With the NASCAR All-Star Race this week, Kevin Harvick is saying that he needs to see the occasion scrapped from the schedule. The All-Star Race started as The Winston, in 1985. An exhibition race at Charlotte Motor Speedway for a coveted $200,000 prize.
In 2003, NASCAR raised the prize cash all the best way to $1,000,000. It has not been modified since, however the race itself has modified fairly a bit.
Charlotte Motor Speedway now not hosts the occasion. It has been moved to the revived North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Kevin Harvick doesn’t suppose the race is a necessity anymore. “I say we nix the All-Star Race,” Harvick defined on his “Completely satisfied Hour” podcast.
The NASCAR Cup Sequence champion continued. For him, it’d be higher to vary issues up with the All-Star Race and the Conflict.
“I simply suppose that with all the trouble and issues that go into it,” Harvick defined. “We will’t discover a format that everyone likes; I believe we should always honor our guys. I believe we have now to determine make the Conflict be the Conflict and the All-Star Race and make all of it work collectively. I believe that North Wilkesboro deserves to be a factors race.”
A factors race at North Wilkesboro? The Truck Sequence has completed that the final two seasons and can once more this week. So, why not the Cup Sequence someday? Why not a Cup/Xfinity/Truck tripleheader?
“I believe it might be a improbable factors occasion, 400 laps, all of the automobiles on the race monitor, full weekend,” Harvick mentioned. “I don’t suppose North Wilkesboro ought to go anyplace, however I simply suppose the All-Star Race has run its course, personally.”
So, is Kevin Harvick proper? Do we have to see the All-Star Race depart the game all collectively?
Kevin Harvick is partially proper in regards to the All-Star Race
From 1985 to 2003, the NASCAR All-Star Race went from $200,000 to $1,000,000 for the general winner. That was an 18-year interval. It has now been 22 years, and there was no plans to increase the purse cash, which is what the race is all about.
Within the yr 2025, $1,000,000, particularly in skilled sports activities, doesn’t seem to be an enormous prize. We now have seen NASCAR do every part from altering the position of the numbers on automobiles to neon underglow lights on automobiles to shifting the venue and even altering the qualifying process for the race in such a manner that it wants its personal infographics. No change in prize cash.
To not pocket watch, however NASCAR has gotten low cost. It’s the story of the game the final 5 to 6 years. There isn’t a excuse that the prize cash hasn’t gone up. Frankly, it’s one other signal of stubbornness from the France household with reference to investing within the sport.
Kevin Harvick is true, partially. Issues have to vary within the All-Star Race. It doesn’t must be thrown away, although. No want so as to add all of those guidelines and processes, and a promoter’s warning(!!!), although. It doesn’t assist that instantly after the $1,000,000 race at Wilkesboro, the Cup Sequence goes to enter a $1,000,000 in-season event. So, is it actually that distinctive in what it gives?
Right here is my plan to save lots of the All-Star Race: Host it at Rockingham Speedway. Truck and Xfinity factors races, perhaps even an ARCA race sandwiched between. $2,500,000 on the road, winner-take-all. No gimmicks, straight up qualifying and right into a 200 to 250-mile race. That may pull in eyeballs and lift the bar.
