Kevin Harvick, a future member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, has urged the sport to end the mid-season All-Star Race.
This weekend is the third consecutive year that the $1 million exhibition race has been conducted in North Wilkesboro, following a brief change to Bristol because to the Covid-19 outbreak in 2021 and 2022.
The race has been subject to a number of rule tweaks over the years, with this year’s gimmick being a ‘promotor’s caution’ which must be thrown before lap 220, adding a shot of organized chaos to the race.
Former Cup Series champion Harvick suggested on his Happy Hour podcast that the race should be dropped – or at least mixed in with the Clash at the start of the season – with North Wilkesboro’s spot on the calendar being turned into a points-paying race.
Speaking this week, he explained: “I think we should nix the All-Star Race. I just think, with all the effort that goes into it, we can’t find a format that everyone likes. I think we should honor our guys. I think we have to figure out how to make the Clash be the Clash and the All-Star Race and make it all work together.”
Harvick continued: “I think North Wilkesboro deserves to be a points race. I think it would be a fantastic points event. 400 laps, all the cars on the racetrack, full weekend. I don’t think North Wilkesboro should go anywhere, but I think the All-Star Race has run its course, personally.”
The idea of giving drivers and crews an off-week in place of the All-Star race was shot down though, with the retired driver saying: “I think you need the same number of races because you probably already signed your TV contracts and all the things that go with it. I think you just make it the 37th race.”
Even though the All-Star Race has been controversial, drivers are still obviously eager to participate. Kyle Larson, for example, intends to return to North Wilkesboro and race for the $1 million prize if he makes it that far, missing the Fast Six in Indy 500 qualifying.
