NASCAR WCUP: Fans to play a big part in 'The Winston'
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 11, 2001
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - For the first time in the history of The Winston, fans from around the world will be an integral part of NASCAR's all-star event at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 19.
Through NASCAR.com, NASCAR Winston Cup Series fans will determine through an online poll the number of positions, between six and 12, which will be inverted following the first 30-lap segment. The Pick the Pack poll can be accessed at the NASCAR.com home page and will be available Tuesday, May 15 through Friday, May 18.
The decision of the fans participating in the Pick the Pack poll on NASCAR.com will be revealed following the first 30-lap segment. The Winston field will be inverted accordingly for the second 30-lap segment. The final segment is a 10-lap shootout.
"That makes perfect sense to me," 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte said. "The Winston is all about the fans. This is their race, so I think it's only fitting that they get to decide how many positions we invert. I think it's a great idea."
NASCAR.com will also carry pre-race stories, statistics and complete event results of The Winston.
In 1987, the possibility of a field inversion was added to The Winston format. Various methods have previously been used to determine the number of cars inverted including voting by fans at the event. However, the 17th edition of The Winston will be the first offering all fans the opportunity to participate in the inversion process.
The 21-car field for the 2001 The Winston includes 17 winners from last year and this season plus two former NASCAR Winston Cup champions. The final two spots will be filled with the Winston Open (30 laps) and No Bull Sprint (16 laps) winners.
Text provided by Denny Darnell
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