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NASCAR makes adjustment to All-Star heat race format

JHby: Jonathan Howard05/05/25Jondean25
North Wilkesboro
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

We made it almost three weeks since the NASCAR All-Star Race format was announced to see our first big change. Officials have decided to change the length of the Heat Races and even add ANOTHER caution into the mix.

The Heat Races before the NASCAR All-Star Race will now be 75 laps long instead of 60. Also being added, according to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, is a caution flag at Lap 30. So, more laps, but another manufactured caution? I’m sure fans love that idea!

NASCAR really shook things up this year for the All-Star Race. They have added a promoter’s caution to be thrown between Lap 110 and 220. That caution will be controlled by Marcus Smith and Speedway Motorsports. Another idea that fans have really taken too quickly (this is sarcasm).

Last year, I remember the Heat Races more or less being the most exciting. I am not sure why we have to add laps (good thing) and yet another fake caution flag (terrible, overplayed, and unnecessary). Here we are, though.

NASCAR has really dropped the ball already with the All-Star Race. Let me just lay it all out for you so you know how many laps are being run and how many cautions are being thrown this year for the All-Star Heat, Open, and Feature races.

NASCAR All-Star Race – Laps versus Cautions

There will be two All-Star Heat Races, which will be 75 laps each. They will each have a competition caution at or around Lap 30. Then the All-Star Open on Sunday for the Last Chance Qualifier. 100 laps with a competition caution at or around Lap 40.

Finally, we have the All-Star Race itself. We will have a competition caution at or around Lap 100 in this 250-lap race. In addition, an optional promoter’s caution can be thrown between Lap 110 and 220.

If there are no overtime finishes in any of the races, and no caution for cause, there will be 500 laps of racing. In those 500 laps, there will be four cautions thrown for competition purposes and a fifth, optional caution in the hands of Marcus Smith. Doesn’t that sound like good, raw, real American racing?

Between stage break cautions in real points races and now all of these competition and promoter’s cautions being thrown at the NASCAR All-Star Race, I’m about sick of it. Let these teams and drivers actually race and let the best group win.