Denny Hamlin has voiced strong criticism of the recently announced format for the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race, which will take place at Dover Motor Speedway. Not holding back, Hamlin’s candid comments reflect widespread skepticism among fans and competitors about the new approach, which sees all Cup Series drivers competing in a multi-segment event.
New Format Prompts Backlash from Hamlin
After NASCAR unveiled changes for the All-Star Race at Dover, Hamlin took to his Actions Detrimental podcast to share his concerns. He objected to the decision allowing all 36 Cup Series drivers into the main event, arguing that the exclusivity and challenge of the All-Star Race have been diluted. Hamlin described the move as the first genuine misstep by NASCAR in the new season.
“I said something on social media about how everyone participates, you get a medal. We gotta make things harder, not easier. This is a society problem, like, why in the hell are 36 cars gonna start the All-Star Race? It should be [a points race]. I don’t know, I’m sure there’s a rhyme and reason,”
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver.
He believes the configuration fails to create the level of excitement expected from an All-Star event, suggesting that Dover’s mile-long track complicates efforts to produce entertaining, close racing with a large field.
Understanding the 2026 All-Star Race Structure
The 2026 edition at Dover Motor Speedway will be the first of its kind following NASCAR’s decision to move the race from North Wilkesboro, which had hosted from 2023-2025 before being reinstated as a points race track. The event will feature 350 laps, separated into three segments of 75, 75, and 200 laps. All 36 chartered teams will participate from the start, with qualifying times determining the initial order and a new pit crew contest—the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge—adding an extra layer to qualifying.
The format does away with the All-Star Open, and introduces an inverted lineup for the second segment, where the top 26 finishers from Segment 1 are reversed in order for the next restart, and the rest line up by their prior finish. The final 200-lap segment features a select group competing for a significant monetary reward.
Drivers Advancing to the Final Segment
For the crucial third segment, only 26 drivers make the cut. The field is determined by a combination of race victories in the 2025 and 2026 seasons, full-time Cup Series champions, a Fan Vote winner, and those with the lowest combined finishing positions in the first two segments. The ultimate prize is a $1 million winner’s purse.
“2025 and 2026 Cup Series race victors, former Cup Series champions who compete full-time, a Fan Vote winner and remaining drivers based on the lowest combined finishing positions among Segments 1 and 2.”
Concerns Over Dover as Host Venue
Hamlin has repeatedly questioned the choice of Dover as the All-Star Race setting, noting that the track’s characteristics might lead to a lackluster show, especially over such a long concluding segment. He points out that a 200-lap run on the high-banked mile is likely to feel like a standard points race, not the exciting showcase an All-Star Race is meant to be.
“Last segment, 200 laps at Dover? That is gonna feel like a normal race,”
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver.
The switch to Dover came after North Wilkesboro was awarded a points-paying event, effectively leaving Dover without its own Cup points race. NASCAR opted to maintain Dover’s presence on the schedule by awarding it the All-Star Race, though this has fueled debate about the venue’s suitability.
“Nobody would pick Dover for an All-Star Race. Hopefully, they just fix it for next year and put us back on an All-Star type of track. That ain’t it,”
Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series Driver.
Looking Ahead: Will NASCAR Rethink the All-Star Venue?
Hamlin’s harsh assessment of the Denny Hamlin NASCAR All-Star Critique encapsulates the concern many feel about the new format’s viability and the decision to select Dover as the host. His call to return the All-Star Race to a venue better suited to the excitement and spectacle expected of the mid-season exhibition adds pressure on NASCAR to reconsider its future plans. With drivers and fans alike questioning the changes, attention will be on how the 2026 event unfolds and whether further revisions are made for 2027 and beyond.
