Active former Sprint Cup race winners not eligible (year of last win):

Carl Edwards (2008)
Greg Biffle (2008)
Clint Bowyer (2008)
Jeff Burton (2008)
Martin Truex Jr. (2007)
Juan Pablo Montoya (2007)
Elliott Sadler (2004)
Joe Nemechek (2004)
Bill Elliott (2003, won event in 1986, Champ in 1988) - part time
Michael Waltrip (2003, won event in 1996), part-time
Terry Labonte (2003, won event in 1988, 1999; 1984, 1996 Champ), could be eligible if he has a ride, has not run the race since 2005
Robby Gordon (2003)
John Andretti (1999)
Geoffrey Bodine (1996, won event in 1994)
Derrike Cope (1990) - runs part time in all three series

RETIRED/NOT ACTIVE in Sprint Cup in 2010
Dale Jarrett (last win in 2006, 1999 Champ) - retired
Jeremy Mayfield (2005) - suspended
Johnny Benson (2002) - part time truck series
Ward Burton (2002) - retired
Morgan Shepherd (1993) - runs Nationwide
Rusty Wallace (2004, won event in 1989, 1989 Champ) - retired broadcaster at ESPN
Ricky Craven (2003) - retired, works for ESPN
Ricky Rudd (2002) - retired
Sterling Marlin (2002) - unknown
Steve Park (2001) - runs in Camping World East series
Jerry Nadeau (2000)
Kyle Petty (1995) works for TNT & SPEED
Jimmy Spencer (1994) - retired, SPEED
Ken Schrader (1991) - run ARCA and short tracks
Greg Sacks (1985) - unknown

Eligible drivers for the 2010 Sprint Showdown

Drivers currently eligible for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (as of March 17):
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Jeff Gordon
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
Matt Kenseth
Brad Keselowski
Bobby Labonte
Joey Logano
Mark Martin
Jamie McMurray
Ryan Newman
David Reutimann
Tony Stewart
Brian Vickers

to be fully known after the Dover race on May 16, 2010

NEWS and RUMORS about the All-Star Race

2010 News/Rules

• NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Adds Exciting New Wrinkle: The 26th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will once again feature a 10-lap shootout as its final segment and will add a new wrinkle that should make the competition even more exciting for the fans. The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, set for Saturday, May 22 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (SPEED, 7pm), will consist of four segments, concluding with a 10-lap sprint and a $1 million pay-out to the race winner. There’s an added twist this year before the green flag drops for the final segment: once the field takes a lap behind the pace car, all cars must enter pit road for a four-tire stop. The order in which the cars exit off pit road is how they will line up for the final 10 laps, placing an even greater premium on the efficiency of the pit crews.
  

  The 2010 format is as follows:
  · Segment 1: 50 laps with a mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 25 at which time teams must pit and take on four tires. Following the end of Segment 1, the caution flag will be displayed for an optional pit stop.
  · Segment 2: 20 laps with the caution flag displayed at the end of Segment 2 for an optional pit stop.
  · Segment 3: 20 laps with a 10-minute break at the end of Segment 3. Teams may make normal adjustments to their cars during this break. The finishing order after the third segment determines the field’s lineup for the pace lap prior to the start of the fourth segment.
  · Segment 4: Once the field takes a lap behind the pace car, all cars must enter pit road for a four-tire stop. The order in which the cars exit pit road is how they will line up for the 10-lap shootout with only green-flag laps counting.

  “We saw last year just how competitive this format can be, with Tony Stewart battling Matt Kenseth for the win on the final couple of laps,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “With the addition of the four-tire pit stop, there is going to be even greater competition between the pit crews on who can get their driver serviced and out the quickest. I think the fans are in for quite a show.”
  Mark Martin, a two-time NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winner, is looking forward to competing in his 21st all-star event this year, which is the most of any driver. “I love the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race as much as the fans do,” said Martin.
  The eligibility standards for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race remain the same: race winners from either the 2009 or 2010 season through May 16 or any past champions of the all-star event or NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (over the previous 10 years) are eligible for the race. In addition, the top-two finishers in the Sprint Showdown, a 40-lap preliminary race scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the winner of the Sprint Fan Vote, all advance into the all-star race lineup. Joey Logano won the Sprint Fan Vote last year.
  Individual tickets for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and CREED pre-race concert start at just $39, and four-pack prices with four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks start at just $35 per person. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office at (800) 455-FANS or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com
  

  The sixth annual NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman returns to kick off the all-star week’s competition, Wednesday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Time Warner Cable Arena. The event’s finishing order determines pit selection for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet team is the defending Pit Crew Challenge champion. Tickets for the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge presented by Craftsman start at $15 and can be purchased online at www.pitcrewchallenge.com or by calling the Charlotte Bobcats ticket office at (800) 495-2295.

  Drivers currently eligible for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race (as of March 17): Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, David Reutimann, Tony Stewart, and Brian Vickers.

• The 2010 format is as follows:

  · Segment 1: 50 laps with a mandatory green-flag pit stop on Lap 25 at which time teams must pit and take on four tires. Following the end of Segment 1, the caution flag will be displayed for an optional pit stop.

  · Segment 2: 20 laps with the caution flag displayed at the end of Segment 2 for an optional pit stop.

  · Segment 3: 20 laps with a 10-minute break at the end of Segment 3. Teams may make normal adjustments to their cars during this break. The finishing order after the third segment determines the field’s lineup for the pace lap prior to the start of the fourth segment.

  · Segment 4: Once the field takes a lap behind the pace car, all cars must enter pit road for a four-tire stop. The order in which the cars exit pit road is how they will line up for the 10-lap shootout with only green-flag laps counting.(3-17-2010)