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Wednesday, May. 14, 2008
Thursday night kicks off the start of NASCAR's All-Star weekend during the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Since 1985, NASCAR's top series, Sprint Cup, has hosted an All-Star event. The annual extravaganza has endured several changes throughout the years. This year's format includes a burnout contest. NASCAR personalities Bobby Labonte and Marc Mitchell discuss how the All-Star Race stacks up against other professional sports’ all-star festivities.
Marc Mitchell, No. 15 Toyota: "NASCAR's All-Star Race is definitely the most action-packed event in sports. In most other sports' all-star games, they take it easy on each other and don't play at 100%, it’s just a more relaxed atmosphere.
"They don't ... give it their all. That's definitely not the case in NASCAR. Drivers have a lot of money they can win, and no points they can lose, so guys will race their guts out from the green flag to the checkered flag. The special paint schemes, the unique format - it all gives the fans a great race.
"The only thing I wish was different about the race is that it doesn't include all of the top series. It's an awesome event, but I think it would be cool to include some of the guys from the Truck Series or the Nationwide Series. Maybe even if it was the returning champions, or NASCAR let a few guys from each series race in the Sprint Open. I think that would add a lot of excitement to it. But overall, it’s an awesome, awesome race."
Bobby Labonte, NASCAR vteran: "You can sit around and come up with a ton of different ideas, but Humpy (Wheeler, President Lowe's Motor Speedway) sure does have some good ones. The sponsors too. Looking back, RJR and the Winston brand really helped develop and grow the event. Today, Sprint has come in and brought their own ideas. The Pit Crew Challenge, the fan vote or things like that.
"It's become bigger and bigger. ... The fans what to see something different.
"It's so hard to compare our all-star weekend to the NBA, MLB or any other league. Every weekend is an all-star weekend for us. We have the best 43 drivers out there at one time each weekend So, you have to come up with something different.
"The burnout contest, fan voting, a pit crew challenge. And, we, as drivers, are always thinking and giving ideas too. We want this weekend to be successful for the fans because that's what it's really all about."
