This week the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series takes some time off from trying to clinch a spot in The Chase and collecting points to compete in the yearly Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ford has won the event 10 times by eight different drivers. Here’s a closer look.
THE FIRST TIME…Ford won the All-Star Race was in 1986 when Bill Elliott drove his Thunderbird to victory lane, but that race is remembered for another trivial fact as well. That marked the only time the event has been run at a track other than Charlotte Motor Speedway as its sister track, Atlanta Motor Speedway played host. Another tidbit for the race centered around its timing, which happened to be Mother’s Day – a day in which NASCAR traditionally does not race. With only 10 cars making up the field, Elliott darted to the lead from his outside front row starting position and never gave it up as he led all 83 laps en route to a popular victory in front of his hometown fans.
THE LAST TIME…Ford found victory lane in the All-Star Race was in 2011 when Carl Edwards gave Fusion its first win in the non-points event. Edwards took home the $1 million prize for winning the main event, capturing three of the four segments, while Roush Fenway teammate David Ragan won the preliminary Sprint Showdown. The race came down to a mandatory four-tire pit stop to begin the fourth and final 10-lap dash to the checkered flag. The 99 crew got Edwards out first and he was never threatened over the last 15 miles as he beat Kyle Busch to the finish line. It marked the third time in history Ford swept the Showdown and All-Star Race. The other two occasions came in 1996 with Jimmy Spencer (Showdown) and Michael Waltrip (All-Star), and 1998 with Jeremy Mayfield (Showdown) and Mark Martin (All-Star).
IN BETWEEN…The late Davey Allison and Mark Martin are the only Ford drivers to win the All-Star race multiple times. Allison was the first driver to win the event in back-to-back seasons with Jimmie Johnson joining him in that group after winning in 2012 and 2013. Michael Waltrip’s win in 1996 with the Wood Brothers marked his first victory in NASCAR’s top division and was the first in the event for WBR. Team Penske has two All-Star Race wins with the first coming courtesy of Ryan Newman, who drove his Ford Taurus to victory in 2002. Kurt Busch gave the organization its second win in 2010 when they were with Dodge. Car owner Jack Roush has been to victory lane four times in the All-Star Race with three different drivers – Mark Martin (1998 and 2005), Matt Kenseth (2004) and Carl Edwards (2011).
FORD NASCAR SPRINT CUP ALL-STAR RACE WINNERS
1986 – Bill Elliott
1991 – Davey Allison
1992 – Davey Allison
1994 – Geoffrey Bodine
1996 – Michael Waltrip
1998 – Mark Martin
2002 – Ryan Newman
2004 – Matt Kenseth
2005 – Mark Martin
2011 – Carl Edwards
