NASCAR All-Star Race – Where Is The Fun?

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race is one of those unique race weekends on the Motorsports calendar. But some of that special flair to the race has disappeared.

Racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May has a special type of feeling with it, especially when you consider the ten days of thunder that come with it. Two consecutive weekends at home for most NASCAR race teams means seeing family, home cooking, and an easy commute to work on the weekends. It also means a special kind of race for a select few teams. But in this day where entertainment both on and off the track is key, the NASCAR All-Star Race has fallen behind.

Just a few years back, there was not a more exciting week or lead-up to a race as there was for the all-star race. Teams, drivers, fans, and those watching at home became very involved for the entire week, from events like the Pit Crew Challenge and Victory Challenge, to lots of live television coverage from Speed Street. Today, however, much of that off-track fun has been subdued.

While Speed Street does remain, it does not carry the same fun and excitement for all NASCAR fans around the country like it used to when the channel of the same name would broadcast live from there. Familiar NASCAR names like Steve Byrnes, Jeff Hammond, and Larry McReynolds would broadcast from the street fair all week long, on the network that has now become FS1.

The Pit Crew Challenge also led up to the Saturday show, where even if for one night only the pit crews took the spotlight. It proved to be a fun and exciting event for fans and teams alike, only to be called off without a corporate sponsor. It’s one of those events that may not draw in millions of fans, but it is one that felt like it would fit in the fabric of NASCAR, honoring those on pit road who often do thankless work.

With only a few iterations, the Pennzoil Victory Challenge gave fans something to watch leading up to the all-star race on Saturday night. The event also provided the opportunity to watch some of the best in stock car racing do their best burnouts and celebrations. It even integrated pop culture, with celebrities serving as judges to decide the winner.

Of course, many NASCAR fans would love to see these events return as a part of the all-star weekend. Even other activities could be welcomed in to a track where Humpy Wheeler helped make the entertainment a part of the big show. Could we see a short track race around the bullring with Xfinity stars in the future? Or maybe we could see a new all-star race for NASCAR’s regional series in conjunction with the main event?

Do you miss some of the old spectacles that came with the Sprint All-Star Race? What ones would you like to see come back, and what new ideas could be added? Send us your thoughts on social media and you may see them in our all-star race coverage.

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