Manufacturer Showdown: Key Info and Format for All-Star Race’s Exciting New Twist

The NASCAR All-Star Weekend will shine a spotlight on automakers, as the first Manufacturer Showdown takes place at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 18, 2025. Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota will each play a major role as the top NASCAR Cup Series teams prepare for a unique twist at this year’s 250-lap All-Star Race.

The main event is set for Sunday evening, with the race set to begin at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on FS1 and radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

A new scoring system will be in effect for the Showdown. Each manufacturer will be represented by a set number of teams in the All-Star feature.

The size of each automaker’s group is based on the brand with the fewest cars making the 250-lap main event. Only after Sunday’s All-Star Open and the results of the fan vote will the final lineup be clear, as the other two manufacturers will match that team count by selecting drivers according to their starting positions in the All-Star grid.

Drivers from each manufacturer will work together for brand bragging rights. At the end of the race, teams will be grouped by manufacturer, and their finishing positions will be added together.

The car company with the lowest combined total will win the Manufacturer Showdown. If there is a tie, the winner will be the brand with the single best-finishing car.

All teams and participants will be finalized once the All-Star Open wraps up Sunday. The All-Star Open will take place Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

The top two finishers and the driver who secures the fan vote will advance to join the All-Star field. After this, Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota will each fill their Showdown teams to match the smallest team, ensuring equal representation on track.

The event’s format places pressure on every driver, as each finishing position directly impacts their manufacturer’s total.

The All-Star Race format itself brings a few more changes for 2025. Qualifying is set for Friday, May 16, where cars will run a three-lap session requiring a four-tire pit stop.

Two heat races—each 60 laps—will help set the final starting order on Saturday. Sunday’s main event grows from 200 to 250 laps this season.

Drivers must plan for a competition caution at Lap 100 and could face a special “Promoter’s Caution” between laps 100 and 220, if called, to bunch up the field once more. If a natural caution happens after lap 200 without a Promoter’s Caution, that option is taken away.

Entering All-Star Weekend, defending race winner Joey Logano and 2023 champion Kyle Larson have already secured their place. The full roster features those who claimed Cup Series points victories in 2024 and 2025 and past All-Star winners running full-time this season.

The qualifying heats and Open will fill out the rest of the grid, keeping the lineup competitive.

Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota each hope to gain an edge in the first Manufacturer Showdown. The result will give one automaker a special trophy and plenty of pride heading into the rest of the 2025 season.

Fans and teams will be watching closely to see which brand’s lineup delivers the best overall finish by the checkered flag, echoing the competitive spirit seen in other motorsports like the Brittany Force redemption Route66 story. For more on the history of motorsports rivalries, check out the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.