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Fan's Eye View ~ All-Star Memories05/15/2015 |
As the Sprint All-Star Race weekend approaches, I’m forced to
reflect on what it is versus what it once was, and what it could be. When I first became a fan, way back in 1990
when I was a young pup, I didn’t even know of fathom how there was or could be
an All-Star race, but maybe that’s because it wasn’t called an All-Star race
back then. It was simply called… The
Winston. Named for the Series’ title
sponsor, Winston, The Winston was a strange little anomaly to me.
First of all, where were the rest of the cars? There were only 20 on my little TV screen—oh wait…I didn’t have Cable back then….that’s right…like the song says, I watched it all on my radio. (Sounds like a good “closout” song.) Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, it was on in the afternoon back then, started about one o’clock or so, if I remember correctly. Back in 1990, it was 70 laps…a 50 lap segment followed by a 20 lap shootout. I think they could have had one or 70 segments, because one guy in one car led them all that day in May…Dale something or other….
First of all, where were the rest of the cars? There were only 20 on my little TV screen—oh wait…I didn’t have Cable back then….that’s right…like the song says, I watched it all on my radio. (Sounds like a good “closout” song.) Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, it was on in the afternoon back then, started about one o’clock or so, if I remember correctly. Back in 1990, it was 70 laps…a 50 lap segment followed by a 20 lap shootout. I think they could have had one or 70 segments, because one guy in one car led them all that day in May…Dale something or other….
In 1991, the story wasn’t that much different. Black car, smooth yet aggressive driver, and
he led all 70 laps too. This time is was
some young gun named Davey. I heard his
father could wheel a car, too…
The 1992 version brought about a change that would never let go, even to this day. They decided to run the race on Saturday night for the first time and call it “The Winston: One Hot Night.” The buildup did NOT let down. Davey Allison continued his Winston dominance and led the entire first 30 lap segment. So, if you think about going back to the 1991 version, Allison led 100 continuous laps in the All Star Race. Kyle Petty won the second 30 lap segment in fairly dominating fashion as well, because once he got to the front, no one could touch him. The race in 1992 also featured a ten lap shootout to determine the winner. The lead was exchanged a few times and it looked like Dale Earnhardt might run away with it. However, with seven laps to go, Darrell Waltrip spun and brought out the caution. I have a much more detailed version of this night, which you can read in its entirety HERE, but here is a glimpse of how I saw the last few laps of that race on that Hot Night.
On the third lap of the segment, Darrell Waltrip was sent spinning, which brought out the caution and would close up the field once again. Allison had picked up another three spots, so he was now in third place, just behind Petty and Earnhardt. The stage was set for what would become one of the most memorable All-Star Races in the history of the event.
When the green flag flew, Petty continued to lead, but Earnhardt would take it away from him just one lap later. Petty continued to dog the eventual seven-time series Champion, but Earnhardt kept him distant.
As the cars began the white flag lap, it was Earnhardt, Petty and then Allison a few car lengths back. Earnhardt would drive with one eye ahead, one eye out of the side window, and one eye in the rearview mirror to keep Petty behind. As they came out of turn two and headed down the backstretch on the final lap, Petty made a move to the inside of Earnhardt. Earnhardt moved his car down in an attempt to block, and forced Petty onto the apron. As the dust scattered from under Petty’s tires, the cars moved back up into the racing surface, but at an odd entry angle for the turn. Petty’s front bumper was all but kissing the rear bumper of Earnhardt, and Earnhardt, less than one mile from the finish, got loose! The car turned and did a slow spin up toward the turn three wall, and Petty scooted by on the low side to take the lead! All of this side by side racing, however, allowed Allison to keep his momentum while the others had slowed. Coming out of turn four it was Petty with the lead and Allison charging hard! It was Petty on the outside! Allison moving on the inside! Allison pulled alongside Petty and as they entered the quad oval, the two cars touched, ever so slightly, and coming to the stripe it was Allison for the win! As Allison crossed the finish line, he and Petty made contact again and Allison went spinning down the front stretch and hard into the outside wall in a shower of sparks, eventually coming to rest near the exit of the pit lane.
So, while Allison took the win wide awake, he was unconscious as he was cut out of the car. He awoke during the ride in the ambulance and asked Larry McReynolds if they won. Larry confirmed, and Davey joked that it was a shame that all of the purse money would be going to hospital bills.
The 1992 version brought about a change that would never let go, even to this day. They decided to run the race on Saturday night for the first time and call it “The Winston: One Hot Night.” The buildup did NOT let down. Davey Allison continued his Winston dominance and led the entire first 30 lap segment. So, if you think about going back to the 1991 version, Allison led 100 continuous laps in the All Star Race. Kyle Petty won the second 30 lap segment in fairly dominating fashion as well, because once he got to the front, no one could touch him. The race in 1992 also featured a ten lap shootout to determine the winner. The lead was exchanged a few times and it looked like Dale Earnhardt might run away with it. However, with seven laps to go, Darrell Waltrip spun and brought out the caution. I have a much more detailed version of this night, which you can read in its entirety HERE, but here is a glimpse of how I saw the last few laps of that race on that Hot Night.
On the third lap of the segment, Darrell Waltrip was sent spinning, which brought out the caution and would close up the field once again. Allison had picked up another three spots, so he was now in third place, just behind Petty and Earnhardt. The stage was set for what would become one of the most memorable All-Star Races in the history of the event.
When the green flag flew, Petty continued to lead, but Earnhardt would take it away from him just one lap later. Petty continued to dog the eventual seven-time series Champion, but Earnhardt kept him distant.
As the cars began the white flag lap, it was Earnhardt, Petty and then Allison a few car lengths back. Earnhardt would drive with one eye ahead, one eye out of the side window, and one eye in the rearview mirror to keep Petty behind. As they came out of turn two and headed down the backstretch on the final lap, Petty made a move to the inside of Earnhardt. Earnhardt moved his car down in an attempt to block, and forced Petty onto the apron. As the dust scattered from under Petty’s tires, the cars moved back up into the racing surface, but at an odd entry angle for the turn. Petty’s front bumper was all but kissing the rear bumper of Earnhardt, and Earnhardt, less than one mile from the finish, got loose! The car turned and did a slow spin up toward the turn three wall, and Petty scooted by on the low side to take the lead! All of this side by side racing, however, allowed Allison to keep his momentum while the others had slowed. Coming out of turn four it was Petty with the lead and Allison charging hard! It was Petty on the outside! Allison moving on the inside! Allison pulled alongside Petty and as they entered the quad oval, the two cars touched, ever so slightly, and coming to the stripe it was Allison for the win! As Allison crossed the finish line, he and Petty made contact again and Allison went spinning down the front stretch and hard into the outside wall in a shower of sparks, eventually coming to rest near the exit of the pit lane.
So, while Allison took the win wide awake, he was unconscious as he was cut out of the car. He awoke during the ride in the ambulance and asked Larry McReynolds if they won. Larry confirmed, and Davey joked that it was a shame that all of the purse money would be going to hospital bills.
There have been some record setting and breaking moments in
the All-Star race throughout its history.
In 1996, Michael Waltrip won the preliminary race to transfer into the Winston,
and then led the last nine laps to sweep the evening. Waltrip was the first and remains the only
driver to win the All-Star race after having to race his way in through the
preliminary event, which this year, will be held on Friday night, instead of
just ahead of the main race.
Jeff Gordon won the 1995 version. In 1997, his Ray Evernham led crew brought a
car called “T-REX” to the track, names as such because it was promoting another
installment of the “Jurassic Park” film series…or maybe it was because that bad
boy had some teeth. Gordon led only nine
laps, but they were the last nine, giving Gordon his second All-Star win. After inspections and running over the car with
a fine toothed comb, NASCAR confiscated the car. They said while they could find nothing
illegal about it, they could not exactly call it legal, and the team was strongly
urged not to bring a car like that to the track again. The rule book got a little fatter after that
race.
In 2001, just as the green flag fell, rain began to fall
with it. Cars began to spin as they
entered the first turn and the caution came out before one lap was
completed. Among those caught up in the
wrecks were 1996 winner Michael Waltrip and two-time winner Jeff Gordon, whose
No. 24 car was completely trashed.
NASCAR determined that since this was an exhibition race and a
non-points event that the teams could bring out their backup cars. That is precisely what Jeff Gordon and his
team did. They brought out the backup
car and led the final nine laps of the race, and Gordon became a three time
winner of the All-Star Race. Who
finished last that day? None other than
2001 Rookie Of The Year and 2014 Sprint Cup Series Champion, Kevin Harvick.
In 2002, NASCAR experimented with an elimination style race. At the end of various segments, if a driver wasn’t high enough in the standings, his car was parked. After 40 laps, crashed has claimed four, but the field needed to be narrowed to 20 cars, so Mike Wallace, Steve Park and Ward Burton all found themselves without a chair when the music stopped. After 30 more laps, the field was whittled down to ten. Tony Stewart was in the lead as the final 20 lap segment began. He was passed by his future team mate Ryan Newman within a few laps. Newman held the lead but as the race came to a close he found himself dogged by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. In a race which invites controversy and laying the bumper to someone for a win, Junior let his driving to the talking and instead of wrecking to win, tried to pass Newman cleanly. He was unable to get it done, however, and Newman took the win.
For a long time, Charlotte Motor Speedway has been Jimmie Johnson’s playground. He proved that with a record setting performance in the 2013 All-Star Race. Johnson was coming off of a win the previous year in the late May spectacle, and whipped the field to become only the second driver (Davey Allison) to win back to back All-Star races. That was only half of it, though. That would be Johnson’s 4th win in the event, making him the driver to win the most All Star races, breaking a tie of three wins with team mate Jeff Gordon and legend Dale Earnhardt, Sr.
It seems as if NASCAR changes the rules for this race more often than they change their underwear. This year is no different. There are still five segments, but the first four have each been extended by five laps, followed by the ten lap shootout, for a total of 110 laps. Does the All-Star Race this season hold some magical memorable finish, as some of those listed above, or even the famed “Pass In The Grass” (which wasn’t really a pass to begin with), or will it be one of the more forgettable?
One way to find out…watch the race on Saturday night and make your own conclusion…
In 2002, NASCAR experimented with an elimination style race. At the end of various segments, if a driver wasn’t high enough in the standings, his car was parked. After 40 laps, crashed has claimed four, but the field needed to be narrowed to 20 cars, so Mike Wallace, Steve Park and Ward Burton all found themselves without a chair when the music stopped. After 30 more laps, the field was whittled down to ten. Tony Stewart was in the lead as the final 20 lap segment began. He was passed by his future team mate Ryan Newman within a few laps. Newman held the lead but as the race came to a close he found himself dogged by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. In a race which invites controversy and laying the bumper to someone for a win, Junior let his driving to the talking and instead of wrecking to win, tried to pass Newman cleanly. He was unable to get it done, however, and Newman took the win.
For a long time, Charlotte Motor Speedway has been Jimmie Johnson’s playground. He proved that with a record setting performance in the 2013 All-Star Race. Johnson was coming off of a win the previous year in the late May spectacle, and whipped the field to become only the second driver (Davey Allison) to win back to back All-Star races. That was only half of it, though. That would be Johnson’s 4th win in the event, making him the driver to win the most All Star races, breaking a tie of three wins with team mate Jeff Gordon and legend Dale Earnhardt, Sr.
It seems as if NASCAR changes the rules for this race more often than they change their underwear. This year is no different. There are still five segments, but the first four have each been extended by five laps, followed by the ten lap shootout, for a total of 110 laps. Does the All-Star Race this season hold some magical memorable finish, as some of those listed above, or even the famed “Pass In The Grass” (which wasn’t really a pass to begin with), or will it be one of the more forgettable?
One way to find out…watch the race on Saturday night and make your own conclusion…
Until next time, my friends...
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