| This speedway phenomena and crowd-sports | | | | driver who has left the team under whose banner |
| fascination is an annual specialty racing | | | | a race might have been one, remains eligible and |
| mass-event, presented by NASCAR, Daytona | | | | the car owner's new driver can also race (through |
| Beach, Florida in the USA. Typically held in the | | | | the last race before The All-Star Race) |
| state of North Carolina at the Lowe's Motor | | | | Past NASCAR cup champions (past 10 |
| Speedway, Concord, N.C., it has become a part of | | | | years ) |
| the fabric of not only the local area, but also a | | | | The All-Star Race winners (past 10 |
| National passion and worldwide sporting event of | | | | years) |
| distinction. | | | | The winning driver of the Nextel Open |
| It offers one and all - with an insatiable need and | | | | Drivers who have won in previous |
| appetite for the ultimate in speed and custom | | | | years, not eligible by the above (not owners) |
| wheels racing - some utter satisfaction and the | | | | If 20 drivers are not eligible, winners |
| perfect adrenaline rush, on-demand and lap-by-lap! | | | | from previous seasons still active on the NASCAR |
| It remains one of the largest global spectator | | | | Nextel Cup Series, become eligible for The All-Star |
| sports and sports-betting favorite, gaining ground | | | | Race. All active drivers during that season |
| every year. It has however also known some | | | | become eligible, even if the field exceeds 20 |
| ups and downs in its interwoven, proud and tragic | | | | competitors. |
| history. | | | | It is then easy to see that the entry |
| It came rooted in and from humble beginnings in | | | | requirements for NASCAR-banner type events, |
| the whiskey bootlegging down South, the ensuing | | | | support standards of excellence and achievement. |
| stock-car racing of the early years, to the formal | | | | To qualify for the Nextel Open, drivers must be in |
| establishment of the national sanctioning body to | | | | the Top 50 of the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup |
| govern stock racing on December 12, 1947 called | | | | Series [drivers] point standings or in the Top 50 |
| 'NASCAR', the now well-recognized acronym and | | | | of the current NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series |
| branding for the National Association for Stock | | | | [drivers] point standings as of March 14, 2006. |
| Car Auto Racing. | | | | Just because a driver is listed, does not mean |
| Its halls of fame also carry shadows and sadness | | | | they will be participating in the race. |
| of numerous crashes, accidents and tragic | | | | The 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, |
| incidents, famous driver deaths and losses that | | | | showcased race winners from the previous and |
| dot its development and sporting landscape. From | | | | current seasons, as well as past event champions |
| struggling with and overcoming with triumph, | | | | and series champions from the past 10 years |
| numerous diverse challenges and obstacles like | | | | (1995-2005). All were active drivers and |
| prohibition, the law, world war II, automotive and | | | | competed in at least one series event during the |
| technological advancement and roller-coaster | | | | preceding (2004 or 2005) season. Also eligible was |
| participation, retraction, interventions, the birth of | | | | the winner of the NEXTEL Open, a preliminary |
| the 'HEMI', to tobacco advertising bans, corporate | | | | event for teams not qualified for the all-star |
| sponsorships partnering, increasing popularity, | | | | event, and one other NEXTEL Open driver, who |
| broadcasting and media coverage, personal and | | | | secures an empowered fan-favorite vote, into full |
| professionals competing on and off-track, | | | | participatory rights and privileges in the all-star |
| increasing hype, droves of timeless champions and | | | | event. To qualify for the NEXTEL Open event, |
| recognized fallen heroes, NASCAR and racing has | | | | drivers must have been in the Top 50 of the final |
| remained a crowd pleaser and favorite. | | | | 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings, or in |
| NASCAR, among other things, also acts as the | | | | the Top 50 of the current point standings at the |
| sanctioning and overseeing body for the NASCAR | | | | time. |
| Nextel Cup Series. In retrospect, here are some | | | | The ever-popular NASCAR's Nextel All-Star |
| quick-facts about the events and more specifically | | | | Challenge race, is likely to return to Lowe's Motor |
| the 2005 NEXTEL Cup Series. With final races held | | | | Speedway near Charlotte in 2006, but NASCAR is |
| on Saturday, May 21, 2005, with capacity crowds | | | | contemplating its future, always with an eye on |
| exceeding organizers' expectations and a new | | | | what tomorrow may bring to the sport in general |
| champion, everyone's eyes are on the pre-season | | | | and the event in particular. |
| thunder and hopefuls in 2006! | | | | Quoted sources list The Charlotte Observer as |
| The Nextel Cup Series' second season, the 57th | | | | reporting that recently a vice president from |
| for NASCAR's premier division -- began in | | | | Nextel, (official sponsors of the NASCAR's Cup |
| February 2005 at Daytona and ended 35 races | | | | series as well as the all-star race), said that the |
| later with the Ford 400 at Homestead. | | | | company was satisfied with the Charlotte area's |
| It consisted of 36-races in total, making up the | | | | efforts for the race and indicated the event |
| 2005 Nextel Cup Series, including the | | | | would likely come back in 2006. |
| season-ending 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup | | | | NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter said nothing |
| "playoff." Tony Stewart tops the NASCAR world | | | | has been decided about the long term. "Every |
| as the 2005 Nextel Cup Champion. | | | | year, we revisit the idea of moving the all-star |
| You might be asking what makes a driver eligible | | | | race," he said. The story also lists that the all-star |
| for the Nextel Open and who or what to watch | | | | event creates approximately $94 million dollars' |
| for? Here are some of the general guidelines: | | | | worth of impact on the region's economy in travel |
| Little has changed in the rules for the NASCAR | | | | and tourism dollars spent.(Source: NASCAR Scene |
| Nextel Cup Series (Open and All-Star Challenge). | | | | Daily Newsletter, 4-7-2005), so it is easily seen |
| Eligibility rules for competitor-drivers potentially | | | | that this event is sporting a growing trend, not |
| partaking in the NASCAR | | | | only in viewer-ship, but also in vested dollars and |
| - Nextel Cup Series include: | | | | profits |
| Drivers and car owners who have won | | | | Jack Scrafford recommends PlatinumTickets to |
| races in the current and preceding year. | | | | buy NASCAR tickets. |
| In the true spirit of competition, a | | | | |