On the night before the race, there is qualifying for the race before the race, followed by qualifying for the actual race. On the night of the race, there is the race before the race, followed by the race. The second qualifying session on the night before the race sets the field for the race, but the stage winners of the race before the race also get into the race.
Got it? Cool.
MORE: Watch NASCAR All-Star Race live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Really, the schedule around the 2019 All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is not that complicated. But it is, as we said, a little different. Which is the way the schedule should be for one of NASCAR’s most unique events, a non-points race from which the winner will take $1 million. This is an All-Star event, after all, so only a handful of the best drivers in the Cup Series even qualify to participate qualifying.
Whoops. Getting confusing again. Here is a clear, explained breakdown of the full 2019 NASCAR All-Star Race schedule, plus the entry list for this year’s race.
NASCAR All-Star Race 2019 schedule
Friday, May 17
Saturday, May 18
Drivers who are not eligible to compete in the All-Star Race will try to race their way into the main event Saturday night via the Monster Energy Open, a three-segment race (20 laps, 20 laps, 10 laps) that takes place a couple hours before the All-Star Race. The winners at the end of each segment in the Monster Energy Open will be added to the All-Star field, as will the winner of a fan vote.
The qualifying formats for the Monster Energy Open and for the All-Star race are different. Open qualifying (6 p.m. ET on Friday) will look familiar — two rounds of single-car qualifying. All-Star qualifying (7 p.m. ET on Friday), though, is unique. Each car will run three laps and must come in for a mandatory, four-tire pit stop with no pit road speed limit. This is why two pit road speed practice sessions are part of Friday’s schedule for drivers who are already in the All-Star race.
MORE: Explaining the 2019 All-Star Race format
NASCAR All-Star Race 2019: TV schedule, how to watch
Date: Saturday, May 18 Start time: 6 p. m. ET (Open) | 8:30 p. m. ET (All-Star Race) TV channel: FS1 Live stream: fuboTV
Saturday’s NASCAR All-Star Race will be the third night race of the 2019 season. As for the TV channel, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to FS1 for the third week in a row. As part of FOX’s TV deal with NASCAR for the 2019 season, FOX was slated to show nine Cup races this year, and FS1 was scheduled to show eight, including the All-Star Race.
In addition to the TV coverage on FS1, Saturday night’s race is available via live stream through FOX Sports Go or fuboTV. New fuboTV users can sign up with a seven-day free trial.
Below is the full TV schedule for Cup Series events at Charlotte on Friday and Saturday.
Friday, May 17
Saturday, May 18
NASCAR All-Star Race qualifying results
The rules for eligibility for the 2019 NASCAR All-Star Race (and therefore qualifying for the All-Star Race) are as follows, via Charlotte Motor Speedway:
Drivers who have won a points race in either 2018 or 2019 are eligible, as are drivers who have won a previous All-Star Race and compete full time. Drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series championship and compete full time also are eligible for the event. Three drivers will join the field by winning one of three stages in the Monster Energy Open. One driver will also be added to the field by winning a fan vote.
The following drivers have qualified for the 2019 NASCAR All-Star Race via Nos. 1 and 2 of the above criteria:
Monster Energy Open starting lineup
All other full-time Cup Series drivers will need to earn their spot in the All-Star Race via the Monster Energy Open or the fan vote.
