NASCAR All-Star Race: Exciting New Format Details

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports today announced details for the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race, set for Sunday, May 17, marking the first time the annual event will be held at Dover Motor Speedway. Known as “The Monster Mile,” the one-mile concrete oval will provide a dramatic new backdrop for the sport’s premier non-points event. For the first time in the 42-year history of the race, the battle for a $1 million prize will take place in the Northeast, bringing the live experience to a new region of race fans.

This season’s revamped format features a three-segment, 350-lap event that places every driver on track to start the race while rewarding race winners, past champions and performance across the first two segments. There will be no All-Star Open, creating a streamlined, high-intensity showcase of NASCAR’s top competitors.

Returning elements include driver eligibility requirements, the NASCAR All-Star Fan Vote, and the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge.

NASCAR, Dover Motor Speedway Announce Revamped 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race Format

Qualifying & Pit Crew Challenge

This format will once again pair traditional qualifying with electrifying pit stops on Saturday, May 16. Drivers take the green flag, run one full lap at speed, and on the second lap proceed to one of two NASCAR-designated pit stalls for a four-tire stop (no fuel). When the pit stop is complete, the cars will exit pit road and race back to the checkered flag. Qualifying time will be the total elapsed time from green flag to checkered flag, with the fastest team earning the pole position for the race.

The pit crew with the fastest stop during the All-Star qualifying attempt (no penalties) is the winner of the Pit Crew Challenge. Timing lines are established one box behind and one box ahead of the NASCAR-designated pit stop boxes. Pit Crew Challenge results will determine pit selection order.

All-Star Race Format

The full field will compete in Segment 1 and Segment 2 for 75 laps each, followed by the final 200-lap segment of the NASCAR All-Star race featuring 26 drivers.

Qualifying on Saturday sets the lineup for Segment 1. Segment 2 will feature the top 26 finishers inverted at the start, while the remainder of the field will line up based on their Segment 1 finishing positions.
All laps will count in all three segments, with standard NASCAR race procedures in effect. During the final segment, a competition break will take place at or around Lap 225.

Drivers eligible for the final segment include those who have won a points event in either 2025 or 2026, former NASCAR All-Star Race winners who compete full-time, and former NASCAR Cup Series champions who compete full-time. The remaining positions will be filled based on combined results from Segment 1 and Segment 2 until the field reaches 25 drivers. The 26th and final position will be awarded to the NASCAR All-Star Fan Vote winner.

Drivers already locked in the All-Star Race include: 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 NASCAR All-Star Race will air live on FS1, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, with coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 17.

In addition to all the NASCAR Cup Series activities, fans can enjoy an All-Star weekend with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series ECOSAVE 200 race on Friday, May 15, and the BETRIVERS 200 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race on Saturday, May 16. The tripleheader NASCAR event weekend will also feature one the sport’s most interactive, family friendly Fan Zones, the expansive Miles Beach presented by Visit Delaware. Miles Beach will include live sea lion, shark and stingray displays, 600 tons of sand, a lighthouse and a boardwalk.

NASCAR All-Star Race weekend ticket packages are available and can be obtained along with camping and parking at DoverMotorSpeedway.com.

For the latest updates, schedules and news regarding the NASCAR All-Star weekend and Dover Motor Speedway, fans are encouraged to visit DoverMotorSpeedway.com and follow Dover Motor Speedway on social media channels.