How can a race that doesn’t count toward the championship be so darned exciting? Here comes the 2009 Sprint Cup All-Star Race as fans await in anxious anticipation for the kind of excitement that has made this race a “can’t miss” date on the NASCAR calendar. Consider the most famous figures in NASCAR history since 1985. Almost all of them have a roll in the wild history of this annual event once known as “The Winston.”
Good ol’ DW, Darrell Waltrip, won the first race in 1985. For added excitement, he “blewed up” after zipping through the checkered flag. And how could NASCAR officials conduct a post race inspection when the engine was blown to pieces.
The following year, 1986, the race was held in Atlanta, the only time the event was held elsewhere besides Charlotte, not to disappoint, hometown hero, Bill Elliot cashed the big check. Elliot appeared to be headed to victory the following year, but one of the greatest moments in NASCAR history perpetuated by Dale Earnhardt would deny Awesome Bill from Dawsonville when the Intimidator slipped past Elliot in the grass. Yes, the infamous “Pass in the Grass” became NASCAR folklore in the 1987 race.
Building the reputation that “The Winston” was an affair for champions, 1984 champ, Terry Labonte won his first of two All-Star events, racing for Junior Johnson in his Budweiser Chevrolet in 1988. Labonte would take the #5 Hendricks Box of Corn Flakes to victory in 1999.
As an omen of greater things to come, Rusty Wallace raced his #27 Skoal Pontiac to victory in 1989, the year Rusty would win his lone Winston Cup championship. His fiercest rival, Dale Earnhardt would win the following year, now with his wicked Chevrolet decked out in Black intimidator colors for GM Goodwrench.
1991 would be the last Winston raced in daylight hours. On a damp, cold, and drizzly afternoon, rising star Davey Allison dominated the competition to secure his first of two consecutive wins. In 1992, in the dark of a full moon over Concord, North Carolina, Allison and Kyle Petty would be racing neck and neck pounding fenders approaching the finish line. Just as they finished giving Allison the edge, they wrecked sending Allison and his #28 Havoline Ford crashing into the wall. Neither car nor driver would see victory lane. Allison could only watch highlights from a hospital bed but would be well enough to contend in the Coca Cola 600 the following weekend.
In 1993 mourning the loss of champ, Alan Kulwicki, Dale Earnhardt won his third All-Star event furthering his reputation as a legitimate Prince of Darkness holding the record for three victories. Dale Earnhardt would enter victory lane one last time in 2000, but this time as team owner as his son Dale Earnhardt Junior lit up the night in his #8 Budweiser Chevy making the All-Star crown a two generation affair.
As the heir apparent to so many of Dale Earnhardt’s accomplishments, Jeff Gordon tied Earnhardt’s mark with three trophies with victories in 1995, 1997, and 2001. 2001 was the first All-Star race without Dale Earnhardt as his absence couldn’t have been more conspicuous and heartfelt after his death on the last lap of the Daytona 500 earlier that year.
Other champs include Geoff Bodine in 1994 having purchased the #7 team from the estate of Alan Kulwicki. Michael Waltrip had to race to get in securing victory for the legendary Wood Brothers in 1996. 1998 belonged to Mark Martin racing the #6 Valvoline Roush Ford to top honors. Martin is another two time winner winning in the #6 again in what was supposed to be his retirement year, but who won at Darlington last week? Ryan Newman won for Penske in 1992 in the #12 Ford. The 2003 race would show the stuff of a future three year consecutive champ when Jimmie Johnson raced the #48 Lowes Chevrolet to the checkered flag. On the heels of his 2003 championship, Matt Kenseth won the first event for new sponsor, Nextel. As one of the hottest drivers on the circuit having won the Daytona 500 by a slight edge, Kevin Harvick showed championship material for 2007 honors. Last year’s winner entered the field as the first driver voted into the field to contend. As a thank you to all the pretty girls who love him, Kasey Kahne became the third driver to race Budweiser to the champs crown last year as the Bud beer can was now a Dodge.
Saturday night’s race is positioned to be a mad dash for the cash. Team Stewart-Haas has been surging in recent races, and what drivers could be hotter contenders in such competition. Who would be more anxious to join the list of legends that hot shot, Kyle Busch but his big brother might have something to say about that as the #2’s legend has never found an All-Star trophy? Home cooking and all his buddies in the stands could be the perfect tonic for Dale Earnhardt Junior to right a miserable season. How can anybody not see Mark Martin as a factor in this race?
With the vote-in and race-in choices not withstanding, here’s the lineup of contenders.
#2, Kurt Busch, Miller Lite Dodge, Penske South
#5, Mark Martin, Kellogg’s/Carquest Chevrolet, Hendricks
#9, Kasey Kahne, Budweiser Dodge, Richard Petty Racing
#09, Brad Keselowski, Miccosukee Chevrolet, James Finch
#11, Denny Hamlin, FedEx Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
#14, Tony Stewart, Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
#16, Greg Biffle, 3M Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
#17, Matt Kenseth, Dewalt Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
#18, Kyle Busch, M&M’s Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
#24, Jeff Gordon, Dupont Chevrolet, Hendricks
#29, Kevin Harvick, Penzoil Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
#31, Jeff Burton, Caterpillar Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
#33, Clint Bowyer, BB&T Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
#39, Ryan Newman, US Army Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
#48, Jimmie Johnson, Lowes Chevrolet. Hendricks
#88, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr. Foundation/Amp/National Guard Chevy, Hendricks
#98, Bobby Labonte, Ask.com Ford,, Hall of Fame Racing
#99, Carl Edwards, Aflac Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Is there any driver in that field who couldn’t break lose from the field and claim the All-Star trophy? Three spots remain to be determined: one will be voted in by the fans; the other two will have to race their way in.
The field of contenders anxious to race to get in features competitors hot for victory such as David Reutimann, Martin Truex, Jr., David Ragan, Casey Mears, Robby Gordon, Elliot Sadler, Joey Logano, Juan Montoya, Scott Speed, Michael Waltrip, Reed Sorenson, Sam Hornish, Brian Vickers, Paul Menard and A.J. Allmendinger. Bill Elliot appears as a vote-in choice in the #21 Wood Brothers Ford with each event being a bittersweet reflection on the history both the team and driver once enjoyed in the sport.
While many will bet on their favorite racers, once the green flag drops all bets are off until the checker flag flies and an All-Star racer gets to raise to trophy in triumph joining the fraternity of the last quarter century’s most celebrated drivers.
Good ol’ DW, Darrell Waltrip, won the first race in 1985. For added excitement, he “blewed up” after zipping through the checkered flag. And how could NASCAR officials conduct a post race inspection when the engine was blown to pieces.
The following year, 1986, the race was held in Atlanta, the only time the event was held elsewhere besides Charlotte, not to disappoint, hometown hero, Bill Elliot cashed the big check. Elliot appeared to be headed to victory the following year, but one of the greatest moments in NASCAR history perpetuated by Dale Earnhardt would deny Awesome Bill from Dawsonville when the Intimidator slipped past Elliot in the grass. Yes, the infamous “Pass in the Grass” became NASCAR folklore in the 1987 race.
Building the reputation that “The Winston” was an affair for champions, 1984 champ, Terry Labonte won his first of two All-Star events, racing for Junior Johnson in his Budweiser Chevrolet in 1988. Labonte would take the #5 Hendricks Box of Corn Flakes to victory in 1999.
As an omen of greater things to come, Rusty Wallace raced his #27 Skoal Pontiac to victory in 1989, the year Rusty would win his lone Winston Cup championship. His fiercest rival, Dale Earnhardt would win the following year, now with his wicked Chevrolet decked out in Black intimidator colors for GM Goodwrench.
1991 would be the last Winston raced in daylight hours. On a damp, cold, and drizzly afternoon, rising star Davey Allison dominated the competition to secure his first of two consecutive wins. In 1992, in the dark of a full moon over Concord, North Carolina, Allison and Kyle Petty would be racing neck and neck pounding fenders approaching the finish line. Just as they finished giving Allison the edge, they wrecked sending Allison and his #28 Havoline Ford crashing into the wall. Neither car nor driver would see victory lane. Allison could only watch highlights from a hospital bed but would be well enough to contend in the Coca Cola 600 the following weekend.
In 1993 mourning the loss of champ, Alan Kulwicki, Dale Earnhardt won his third All-Star event furthering his reputation as a legitimate Prince of Darkness holding the record for three victories. Dale Earnhardt would enter victory lane one last time in 2000, but this time as team owner as his son Dale Earnhardt Junior lit up the night in his #8 Budweiser Chevy making the All-Star crown a two generation affair.
As the heir apparent to so many of Dale Earnhardt’s accomplishments, Jeff Gordon tied Earnhardt’s mark with three trophies with victories in 1995, 1997, and 2001. 2001 was the first All-Star race without Dale Earnhardt as his absence couldn’t have been more conspicuous and heartfelt after his death on the last lap of the Daytona 500 earlier that year.
Other champs include Geoff Bodine in 1994 having purchased the #7 team from the estate of Alan Kulwicki. Michael Waltrip had to race to get in securing victory for the legendary Wood Brothers in 1996. 1998 belonged to Mark Martin racing the #6 Valvoline Roush Ford to top honors. Martin is another two time winner winning in the #6 again in what was supposed to be his retirement year, but who won at Darlington last week? Ryan Newman won for Penske in 1992 in the #12 Ford. The 2003 race would show the stuff of a future three year consecutive champ when Jimmie Johnson raced the #48 Lowes Chevrolet to the checkered flag. On the heels of his 2003 championship, Matt Kenseth won the first event for new sponsor, Nextel. As one of the hottest drivers on the circuit having won the Daytona 500 by a slight edge, Kevin Harvick showed championship material for 2007 honors. Last year’s winner entered the field as the first driver voted into the field to contend. As a thank you to all the pretty girls who love him, Kasey Kahne became the third driver to race Budweiser to the champs crown last year as the Bud beer can was now a Dodge.
Saturday night’s race is positioned to be a mad dash for the cash. Team Stewart-Haas has been surging in recent races, and what drivers could be hotter contenders in such competition. Who would be more anxious to join the list of legends that hot shot, Kyle Busch but his big brother might have something to say about that as the #2’s legend has never found an All-Star trophy? Home cooking and all his buddies in the stands could be the perfect tonic for Dale Earnhardt Junior to right a miserable season. How can anybody not see Mark Martin as a factor in this race?
With the vote-in and race-in choices not withstanding, here’s the lineup of contenders.
#2, Kurt Busch, Miller Lite Dodge, Penske South
#5, Mark Martin, Kellogg’s/Carquest Chevrolet, Hendricks
#9, Kasey Kahne, Budweiser Dodge, Richard Petty Racing
#09, Brad Keselowski, Miccosukee Chevrolet, James Finch
#11, Denny Hamlin, FedEx Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
#14, Tony Stewart, Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
#16, Greg Biffle, 3M Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
#17, Matt Kenseth, Dewalt Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
#18, Kyle Busch, M&M’s Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
#24, Jeff Gordon, Dupont Chevrolet, Hendricks
#29, Kevin Harvick, Penzoil Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
#31, Jeff Burton, Caterpillar Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
#33, Clint Bowyer, BB&T Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
#39, Ryan Newman, US Army Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
#48, Jimmie Johnson, Lowes Chevrolet. Hendricks
#88, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr. Foundation/Amp/National Guard Chevy, Hendricks
#98, Bobby Labonte, Ask.com Ford,, Hall of Fame Racing
#99, Carl Edwards, Aflac Ford, Roush-Fenway Racing
Is there any driver in that field who couldn’t break lose from the field and claim the All-Star trophy? Three spots remain to be determined: one will be voted in by the fans; the other two will have to race their way in.
The field of contenders anxious to race to get in features competitors hot for victory such as David Reutimann, Martin Truex, Jr., David Ragan, Casey Mears, Robby Gordon, Elliot Sadler, Joey Logano, Juan Montoya, Scott Speed, Michael Waltrip, Reed Sorenson, Sam Hornish, Brian Vickers, Paul Menard and A.J. Allmendinger. Bill Elliot appears as a vote-in choice in the #21 Wood Brothers Ford with each event being a bittersweet reflection on the history both the team and driver once enjoyed in the sport.
While many will bet on their favorite racers, once the green flag drops all bets are off until the checker flag flies and an All-Star racer gets to raise to trophy in triumph joining the fraternity of the last quarter century’s most celebrated drivers.
Gentlemen, start your engines, and bring it on!!!
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