josh Wise
\n2008: <\/strong>Kasey Kahne (Winner)<\/p>\n

Obviously, Chase Elliott would be the favorite to win the vote if he didn\u2019t race his way in, but below we break down the potential winners for this season.<\/p>\n

Alex Bowman or William Byron<\/h3>\n

The two Hendrick Drivers bring a pair of the most and newest iconic car numbers that NASCAR has to offer. With Byron driving Jeff Gordon\u2019s No. 24 and Bowman wheeling the No. 88 of Dale Earnhardt Jr., keep an eye on these two to get voted in.<\/p>\n

Darrell Wallace Jr.<\/h3>\n

Darrell Wallace Jr. is under the same canopy of driving a car with an iconic number. However, I didn\u2019t include him with the Hendrick camp because I think he is gathering his own group of fans. After his runner-up finish in the Daytona 500<\/strong>, he has been followed very closely by media members and fans. I think he is definitely up there on the fan-vote list.<\/p>\n

Matt Dibenedetto<\/h3>\n

Remember four years ago when the NASCAR on Reddit community voted Josh Wise and DogeCoin into the All-Star Race? Well, the popular message board site could be back again. They are back again to vote for Matt Dibenedetto and with the growing size of the community, he could very well find himself in the big show.<\/p>\n

2018 All-Star Race<\/h2>\n

TV Information
\nDate:<\/strong> Saturday, May 19
\nTime:<\/strong> 8:00 p.m. ET
\nTV:<\/strong> Fox Sports 1
\nFormat:<\/strong> Four segments (30 laps | 20 laps | 20 laps | 10 laps)<\/p>\n

All-Star Race Starting Lineup
\n<\/strong>1. Matt Kenseth
\n2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
\n3. Clint Bowyer
\n4. Kevin Harvick
\n5. Martin Truex Jr.
\n6. Ryan Blaney
\n7.\u00a0Kyle Busch
\n8. Brad Keselowski
\n9.\u00a0Austin Dillon
\n10.\u00a0Joey Logano
\n11.\u00a0Denny Hamlin
\n12.\u00a0Jimmie Johnson
\n13.\u00a0Jamie McMurray
\n14. Ryan Newman
\n15.\u00a0Kasey Kahne
\n16.\u00a0Kurt Busch
\n17.\u00a0Kyle Larson
\n18. All-Star Open Segment 1 winner
\n19. All-Star Open Segment 2 winner
\n20. All-Star Open Segment 3 winner
\n21. Monster Energy Fan Vote winner<\/p>\n

The New Aero Package<\/h2>\n

NASCAR is experimenting with a new Aero package for the Cup series cars this weekend, that is actually quite familiar for fans. The package includes a new, six-inch spoiler with eight-inch ears, similar to the ones that sit on NASCAR Xfinity Series cars each week. It also includes the 2014 splitter design, a restrictor plate, and more.<\/p>\n

Although, the series cannot implement the new aero package before the start of the 2019 season, there has been a lot of push behind possibly seeing this as the new norm for the cup cars.<\/p>\n

Another first time winner?<\/h2>\n

2014:<\/strong> Jamie McMurray
\n2015:<\/strong> Denny Hamlin
\n2016:<\/strong> Joey Logano
\n2017:<\/strong> Kyle Busch<\/p>\n

For four years in a row, the All-Star Race has seen someone new in victory lane. Whether it be the heavy powers of Kyle Busch or the upset of Jamie McMurray, anything can happen at Charlotte. This year’s potential first time winners who are qualified for the All-Star Race already include Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Clint Bowyer, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Larson, and Martin Truex Jr.<\/p>\n

Matt Kenseth<\/h3>\n

Matt Kenseth returns to the All-Star Race for the 18th consecutive season, which is a record for the most starts in the event. Kevin Harvick also holds the record as he makes his 18th start on Saturday. Although, Kenseth didn’t officially have plans to race in it, Roush is making the most of the opportunity. Kenseth’s car will feature a throwback to Mark Martin’s first All-Star Race, as Roush sponsors the car.<\/p>\n

\n

Super excited to see this \u201898 Retro All-Star Win \ud83c\udfc1 scheme on @mattkenseth<\/a> \u2018s car this weekend for the #AllStarRace<\/a>. Can\u2019t believe it\u2019s been 20 years Jack! #DoYouKnowJack<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vK4JgWZ2D3<\/a><\/p>\n

— Mark Martin (@markmartin) May 16, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n