Today marks a historic moment at Dover Motor Speedway as NASCAR hosts its All-Star Race for the first time in 42 years, with a staggering prize of one million dollars at stake. If you're unsure how to catch the action, here's a comprehensive guide.
The race is set to commence at 1 p.m. ET today, May 17, at Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware. Denny Hamlin, a two-time Cup Series runner-up, will start from the pole position. He previously won the All-Star Race in 2025 from the same spot, showcasing his experience.
Fans can tune in to FS1 for the race. If you have a cable subscription that includes Fox Sports 1, you’re all set to watch.
If you don’t have cable, there are two streaming services to consider. DIRECTV offers a five-day free trial that includes FS1 in its Choice package. After the trial, the first three months are priced at $84.99 with a $10 discount, followed by $94.99 monthly thereafter. Alternatively, Fubo TV provides a Sports and News package for $45.99 in the first month, also featuring a five-day free trial and FS1 included.
This year’s race introduces a fresh format that longtime fans may find different. All 36 cars will start the race, a departure from previous years. The initial segment consists of 75 laps without any competition caution flags. At the end of this segment, the top 26 finishers will be inverted, meaning the Segment 1 winner will drop to 26th place, while the driver who finished 26th will take the pole for Segment 2. Cars finishing in positions 27 through 36 will remain unchanged. Segment 2 also spans 75 laps.
Following these segments, only 26 cars will advance to the final round for the cash prize. Nineteen spots are reserved for Cup race winners from 2025 and 2026, previous All-Star winners, and former Cup champions. The remaining six spots will go to drivers with the best average finishes from the first two segments, while the final spot is determined by the All-Star Fan Vote. These 26 drivers will then compete for 200 laps, with a competition caution flag around lap 75 to regroup the field before the final sprint. The first driver to cross the finish line will claim the million-dollar prize.