by Mark Taylor, RotoWire

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Updated: May 14, 2008, 5:54 PM EST Comment

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Most fantasy racing leagues don't recognize the All-Star Race in the fantasy racing season, but some do, along with many racing pools that form specifically for this event and its unique format. The format's unique in that it's divided into several racing segments, which ultimately culminate in the final segment in which a winner is crowned.

The racing begins with the Sprint Showdown, a 40-lap sprint divided into two 20-lap segments. Three Showdown drivers will transfer to the All-Star race, two by winning the Showdown and finishing second; the other by winning a fan vote. To qualify for the Showdown, a driver must have finished in the top 50 of the 2007 Sprint Cup standings or have attempted to qualify for a race in the current season. This is an exciting heat race, for the winner is usually a team that isn't normally a contender for the victory on most Sprint Cup race weekends.

Next is the Sprint Cup All-Star Race. It's a 100-lap event divided into four 25-lap segments. The three drivers who transfer from the Showdown join the drivers who are race winners from the previous and current Sprint Cup seasons, past event champions and Sprint Cup Series champions from the past 10 years who are active drivers and have competed in at least one series event during the 2007 or 2008 season.

Once the field's set, racing begins in the first segment. Teams will have the option of pitting after the first 25-lap segment of the event, giving up their respective on-track position by doing so, in order to take on tires, gas or make adjustments. A mandatory 10-minute stop will follow the second 25-lap segment. Teams will resume their track position at the start of the third segment. Following segment three, all remaining participants on the track will circle the track under caution. Each team will then conduct a pit stop under race-like pitting conditions. The order of the teams exiting pit road will serve as the starting lineup for the fourth, and final, 25-lap segment.

Since this race is unlike any other of the normal Sprint Cup events, we'll handle the prognostications a bit different as well. We'll give you our picks for who'll contend for the win in the Sprint Showdown, and then our picks for who'll contend for winning the fourth and final segment of the Sprint Cup All-Star Race.

The Showdown Contenders

Kasey Kahne - In a field lacking NASCAR star power, Kahne's name stands out above the rest. He was winless in 2007, and as a result he winds up in the field for the Sprint Showdown. He's never won the Sprint Showdown or a segment of the All-Star race in the past, but don't let that concern you. He's always performed well on the 1-1/2 mile ovals as evidenced by his eighth-place finish at Charlotte last October.

David Ragan - The second-year Roush Fenway driver is turning heads of late. Ragan finished seventh and 13th on the two intermediate ovals of Las Vegas and Texas this season. He and the No. 6 team are riding two top-five finishes in the last three races entering All-Star weekend. He finished second in the first segment of last season's Sprint Showdown, but he crashed out in the second segment. He's ready to make up for that disappointment this weekend.

Brian Vickers - Some may remember Vickers' wild run and fifth-place finish at LMS last May in the Coca-Cola 600. He narrowly missed making NASCAR history for Toyota that evening. He led 76 laps and had a shot at the win before his power steering failed. He won the 2005 Sprint Showdown and knows what it takes to perform on this stage.

Travis Kvapil - Kvapil's fresh off a top-10 finish at Darlington Raceway, and he'll carry that momentum into Saturday night's All-Star race. Ricky Rudd piloted this same car to a fifth-place finish in the Sprint Showdown last season, so we believe the team and the car will do their part. Kvapil's driving well right now and could sneak away with the win in this heat race.

The All-Star Race Contenders

Jimmie Johnson - Despite his recent slump, no driver in recent history has dominated at Lowe's Motor Speedway like Johnson. He's won five of the last 10 Sprint Cup points races at LMS and has finished runner-up twice during that span. That's astounding. Couple that with his two Sprint All-Star Race wins (2003 & 2006), and you have to give your due respect to him at this speedway. His slump not withstanding, he could find some of his old Charlotte magic this weekend.

Jeff Gordon - Gordon's a three-time winner of NASCAR's All-Star event. 2001 was the last time he won the acclaim, so you can imagine he has a great desire to collect a fourth Sprint All-Star Race win. His No. 24 team's been getting their act together of late, and it could culminate in an All-Star Race victory on Saturday night.

Carl Edwards - Edwards dominated last season's Sprint Showdown by leading 37 of the 40 laps, but he finished third and failed to transfer into the All-Star Race. That situation will be different this year. He's already qualified for the field based on his three wins last season. He's been the most dominant driver on the intermediate ovals this season with two wins (Las Vegas & Texas) in three tries thus far. The No. 99 team is our heavyweight contender for the victory in this All-Star event.

Clint Bowyer - His top 10s at Atlanta and Texas grab our attention right away. Bowyer's had some good race cars this season, and he's rode that string of consistency to fifth-place in the championship standings. He led 79 laps and finished runner-up at Lowe's Motor Speedway last October, so the No. 07 team could be a sneaky sleeper play this weekend.

Matt Kenseth - Kenseth is the 2004 Sprint All-Star Race champion, and he knows how to win at LMS. He won the first and third segment of last season's All-Star Race before finally finishing seventh. He's struggled lately, but the team's top 10 at Darlington last weekend may have righted the ship before this huge million-dollar event.

Greg Biffle - Biffle makes the field by virtue of his win at Kansas last September. He's never fared well in the past All-Star Races, but that could change this weekend. He had a super dominant car at Darlington this past weekend and led 95 before an engine failure led to a DNF. His third and fourth-place finishes at Las Vegas and Atlanta this season fill us with confidence.

Kyle Busch - Everything he touches this season turns to gold. Busch has three wins already this season and has the championship standings lead after 11 races. He led 20 laps and won last season's second segment before wrecking his brother Kurt in the final segment. This weekend's All-Star Race is unfinished business for him. He'll do everything in his power to get the $1 million purse and drive into victory lane on Saturday night.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - Earnhardt won his one and only Sprint Cup All-Star Race back in 2000. He's never won a points race at Lowe's Motor Speedway, but he's been one of the more consistent teams on the track thus far this season. Between Las Vegas, Texas and Atlanta this season, Earnhardt's led 110 laps and has one pole and two top-five finishes. You could say the intermediate ovals have been kind to the No. 88 team this season.

Denny Hamlin - Hamlin's the other fist in the Joe Gibbs Racing one-two punch. He sets them up and Kyle Busch knocks the down. Hamlin has a good shot at upstaging his well-publicized teammate on Saturday night. He's never won at LMS, but has three top 10s in five career starts there. He'll be going for his first career All-Star Race win on Saturday evening.

Article first appeared 5/13/08