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In 1985, NASCAR introduced the All-Star Race, then known as The Winston, to its fans for the first time. The race featured the series’ biggest stars, with the only drivers eligible being past series champions as well as race winners from the previous season and the beginning of the current season.
This year, the race heads to famed Dover Motor Speedway for the first time after making stops at North Wilkesboro, Bristol, Atlanta, and most notably, Charlotte.
We’re celebrating the trip to a new track, as well as a brand new format, by taking a look back at some of the greatest moments in the history of the NASCAR All-Star Race.
7) Darrell Waltrip Wins Inaugural All-Star Race Before Blowing Engine
In the early days of NASCAR, there was a lot more gray area for teams and engine builders to operate in. Hall of Fame crew chief Junior Johnson was legendary for operating within that gray area.
Perhaps no example typifies that fact quite like the inaugural All-Star Race in 1985. At the time, Bill Elliott had been dominating the season, thanks in part to his brother and famed engine builder Ernie Elliott.
But at the All-Star Race, Johnson and then two-time series champ Darrell Waltrip showed up with a trick up their sleeve.
Johnson built an engine specifically for the race that was meant to just last the race distance. Sure enough, Waltrip won, and as he was crossing the finish line, the engine let go, immediately marking the All-Star Race as must-see TV.
6) Rusty Wallace Starts Brawl By Wrecking Darrell Waltrip For Win
Four years later, Waltrip was leading coming to the white flag with the chance to win the All-Star Race for the second time in his career.
However, fellow Hall of Famer and eventual series champion Rusty Wallace has other plans.
Wallace got into Waltrip, spinning him out just before beginning the final lap and eventually going on to take the victory. Afterward, Waltrip uttered the now-famous line “I hope he chokes on that $200,000” as the two teams brawled in the garage area.
5) Busch Brothers Come Together For Crash That Ends Race For Both
By 2007, Kurt Busch had already established himself as one of the series’ best drivers, having won a championship with Jack Roush Racing before moving over to drive for Roger Penske.
Meanwhile, younger brother Kyle had established himself as an elite prospect who many expected to be a future champion for Hendrick Motorsports.
Mid-way through the race, Kyle got a big run on his older brother and attempted to pass him on the inside of turn one. However, he got loose, spinning out and drifting up the track, wrecking his brother in the process.
That do-or-die mentality eventually led to Kyle leaving Hendrick Motorsports, but he did go on to win two championships while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.
4) Jeff Gordon Wins In Backup Car After Rain Causes First-Lap Chaos
NASCAR tires are built for speed, not for rain.
So when the 2001 All-Star race began under what everyone thought was dry conditions, the field was in for a rude awakening when it got down into turn one and discovered that it had begun to rain.
Several cars immediately went spinning and crashing into the wall, bringing out the red flag and seemingly ending their chances at victory. That included superstar driver Jeff Gordon.
However, NASCAR determined that because drivers had not completed a lap and the rain caused the incident, that teams could bring out their backup cars.
Gordon’s crew swapped the engine from the crashed car to the backup car, and in 70 laps, he drove from dead last, 21st, to the front to claim an historic win.
3) Dale Earnhardt Jr. Becomes First Rookie To Win The All-Star Race
Not only do rookie drivers not win the All-Star Race. It’s rare that rookie drivers even compete in the All-Star Race, given that their only way of qualifying for it is by picking up a win in the 10 or so races that season before All-Star Weekend.
However, in 2000, Dale Earnhardt Jr. defied all the odds. He not only won a race, but won twice in the first 11 races, including at Richmond the week before the All-Star Race.
He then carried that momentum forward into the All-Star Race itself, making a late charge and passing Dale Jarrett with just two laps remaining to pick up what remains one of the most popular victories in the history of the event.
2) Davey Allison Barely Beats Kyle Petty To The Line While Crashing
By 1992, the purse for All-Star Race winner had grown to $1 million, and the stakes were as high as ever.
So despite points not being paid for the race, the drivers were up on the wheel throughout. Nothing exemplified that quite like the final lap between leader Dale Earnhardt and pursuers Kyle Petty and Davey Allison.
Petty got a good run off the second turn and began to close alongside Earnhardt, who then tried to run him off the racing surface. In retailation, Petty bumped into Earnhardt, moving him up the track and passing him in turn four as he went spinning.
But this allowed Allison to pull to the inside of Petty. The two drivers slammed doors and Allison just barely passed Petty take the victory, but as he did so, they colided again, sending Allison spinning into the wall, albeit as the race winner.
1) Dale Earnhardt’s Legendary Pass In The Grass
It’s fitting that the most memorable moment from the NASCAR All-Star Race comes from NASCAR’s biggest star of All-Time.
In the 1987 All-Star Race, Bill Elliott yet again led the way to the green flag, but lost the lead early on after an incident involving Geoff Bodine allowed Dale Earnhardt to take the top spot.
Earnhardt then spent the majority of the race playing defense, trying to fend off the faster Elliott. With eight laps remaining, Elliott pulled alongside Earnhardt and the two made contact, sending the latter sliding through the grass.
Somehow, Earnhardt managed to keep the car straight and maintain the lead, in a move that has since been dubbed the “pass in the grass.”
The two continued to battle for the lead on the following lap before Earnhardt drove up the racetrack and into Elliott, cutting down his tire and ending his chances for victory, while Earnhardt went on to claim victory.