The All-Star event kicks off Saturday with a pre-race concert from Country Music Artist Dierks Bentley, presented by Budweiser. Bentley is best known for his song ’Sideways,’ which has been featured as NASCAR’s theme song on FOX. All ticket holders are treated to the pre-race entertainment.
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[/media-credit]A few of the biggest names in NASCAR will display their burnout talents and take center stage in the Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge. Defending champion Joey Logano will be joined by Clint Bowyer, Regan Smith, Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski and the Busch brothers. After the top three contenders have been announced, fans will vote for the winner via text messaging.
Race fans will witness the largest high definition television unveiling when the 200 ft by 80 ft tall screen created by Panasonic lights up on the backstretch. The new addition to Charlotte Motor Speedway is the world’s largest HD-TV. The screen will present fans seated along the front stretch with clear viewing and instant replays. The structure weighs in at 332-and-a half tons and will be illuminated by nine million LED lamps.
Prior to the main event, Country Music Male Vocalist of the Year Brad Paisley will kick off the All-Star Cast of driver introductions and premiere his video ‘Old Alabama,’ which was shot at the Hendrick Motorsports Complex near the Speedway. The video features NASCAR legends Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon and Rick Hendrick as well as the iconic country group Alabama.
And before the green flag falls, race fans will ’Light Up the Night.’ With some help from Charlotte Motor Speedway and Energizer, race fans will shine flashlights simultaneously in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record. Representatives from the prestigious record holding company will be on-hand to confirm the record. This event is a spin-off from Energizers relationship with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates that has lasted 16 years. ’I can’t wait for this ’Light Up the Night’ promotion,” said Juan Pablo Montoya, “I think it is going to be so cool to see 80,000 people all flashing their brights.”
Under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway, men race for bragging rights as a field of past winners and champions battle for a $1,000,000 payday. This year’s event will feature new blood as Trevor Bayne and Regan Smith take the green as first time winners in the Sprint Cup Series. Locked into Saturday night’s main event are past champions and race winners from 2010 and 2011.
The slugfest begins with 28 wheelers vying for two-top finishing positions in the Sprint Showdown. Included in this field is fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr., the Australian Wheeler Marcos Ambrose and the happiest NASCAR driver Joey Logano. Following the checkered flag, the fan vote will be announced. Only those three men will advance to the main event.
The All-Star race features 22 drivers in an all-out dash for the cash. The race is broken down into four-segments. The first 50-lap dash requires a four-tire green flag stop. The second segment is 20 laps, as well as the third. Following the third segment teams must perform a four-tire stop to position themselves for the final 10-laps of no holds barred action.
When the checkered flag falls, the sky will illuminate with a fireworks show. A post race concert will feature Country music star Julie Roberts. She will perform a 30-minute concert debuting her new song ‘NASCAR Party.’ Fans will have the opportunity to step-out onto the front-stretch and join the celebration. “I didn’t think we could pack any more special events for our fans into the schedule on Saturday, but we did with this post-race concert,” said Marcus Smith, President and General Manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway.
