NASCAR All-Star Race to be run at Bristol
It’s official: The July 15 NASCAR All-Star Race will be moving from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Bristol Motor Speedway.
SMI President Marcus Smith made the announcement Monday night on NASCAR Race Hub that Bristol will be home to the All-Star Race for the first time, becoming only the third venue to host the race in its 35-year history.
“The NASCAR All-Star Race is an event known for making history, and we will enhance that legacy by hosting the event at Bristol Motor Speedway,” Smith said.
Bristol hosting the 2020 All-Star Race marks the first time since the 1986 All-Star Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway that Charlotte will not be hosting the event, ending a streak of 33 consecutive All-Star Races being run at Charlotte.
The 2020 All-Star Race will also be notable for Bristol’s capability of having up to 30,000 people in attendance.
“While Charlotte will always be recognized as the birthplace and traditional home for the All-Star Race,” Smith said, “the current data surrounding the pandemic in North Carolina makes Bristol a better option for fan access this summer.”
No word has been announced on if the change is permanent but it appears that having fans at the track safely in the midst of the pandemic has driven this change to happen.
The $1 million prize for the All-Star Race remains for 2020. Winners in 2019 and 2020, past Cup champions and past All-Star Race winners will be eligible for the race, along with the three All-Star Open stage winners and the fan vote winner.
This means that the following drivers are eligible for the race:
Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Erik Jones, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex Jr., and 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 winner Justin Haley.
The All-Star Race format is yet TBA, as well as the lap count for the All-Star Open. The NASCAR All-Star Open and Race will be broadcast on FS1 at 7 p.m. EST, with MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio doing the radio broadcasting.
SOURCES:
NASCAR
Racing-Reference.Info
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com