Larson sets pace at Dover as NASCAR unveils new All-Star Race format
The 2026 exhibition event moves to Dover Motor Speedway after three years at North Wilkesboro, introducing a 350-lap main event and a $1 million prize for the final 26 drivers.
NASCAR has relocated the 2026 All-Star Race to Dover Motor Speedway, marking the end of a three-year tenure at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The exhibition event, known for its high-banked and unforgiving concrete surface, has earned the moniker the “Monster Mile” from fans. The organisation has introduced a new format for the 2026 season, featuring a 350-lap main event that reduces the 36-car field to 26 drivers for a final 200-lap shootout. The winner of the shootout will claim a $1 million prize.
Kyle Larson, the reigning 2025 NASCAR Cup Series champion, emerged as the clear favourite following Friday’s practice session. Driving the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Larson set the fastest lap of 22.792 seconds, equating to 157.950 mph. He edged out Spire Motorsports’ Michael McDowell and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin during the extended 90-minute session. Larson has previously won the All-Star Race three times on three different track types: Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2019, Texas Motor Speedway in 2021, and North Wilkesboro in 2023.
The new format includes an enhanced Saturday qualifying session featuring a full-speed lap and the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge. The pit crew with the fastest penalty-free stop will dictate pit selection for Sunday’s race. The 350-lap main event is broken into segments, beginning with a 75-lap sprint for Segment 1, where qualifying results determine the full field. Segment 2 will feature a massive inversion of the top 26 drivers from the first segment before the final 200-lap shootout.
Despite his dominance in the exhibition event, Larson has not yet secured a victory in the 2026 points-paying season, a start described as somewhat frustrating. However, his record in the All-Star Race remains distinct from his points-paying performance. Larson noted after the Friday session that adding another track to his list of victories would mean as much as adding another win, regardless of the increased prize money.
The rest of the field now faces the challenge of navigating the Monster Mile for 350 laps. Larson’s speed in practice suggests he possesses the raw pace required to compete, but the new format demands precision and flawless pit stops. The 26 drivers who advance to the final shootout will need to overcome the brutal concrete surface and the inverted field to claim the million-dollar prize.
