As Monty Python would say, “And now for something completely different.”

The top of this list is a pretty easy slot to fill. The rest? Not so much.

The NASCAR All-Star Race returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the third consecutive year with a few new wrinkles in the race format and schedule at the 0.625-mile oval in North Carolina.

Cup cars will be on track for practice and qualifying Friday, two heat races to set the main event field Saturday and then the Open and All-Star Race will be Sunday night.

The main event will feature a “promoter’s caution” that can be thrown ahead of Lap 220 of 250. A new “Manufacturer Showdown” will pit Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota in a battle for the best combined overall finish in the All-Star Race.

The Pit Crew Challenge also will be held during qualifying Friday and determine pit selection for Sunday’s 250-lap main event.

A ‘Manufacturer Showdown’ also will be featured in the annual exhibition race.

Joey Logano is the defending winner of the All-Star Race. Kyle Larson won the 2023 inaugural All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro.

The CARS Tour, Camping World Truck Series and Whelen Modified Tour also will be racing at North Wilkesboro this weekend.

Joey Logano won last year’s All-Star Race, leading 199 of 200 laps.

All-Star Race schedule at North Wilkesboro

(All Times Eastern)

Friday, May 16

Garage open

• 10:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. — Cup
• 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Truck Series

Track activity

• 5:05 – 5:50 p.m. — Cup practice (FS2, MRN)
• 6:10 – 6:50 p.m. — Cup Open qualifying (FS1, MRN)
• 7:05 – 8 p.m. — Cup All-Star Race qualifying/Pit Crew Challenge (FS1, MRN)
• 8:15 p.m. — CARS Tour race (100 laps, FS1, Flo Racing)

Saturday, May 17

Garage open

• 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. — Truck Series
• 1:30 – 7:30 p.m. — Cup

Track activity

• 9:35 – 10:30 a.m. — Truck practice (FS2)
• 10:35 – 11:30 a.m. — Truck qualifying (FS2)
• 1:30 p.m. — Truck race (250 laps, 156.25 miles, Stage 1 at Lap 70, Stage 2 at Lap 140; FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• 5:10 p.m. — All-Star Race Heat 1 (75 laps, 46.875 miles, FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• 6:15 p.m. — All-Star Race Heat 2 (75 laps, 46.875 miles, FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Sunday, May 18

Garage open

• 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. — Whelen Modified Tour
• 2 – 11:55 p.m. — Cup

Track activity

• 10:15 – 10:45 a.m. — Whelen Modified Tour practice
• 10:55 – 11:25 a.m. — Whelen Modified Tour practice
• 12:45 – 1:15 p.m. — Whelen Modified Tour qualifying
• 2 p.m. — Whelen Modified Tour race (150 laps, 93.75 miles, Flo Racing, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR)
• 5:30 p.m. — All-Star Open (100 laps, 62.5 miles, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR)
• 8 p.m. — All-Star Race (250 laps, 156.25 miles, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR)

Weekend weather

Friday: Cloudy with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible. A high of 86 degrees and winds from the west-southwest at 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Cloudy with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible. A high of 85 degrees and winds from the west-southwest at 10 to 20 mph. It’s expected to be 82 degrees with a 15% chance of rain at the start of the Truck race. It’s expected to be partly cloudy with a high of 82 degrees and a 15% chance of rain at the start of the first of the two Cup heat races.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a high of 84 degrees and winds from the west at 5 to 10 mph. It’s expected to be 75 degrees with a 1% chance of rain at the start of the All-Star Race.

Entering the 2025 world motorsport season, there was a substantial talking point that dominated discussion, including in Formula 1.

Driver misconduct.

Last winter, the FIA introduced a controversial “Appendix B,” instituting new penalties for driver misconduct, including swearing. With penalties accelerating based on the number of violations and the series involved — with the most significant financial penalties reserved for F1 drivers — and potential suspensions and sporting penalties on the table, many wondered if Appendix B would impact the future of motorsport.

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However, the FIA is taking a step back.

The governing body unveiled a series of changes to Appendix B on Wednesday, changes that not only reduce the maximum financial penalties but also give race officials the option to suspend penalties fully for certain breaches.

In a statement released by the FIA, the motorsport governing body outlined that the “base maximum penalty has been reduced generally from €10,000 to €5,000. This is a reduction of 50%. However, for FIA World Championships, where multipliers were involved, the reductions will be even more significant.”

Race stewards not only can fully suspend penalties for a driver’s first infraction, but can “differentiate between controlled and non-controlled environments.” While driver conduct will be governed in “controlled” environments such as press conferences, comments made in the heat of the moment — such as on the track or during a rally stage — will fall under the “non-controlled” category.

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The FIA also stated that “[m]itigating circumstances will continue to be considered” under the revised Appendix B.

You can read the fully revised Appendix B here.

“As a former rally driver, I know firsthand the range of emotions that are faced during competition. I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA World Championships, FIA Member Clubs and other motor sports organisations,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“The improvements the FIA has announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motor sport, while also giving Stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute. The FIA will always be committed to ensuring motor sport is accessible for all our sporting family.”

By Ben Morse, CNN

(CNN) — The FIA, motorsport’s world governing body, announced on Wednesday a major dialing back of the penalties issued to drivers for cursing after a groundswell of opposition towards the new regulations.

In rules introduced by the FIA ahead of the season, F1 drivers could be penalized – with monetary fines or loss of championship points – for cursing in press conferences.

Fines started at €40,000 ($41,600) for a driver’s first offense, with it doubling for a second breach of the rules as well as a suspended one-month ban. A third offense would potentially bring about a €120,000 ($125,000) fine, a one-month ban and the loss of championship points.

But the FIA scaled back those regulations on Wednesday after continued complaints from high-level F1 drivers.

Following the amendment of Appendix B in FIA International Sporting Code, the base maximum penalties for drivers will be reduced generally from €10,000 ($11,210) to €5,000 ($5,600) – a reduction of 50% – although “for FIA World Championships, where multipliers were involved, the reductions will be even more significant,” the governing body said.

The FIA also said that stewards can suspend a penalty in certain cases if it’s a first offense by a driver or team. Stewards will also be permitted to adjudge whether language was used in “controlled” or “uncontrolled” environments to assess whether a penalty is deemed necessary – a “controlled” environment is defined as a press conferences and an “uncontrolled” environment is a “spontaneous comments made by drivers or teams when on track or during a rally stage.”

The new guidelines also state that “abuse of officials will now result in sporting penalties rather than fines, aligning motor sport with other major global sports organizations.”

“As a former rally driver, I know firsthand the range of emotions that are faced during competition. I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA World Championships, FIA Member Clubs and other motor sports organizations,” FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said.

“The improvements the FIA has announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motor sport, while also giving Stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute. The FIA will always be committed to ensuring motor sport is accessible for all our sporting family.”

The original penalties implemented before this season were criticized by many F1 drivers who thought they were excessive. Drivers, including reigning world champion Max Verstappen, also complained about the lack of dialogue between them and the FIA around addressing any issues.

Ronan Morgan, president of the drivers’ committee, said that the changing of the rules around cursing “further strengthen the FIA’s International Sporting Code supporting our drivers by understanding the pressures they face during the heat of competition.”

“Drivers are looked up to as role models by young fans and are rightly seen as ambassadors for the wider world of motor sport, how they act really does matter but it is important to recognize that there is a difference between what is said during a race and in a press conference,” Morgan said.

The-CNN-Wire
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