NASCAR confirms choose cone rule for Bristol All-Star Race

NASCAR is set to implement a choose cone rule, a widely discussed change in recent weeks, for the upcoming All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The concept of a choose cone, which is used in many short tracks across the United States, has been brought up in the NASCAR world quite frequently in recent years, specifically in recent weeks since the sport returned from the 10-week hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Drivers have discussed their frustrations with playing games on pit road to ensure that they are in an odd or an even position on the restart, since only the race leader chooses his restart lane and everybody else files into place, with odd positions on the inside and even positions on the outside.

The reason for these games is the fact that at some tracks, certain lanes are far more advantageous on restarts. So restarting fourth in the upper lane can end up being better than leading the lower lane, another frustration which has been aired by several competitors.

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Many drivers have called for NASCAR to implement a choose cone rule so that every driver can effectively pick the next spot available in either lane to line up for the restart.

For example, the top five drivers can all choose to start in the outside lane, while the driver in sixth place can take track position and move up to second as the leader of the inside lane, knowing that the gamble may not pay off and he could end up lower than sixth anyway.

Or, he could have a great restart and win the race.

NASCAR is now, in fact, set to implement this rule, but only as a trial. This rule is set to be used in the upcoming All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, July 15.

“There has already been an incredible amount of buzz around this year’s NASCAR All-Star Race with the move to Bristol Motor Speedway,” Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, said in a release. “In addition to the thrilling racing we’re used to seeing at Bristol, the choose rule is going to add another dynamic to the race. Drivers and fans have been asking for this change and I can’t think of a better time to try it than the all-star race.”

NASCAR recently announced that the four-turn, 0.533-mile (0.858-kilometer) high-banked oval in Bristol, Tennessee would host this non-points-paying race instead of Charlotte Motor Speedway, which has hosted it every year going back to 1987 and all but once in the 35-year history of the race. The race winner is still set to win $1 million like usual.

The only track other than the four-turn, 1.5-mile (2.414-kilometer) oval in Concord, North Carolina which has ever hosted this exhibition race is Atlanta Motor Speedway, which did so in the race’s second year back in 1986.

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The All-Star Open, which determines three of the All-Star Race drivers, is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 from Bristol Motor Speedway beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 15, and the All-Star Race is set to follow.

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