The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star Race was the 27th running of NASCAR's special non-points race involving winners of the 2010 and 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races through the 2011 FedEx 400 as well as Sprint All-Star Race 2001–2010 winners, when the event was known as "The Winston" and the "Nextel All-Star Challenge", and past Sprint Cup champions from the decade covering 2001 to 2010, including the "Winston Cup" (2001–2003) and "Nextel Cup" (2004–2007) eras. The event was run at the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Charlotte, North Carolina suburb of Concord on May 21, 2011. Speed provided television coverage in the United States while MRN (over-the-air/terrestrial) and Sirius XM Radio (satellite) had radio rights.
20-438: The format of the race was similar to the 2010 event, broken down as follows: The qualifying session for eligible drivers consisted of three laps instead of the standard two, including a pit stop after either of the first two laps, slowing to the speed limit of 45 mph entering pit road, but going full throttle as they exit. The following drivers qualified for the race in these categories: The following five drivers fit into
40-639: A driver chosen by a fan poll were promoted to the main event: Only winning drivers, not teams, are eligible to race in the All-Star Race; previously a team could qualify for the race even if the driver who won a race for the team was no longer employed by them. * - Trevor Bayne was scheduled to run in the All Star Race, but the Wood Brothers team withdrew him due to him still recovering from an illness. * - Jimmie Johnson, who usually runs
60-506: A pair of qualifying races for the Daytona 500 , were held February 13 at Daytona International Speedway . Bill Elliott and Geoff Bodine won the poles for both races, respectively. Race One Top Ten Results Race Two Top Ten Results Top Ten Results The Miller High Life 400 was held February 23 at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway . Geoff Bodine won the pole. This was Kyle Petty 's first career Winston Cup Series victory. The race
80-516: Is widely considered one of the most controversial finishes in NASCAR history. Top Ten Results The Goodwrench 500 was held March 2 at North Carolina Motor Speedway . Terry Labonte won the pole. Top Ten Results The Motorcraft 500 was held March 16 at Atlanta International Raceway . Dale Earnhardt won the pole. Top Ten Results The Valleydale 500 was held April 6 at Bristol International Raceway . The No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won
100-571: The #48 car, ran the #5 for Lowe's 5% off purchase on their credit card ** - Mark Martin, who usually runs the #5 car, ran the #25 car as a throwback the first #25 car 25 years ago in 1986 driven by Tim Richmond . * - Won the Showdown ** - Showdown runner up *** - Fan Vote winner The formal inductions for the second class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame , made up of Bobby Allison , Ned Jarrett , Bud Moore , David Pearson , and Lee Petty ,
120-645: The 2003 season, the fall race (the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 ) — which was held in November ;— was moved to California Speedway , to be held on the lucrative Labor Day weekend. This displaced the Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway , which moved to November 2004 before being removed from the schedule completely (replaced by a second date at Texas Motor Speedway ). The changes were part of
140-409: The 83 en route to a dominating victory. Elliott collected the $ 200,000 first place prize, plus $ 40,000 in additional cash bonuses for leading laps 20, 30, 50, and 60. Top Ten Results The Budweiser 500 was held May 18 at Dover International Speedway . Ricky Rudd won the pole. Top Ten Results The Coca-Cola 600 was held May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway . The No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won
160-479: The Charlotte, North Carolina area. The draw for Rockingham was that teams got to stay close to home right after Daytona before traveling for the next race. The 2004 Subway 400 had one of the closest finishes in NASCAR history. Nextel Cup rookie, Kasey Kahne , in just his second series start, lost the race to Matt Kenseth by inches at the line. The exciting finish proved to be NASCAR's last stand at Rockingham, as
180-474: The Past Champions category: The following four drivers are eligible as a past winner of the event in the last decade: The following ten drivers are eligible by winning a Sprint Cup points race in 2010 or 2011: For those not listed above, a special race, The Sprint Showdown , consisting of two halves of 20 laps [30 miles (48 km)] each was held prior to the main event. The top two finishers and
200-568: The competition over the #48 of Hendrick Motorsports . As a result, the #11, driven by Denny Hamlin , received the first selection of pit stalls for the All-Star Race. 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series The 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series was the 38th season of professional stock car racing in the United States and the 15th modern-era Cup series season. The season began on February 16 and ended November 16. Dale Earnhardt of RCR Enterprises won his second championship this year. This
220-445: The pole. Top Ten Results The Budweiser 400 was held on June 1 at Riverside International Raceway . Darrell Waltrip won the pole. Top Ten Results The Miller High Life 500 was held June 8 at Pocono International Raceway . Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results The Miller American 400 was held June 15 at Michigan International Speedway . Tim Richmond won the pole. Top Ten Results The Firecracker 400
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#1732791400329240-430: The pole. Top Ten Results The TranSouth 500 was held April 13 at Darlington Raceway . The No. 5 of Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results The First Union 400 was held April 20 at North Wilkesboro Speedway . Geoff Bodine won the pole. Top Ten Results The Sovran Bank 500 was held April 27 at Martinsville Speedway . No. 25 of Tim Richmond won the pole. Top Ten Results The Winston 500
260-544: The trend of less races being held in the southeast and a broader distribution across the United States . Though the spring date was not directly transferred to California, NASCAR moved up the first California race to the traditional spring Rockingham date the week after Daytona. This resulted in some criticism because teams had to travel cross-country for the second race as most spend two weeks in Daytona and are based in
280-425: Was awarded to Darrell Waltrip as the defending Winston Cup champion. This was the only time the all-star race was held at Atlanta, and featured a 200-kilometer (83 lap) format, with a mandatory green flag pit stop. Because there were only nine race winners in 1985, the highest placed non-winner from the 1985 point standings ( Geoff Bodine ) was added to the field to make it an even ten cars. Bill Elliott led 82 of
300-482: Was held August 10 at Watkins Glen International . Tim Richmond won the pole. It was the first time a NASCAR race had been run at the track since 1965 but this was an entirely new configuration. Top Ten Results Withdrew: 30- Willy T. Ribbs The Champion Spark Plug 400 was held August 17 at Michigan International Speedway . The No. 55 of Benny Parsons won the final pole of his hall of fame career . Top Ten Results Goodwrench 500 The Subway 400
320-469: Was held May 4 at Alabama International Motor Speedway . The No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole. Top Ten Results Failed to qualify: 35- Alan Kulwicki (R) , 60- Dick Skillen , 70- J. D. McDuffie , 77- Ken Ragan , 95- Davey Allison , 02- Mark Martin , Steve Moore The second edition of The Winston , an all-star event for the previous season's race winners, was held at Atlanta International Raceway on Sunday May 11 ( Mother's Day ). The pole position
340-399: Was held on July 4 at Daytona International Speedway . Cale Yarborough won the pole. Top Ten Results The Summer 500 was held July 20 at Pocono International Raceway . Harry Gant won the pole. Top Ten Results The Talladega 500 was held July 27 at Alabama International Motor Speedway . The No. 9 of Bill Elliott won the pole. Top Ten Results The Budweiser at The Glen
360-647: Was held the day after the race on Sunday, May 22. This became the last year the inductions will take place in May; beginning in 2012, the ceremonies will be held in January following a June election. The annual Craftsman All-Star Pit Crew Challenge competition was held on the Thursday prior to the race at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. The #11 Joe Gibbs Racing team, led by Mike Ford , won
380-481: Was the last season without Ernie Irvan until 2000 . This would also unexpectedly be the last full season for Tim Richmond , whose health began to decline as a result of AIDS shortly after the season ended, ultimately claiming Richmond's life in 1989. The 8th annual Busch Clash was held on February 9 at Daytona International Speedway . Harry Gant drew for the pole. Only eight drivers ran. Full Results Average speed: 195.865 mph The 7-Eleven Twin 125's ,
400-538: Was the second race of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series season until 2004, held a week after the Daytona 500 . This 400-mile (644 km) annual race was sponsored by Subway and was held at North Carolina Speedway ( The Rock ) since 1966. From 1966 to 1995, the race distance was 500 miles (805-km) which was shortened to 400 miles starting from the 1996 season . Until the 2004 Nextel Cup season, two annual races were held at Rockingham . After
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