KANSAS CITY, Mo. – When NASCAR Cup Series drivers roll into Dover Motor Speedway in May, they’ll face a new format for the 2026 All-Star Race.
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The event is set for Sunday, May 17, and will be the first time the annual race will be held at “The Monster Mile.” The one-mile concrete oval will provide a new, exciting stage for the sport’s top non-points event. For the first time in the 42-year history of the race, the battle for a $1 million prize will happen in the Northeast in front of a new region of race fans.
The new format features a three-segment, 350-lap event that has every driver on the track to start the race while rewarding race winners, past champions and performance during the first two segments.
There is no more All-Star Open, which will lead to a streamlined, dramatic showcase of NASCAR’s top drivers.
Returning elements for the race include driver eligibility requirements, the NASCAR All-Star Fan Vote, and the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge.
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The new format has the full field compete in the first two segments of 75 laps each, followed by the final 200-lap segment featuring 26 drivers.
Qualifying on Saturday, May 16, sets the field for Segment 1. Segment 2 will feature the top 26 finishers inverted at the start, while the remainder of the field will line up based on their Segment 1 finishing position.
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All laps will count in all three segments, with standard NASCAR race procedures in effect. During the final segment, there will be a competition break at or around lap 225.
Drivers eligible for the final segment include those who have won a points race in either 2025 or 2026, former All-Star Race winners who compete full-time, and former NASCAR Cup Series Champions who compete full-time. The remaining positions will be filled based on results from Segment 1 and Segment 2 until the field reaches 25 drivers. The 26th and final position will be decided by the All-Star Fan Vote.
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Drivers already locked in the All-Star Race include William Byron, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, Josh Berry, Austin Dillon, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Shane Van Gisbergen, Bubba Wallace and Kyle Busch.
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