Nascar – Carl Edwards on pole for the All-Star Race

The All-Star Race offers each year a specific race format where the Sprint Cup drivers no longer play the Chase but a big reward which can go up to two million dollars if the winner wins in each segment of the race contested on the Charlotte oval. Among the 19 drivers automatically qualified for the event, Carl Edwards (Roush Fenway Racing) was the fastest in the qualifying format requiring three timed laps as well as a pit stop with a change of four tires (without limitation of speed). With a time of 1'11"297, the driver of the No. 99 Ford is more than a second ahead of the Chevrolet of Kurt Busch (Furniture Row Racing), while Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing) and Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing) secure the second row. “It’s so incredible, we really gave it our all”, commented the pole sitter. “This qualifying format is really exciting. There is such pressure. Our car was fast and our stop was efficient. This is how we wanted to start the weekend. We want to win every segment to get the two million dollars, that's part of the plan. »

Dale Earnhardt Jr (Hendrick Motorsports) was closest to Carl Edwards at the end of qualifying, but the driver of the No. 88 Chevy SS received a five-second penalty for a badly missing lug nut. The officials also took action on several occasions after certain drivers missed their pits due to the absence of a speed limit (the mechanics obviously had to wait behind the wall). Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing) will start from the back of the peloton as will Marcos Ambrose (Richard Petty Motorsports) and Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports). Kevin Harvick (Richard Childress Racing) saw his time canceled for a stop outside his box, but the No. 29 Chevrolet was condemned from the last row following an engine change during testing.

Martin Truex Jr (Michael Waltrip Racing) took the Showdown pole with a time of 27. This race will allow the first two drivers to participate in the All-Star Race, with the third driver being chosen by the public. The poleman beat the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolets driven by Jamie McMurray and Juan-Pablo Montoya.

The All-Star Race will be broadcast on Sunday at 19 p.m. on AB Matériaux.