NEXTEL All-Star Challenge- Past Winners
History - Facts - Winners
The NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge was formerly known as the Winston until 2004. It is a race open to race winners from the previous season as well as the current season. The race has a distinctive format. There are three segments gradually decreasing. The first segment is made of 40 laps, the second is made of 30 laps and the third has 20 green-flag laps. There is a mandatory mid-race pit stop in the first segment.
Drivers are also eligible if they win the NEXTEL Open qualifying race (a 30-lap race between drivers not qualified for the main event) or remain on the lead lap in the NEXTEL Open and get the most votes. There used to be another qualifying race following the Open known as the No Bull Sprint, but since 2003, only one qualifying race has been ran.
Due to the nature of the race (only winning counts, and no points are rewarded in despite of the finishing position), drivers often make crazy and reckless moves not seen in other races, and crashes are frequent.
Former Nextel Cup and Nextel All-Star champions are also eligible for the race. Until 2001, the rule limited only champions of the past five Nextel All Star Challenge events, but in 2005, the rule changed to the winners in the past ten years of either the Nextel Cup or the Nextel All-Star Challenge. The Nextel Open was restricted to the top 50 drivers in either the final standings of the previous year or current standings in that year.
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