The thread is OPEN for making a single pick.
Party liquor for everybody!

The thread will CLOSE at the start of the Showdown Race
then the segment winners and the two fan votes transfer.

NOTE:
Yes, you can make your single pick the Showdown Segment 1, 2, or 3 winner, or one of the Fan Vote winners without knowing who they are.(no Dealbreaker award given though)
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The Rules Cabal is in no mood for having to explain the rules. Anybody making more than a single pick, who they want to win the All Star Race, will face harsh repercussions. There is no need to try and name the Showdown or Fan Vote winner. You have been warned.
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Everybody pick a driver each week. Nobody picks the same driver, picking is first come first served. The thread will be posted weekly. By rule, I get to pick Kasey Kahne each week if I am so compelled. Tally up the points of the driver yous pick each week and reset the field after the Richmond race. This will be a 26 week play-in to the Chase For The Cup.
This means there will only be 40 spots available in this contest. SO SIGN UP EARLY AND OFTEN(you mults yous).

Then, starting with the first Chase race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, the Top 12 posters shall be assigned to the driver corresponding in the SPRINT CUP standings. They keep this driver for the duration of the Chase. The chosen 12 will also get to pick a driver out of the Chase to make things more interesting. And rack up the points for the championship.

Confused? Good. Reward? Yes. A prize of undetermined greatness will be given out after the season.

1. If you pick someone and one of the players ahead of you in the standings want that driver, you have to pick another driver. This will go on for the rest of the season, just like NASCAR. If you don't pick another driver by the drop of the green flag you will be assigned the best available driver based on qualifying. A poster can only have their pick bumped ONCE per week. Your second pick will be protected from getting bumped a second time. Unless someone uses a Dealbreaker award on you.

*Dealbreaker award
This rule has been added to let someone who picks a race winner to be given a Dealbreaker award. It would let the poster either pick bump anyone(except the leader) ahead of them in the standings or take somebodys second pick. It can be saved and used at anytime during the regular season, even right before the drop of the green flag. The Dealbreaker award is a regular season gimmick and none will be given during the playoff season. The awards can transfer to the playoffs, but all deals must be complete by the last regular season race Week 26 at Richmond.

Any players who get their pick bumped or somebody goes and uses the Dealbreaker on them, they will be PM'ed in a timely manner as possible. Dealbreaker awards are able to be bought, sold, or bartered. Players don't have to use them every week or ever use them at all and sell them to players that would really need it late in the regular season. The Dealbreaker may be dealt for straight cash homie, or you can trade some of your points, or work out something to job a player ahead of you in the standings.

Shenanigans are endorsed and encouraged by the Rules Cabal. All trades, deals, and any other kind of brilliant schemes must be presented in the weekly thread and approved by the Rules Cabal for them to be used that week. The value of the Dealbreaker award has yet to been set. I'll leave that up to those involved in the dealings. And let anyone say a single cross word about the Rules Cabal decisions and watch what happens.

If you pick someone and one of the above mentioned posters want that driver, you have to pick another driver. If you don't pick another driver by the drop of the green flag you will be assigned the best available driver based on qualifying.

PLEASE NOTE:
A Dealbreaker Pick may be taken from you by someone else also using a Dealbreaker. This is called "nuclear option"
driver picking. Yes, this is unfair and everyone may use up their Dealbreakers going after the same driver, in the same week.

2. *** A poster can only have their pick bumped ONCE per week. Your second pick will be protected from getting bumped a second time. ***
3. Up to 40 people will be eligible for the contest during the first 26 races of the season. Once the Chase To The Cup starts, only the top 12 will advance to the playoffs.
4. You can sign up and never make a pick, you'll be assigned the best available driver based on qualifying that week.
5. Failure to abide by these rules will be dealt with the most harsh and unfair of judgements by the NASCAR Pick 'em rules cabal, err, committee.

Overall Standings
After Week 12

Total pts._________________ Driver
403 newper***____________ Kevin Harvick
366 Urlacher's missing neck*_ Joey Logano
363 doug-ep**____________ Carl Edwards
362 Terry's Peeps__________ Kyle Busch
360 Secret Squirrel**_______ Kurt Busch
359 Gloopan Kuratz_________ Danica Patrick
358 Apologist*____________ Dale Earnhardt Jr
354 RFDC*________________ *Denny Hamlin
351 pittmike______________ *Matt Kenseth
349 Hussra_______________ NP-Chase Elliott
345 chaspopcapp*_________Kasey Kahne
327 Furious Styles__________ NP-Jamie Mcmurray
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317 Peoria Matt___________*Martin Truex Jr.
305 sjboyd0137___________ NP-Ryan Newman
264 Hatchetman__________ *Chase Elliott
260 Hank Scorpio__________ NP-Trevor Bayne
248 donspiracy____________ Brad Keselowski
245 K Effective____________ Jimmie Johnson
241 Free Ajent____________ NP-Tony Stewart
201 nwfisch_______________ NP-Kyle Larson
196 jimmypasta___________ NP-Greg Biffle
*Dealbreaker Award______*2ndPick NP-NoPick

Here are the changes to the Showdown and All-Star races:
http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/ ... edway.html

2016 All-Star race awards table
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125 points WINNER TAKE ALL!
Dealbreaker awards for the following:
-picking the Showdown segment winners, or Fan Vote winners, by name.
-winners of Segment 1, 2, and one for the guy who comes out of the pit first after the Segment 2 mandatory four-tire stop, if it's not the Segment 2 winner(no double-dippin' there).
-leading 10 laps
-catching on fire. gas/oil line failure, tire rubber on brakes, and engine destruction only. Unburnt fuel out the exhaust when restarting a stalled car does not count.
-avoiding a wreck by going thru the infield with no contact, splitter damage is ok and driving straight down pit lane does not count.(The glorious cheater JJ did this last year)
-being taken out by another driver. Thru either ill will or ill handling, a driver taken out of the race and must DNF the event to get the award. If your driver takes himself out or causes the wreck, no award is given.
-first car out. the last place finisher will get a prize too. It is possible for the double dip here if your guy is taken out and ends up last. Two Deals, Wow!

Some of these awards are judgment calls and thankfully the NASCAR Rules Cabal has great judgment. I'll have my big yellow pad out during the race and will do a racelog.
All disputes and pleading of cases will be heard and acted upon in a timely manner.

Starting Lineup
The Sprint All-Star Race
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Charlotte Motor Speedway - 5/21/2016

1)#4-Harvick 191.008 (1st in owners points)
2) #75(18)-Busch 190.873 (2)
3) #41-Busch 191.795 (3)
4) #19-Edwards 192.027 (4)
5) #48-Johnson 191.483 (5)
6) #2-Keselowski 192.027 (6)
7) #24-Elliott, Fan Vote Winner (7)
8.) #22-Logano 191.700 (8)
9) #78-Truex Jr. 190.873 (9)
10) #88-Earnhardt Jr. 189.547 (11)
11) #20-Kenseth 190.665 (12)
12) #11-Hamlin 191.904 (13)
13) #1-McMurray 189.434 (14)
14) #31-Newman 190.396 (17)
15) #6-Bayne, Segment 1 Showdown winner (18)
16) #5-Kahne 189.940 (20)
17) #14-Stewart 188.827 (21)
18) #42-Larson, Segment 3 Showdown winner (22)
19) #10-Patrick, 2nd in Fan Vote (24)
20) #16-Biffle, Segment 2 Showdown winner (25)

Entry List
The Sprint All-Star Race
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Charlotte Motor Speedway - 5/21/2016

Car # Driver Manufacturer Sponsor Owner
1 1 Jamie McMurray Chevy Bass Pro Shop / National Turkey Federation Chip Ganassi Racing
2 2 Brad Keselowski Ford Miller Lite Team Penske
3 4 Kevin Harvick Chevy Busch Light Stewart-Haas Racing
4 5 Kasey Kahne Chevy Drive Home a Winner Hendrick Motorsports
5 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express Joe Gibbs Racing
6 14 Tony Stewart Chevy Bass Pro Shop Stewart-Haas Racing
7 19 Carl Edwards Toyota ARRIS Surfboard Joe Gibbs Racing
8 20 Matt Kenseth Toyota Dollar General Joe Gibbs Racing
9 22 Joey Logano Ford Shell Pennzoil Team Penske
10 31 Ryan Newman Chevy Caterpillar / Grainger Richard Childress Racing
11 41 Kurt Busch Chevy Haas Automation / Monster Energy Stewart-Haas Racing
12 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevy Lowe's Hendrick Motorsports
13 75 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M's 75th Anniversary Joe Gibbs Racing
14 78 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota Furniture Row Furniture Row Racing
15 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy Mountain Dew Hendrick Motorsports
16 Showdown Segment 1 winner - Trevor Bayne
17 Showdown Segment 2 winner - Greg Biffle
18 Showdown Segment 3 winner - Kyle Larson
19 Fan Vote Winner #1 - Chase Elliott
20 Fan Vote Winner #2 - Danica Patrick

Entry List
The Sprint Showdown
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Charlotte Motor Speedway - 5/20/2016

Car # Driver Manufacturer Sponsor Owner
1 3 Austin Dillon Chevy Dow Richard Childress Racing
2 6 Trevor Bayne Ford AdvoCare Roush Fenway Racing
3 7 Regan Smith Chevy Nikko RC / Toy State Tommy Baldwin Racing
4 10 Danica Patrick Chevy Nature's Bakery Stewart-Haas Racing
5 13 Casey Mears Chevy GEICO Germain Racing
6 15 Clint Bowyer Chevy 5-Hour Energy HScott Motorsports
7 16 Greg Biffle Ford Cheez-It Roush Fenway Racing
8 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford Ford EcoBoost Roush Fenway Racing
9 21 Ryan Blaney # Ford Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Wood Brothers Racing
10 23 David Ragan Toyota BUBBA burger BK Racing
11 24 Chase Elliott # Chevy 3M Hendrick Motorsports
12 27 Paul Menard Chevy Knauf / Menards Richard Childress Racing
13 30 Josh Wise Chevy Curtis Key Plumbing The Motorsports Group
14 32 Jeffrey Earnhardt Ford TBD GO FAS Racing
15 34 Chris Buescher # Ford CSX Play it Safe Front Row Motorsports
16 38 Landon Cassill Ford MDS Transport Front Row Motorsports
17 42 Kyle Larson Chevy Target Chip Ganassi Racing
18 43 Aric Almirola Ford Smithfield Richard Petty Motorsports
19 44 Brian Scott # Ford TBD Richard Petty Motorsports
20 46 Michael Annett Chevy Pilot Flying J HScott Motorsports
21 47 A.J. Allmendinger Chevy Uwharrie Bank JTG Daugherty Racing
22 55 Reed Sorenson Toyota World Record Striper Company Premium Motorsports
23 83 Matt Dibenedetto Toyota Hope for the Warriors & Cosmo Motors BK Racing
24 95 Michael McDowell Chevy WRL General Contractors Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing
25 98 Cole Whitt Chevy Vydox Plus Premium Motorsports

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Logano

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Junior

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If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

Carl Edwards

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@audioidkid

Danica

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Harvick

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

kenseth

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Kahne

Rowdy

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Jr.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

2nd pick, Kennseth.

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If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

elliott

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

kahne

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

Truex

Harvick

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

Johnson, give me Johnson. I'll take all the Johnson I can get.

2nd pick: Hamlin

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

After all track activity was rained out yesterday, a no speed limit on pit road session starts almost an hour late.

It's gonna be a long day.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Gimme The Miller Lite Guy, Brad Keselowski.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Carl Edwards hits pit road at 150mph.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Nearing the start of the Showdown, wonder if Secret Squirrel will come out of hiding to make a pick before the window closes.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

What channel is this on?

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

FOX SPORTS 1

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

good morning race fans!!!!!

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Showdown will be two 20 lap segments and a final 10 lap segment.

Strap it down!!!

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Engines are fired. It's almost race time!

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

This race could be a mess.

I expect Dibenedetto to hang back as the Internet has rallied to his cause and he should be one of the Fan Vote winners.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Sprint Showdown green flag!!!!

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Chase Elliott to the lead!!

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Lap 5 of 20.

Elliott, Blaney, and Austin Dillon up front.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded