The 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race will be the third to take place at the legendary North Wilkesboro Speedway. Being an exhibition race, the sanctioning body likes to change up the format to add some variety… or experiment with potential rule changes.
In 2025’s case, racing purists might be a bit wary if the rules prove to be too successful that they convince NASCAR to make them permanent fixtures. The biggest changes for this year’s edition are the introduction of the Manufacturer Showdown and Promoter’s Caution.
The Manufacturer Showdown pits the three marques—Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota—against each other. A select but equal number of cars will represent each manufacturer in the race, and whichever has the lowest combined finish wins. As such, even if a manufacturer’s driver wins the race, they could still lose the Manufacturer Showdown if their other cars finish at the back. If there is a tie, whoever has the best overall finish will determine the victor.
The number of participants in the Manufacturer Showdown is based on whichever OEM has the fewest cars make the All-Star Race. For example, if Ford only has four drivers qualify, Chevy and Toyota will select four each from their qualified drivers to enter the Showdown.
In regards to the racing product itself, NASCAR has added the Promoter’s Caution, which ostensibly takes inspiration from some short tracks that intentionally wave the yellow flag at an arbitrary time to bunch the field back up. It is called at NASCAR’s discretion and can happen at any time, though it must be done before Lap 220; if a genuine yellow occurs after Lap 200, the Promoter’s Caution will not be used.
Should the Promoter’s Caution be used, it would be one of two mandatory yellows in the 250-lap race. A “competition break” is also scheduled at approximately Lap 100; the All-Star Open, a qualifying event for those not locked into the main ASR, will also have this.
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“The NASCAR All-Star Race continues to evolve as one of the most fun and innovative events on our calendar,” commented Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer John Probst. “Returning to historic North Wilkesboro Speedway for the third year in a row allows us to honour our sport’s roots while pushing the envelope with fresh competitive elements.”
While the All-Star Race does not count for points, some are a quite wary about the Promoter’s Caution. NASCAR officially describes it as adding an “element of unpredictability and excitement,” whereas others might feel it is inauthentic and is another means to add drama for no good reason. To some, the caution evokes bad memories of “phantom cautions”, or sudden yellow flags for supposed debris on the course that were often waved in the waning moments for a late restart. Phantom cautions eventually died out with the introduction of stages, themselves an All-Star Race creation.
Other quirks remain exclusive to the All-Star like heat races, which NASCAR only used for the now-defunct Bristol Dirt Race and fellow exhibition race Cook Out Clash. The 2024 ASR saw the use of option tyres, which have yet to be added for points races after a fairly mediocre product.
2025 All-Star NASCAR Race format
All drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series race in 2024 and 2025 are automatically guaranteed a spot in the All-Star Race. Former series champions and past ASR victors who are running full-time are also eligible.
With these caveats, 20 drivers are already ensured a spot in the feature:
- Christopher Bell (won Atlanta, COTA, Phoenix)
- Josh Berry (won Las Vegas)
- Ryan Blaney (won Iowa, Pocono, Martinsville in 2024)
- Alex Bowman (won Chicago in 2024)
- Chase Briscoe (won Darlington in 2024)
- Chris Buescher (won Watkins Glen in 2024)
- Harrison Burton (won Daytona in 2024)
- Kyle Busch (two-time champion, 2017 All-Star winner)
- William Byron (won Daytona 500)
- Ross Chastain (won Kansas in 2024)
- Austin Cindric (won Gateway in 2024)
- Austin Dillon (won Richmond in 2024)
- Chase Elliott (won Texas in 2024)
- Denny Hamlin (won Martinsville and Darlington)
- Brad Keselowski (won Darlington in 2024)
- Kyle Larson (won Homestead and Bristol)
- Joey Logano (reigning champion, 2016 and 2024 All-Star winner)
- Tyler Reddick (won Talladega, Kansas, Homestead in 2024)
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (won Talladega in 2024)
- Daniel Suárez (won Atlanta in 2024)
Those who are currently not locked in must qualify by finishing top two in the All-Star Open or winning the Fan Vote. The Open is 100 laps long with a competition caution at around Lap 40.
On Friday, 16 May, qualifying will take place. Drivers must do one lap at full speed before doing a four-tyre pit stop and complete one more lap. A Pit Stop Challenge to determine the fastest crew will also be used to decide pit stall selection order, with the winner being first to pick.
Saturday will see two 60-lap heat races. The results of the first heat determine the inside row for the All-Star Race while the second is for the outside.
The Open and All-Star Race will take place on Sunday, 18 May.
