Mid-May is an exciting time of the year for the NASCAR World. It means it’s time for the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Saturday night’s Monster Energy All-Star Race consists of four stages. The first three stages are 20 laps, while the final stage is 10 laps. Only green flag laps will be counted in the final stage.
The final stage consists of 10 drivers: stage winners on the lead lap at the end of the third stage, and drivers with the best average finish in the first three stages.
Pit road will be open for the final stage. Starting positions for the final stage will be determined by the exit off pit road.
Each team will receive one set of softer tires for use during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star race. Teams that use these tires for the final stages will start behind the teams that use the primary tires.
The All-Star field consists of 2016 and 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship race winners, past all-star winners, past Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champions, the NASCAR fan vote winner and the three stage winners in the Monster Energy Open.
Ten active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won the All-Star Race and taken home the $1 million that comes with the victory.
Leading the pack is Jimmie Johnson, who boasts a record four Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race victories. The other past winners have all won once: Joey Logano (2016), Denny Hamlin (2015), Jamie McMurray (2014), Kurt Busch (2010), Kasey Kahne (2008), Kevin Harvick (2007), Matt Kenseth (2003), Ryan Newman (2002) and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (2000).
Six drivers who have already qualified for the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race will search for their first win in the event: Kyle Busch, Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex, Jr. and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
WDUN will have live MRN Radio coverage of Saturday night's Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race from Charlotte Motor Speedway beginning at 5:30 pm on 102.9 FM and AM 550.
Rhodes Looks For Charlotte Truck Series Rebound
ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes had stout performance in the Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway, leading 25 laps in the race engine issues derailed his chances at victory.
Three laps after a restart on lap 139 of 167, Rhodes won a sustained side-by-side battle against Kyle Busch and pulled ahead. Rhodes stretched the advantage to as much as 1.4 seconds when the engine issues ended his night.
Rhodes was frustrated after the loss, saying “we ran with the best tonight,” a chagrined Rhodes said after the race. “Our Safelite Tundra had speed all night long. We did everything right, but Ben Rhodes has a curse on his back or something, because something always goes wrong.”
Rhodes is 20-years-old and in 31 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, has four top fives, nine top 10s and has led 100 laps.
In one career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Rhodes has a top-20 finish, placing 17th in last year’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race
The Place: Charlotte Motor Speedway
The Date: Saturday, May 20
The Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 6 p.m. ET (Monster Energy Open)
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 105 miles (70 laps); Stage 1 (Ends after 20 Laps), Stage 2 (Ends after 40 Laps), Stage 3 (Ends After 60 Laps), Final Stage (Ends After 70 Laps)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: North Carolina Education Lottery 200
The Place: Charlotte Motor Speedway
The Date: Friday, May 19
The Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 201 miles (134 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 40), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on lap 134)
