Past Series Champion drivers

The following six drivers were eligible in the Past Champions category:

• 48-Jimmie Johnson (Four-time series champion, most recently 2009)
• 14-Tony Stewart (Two-time series champion, most recently 2005; also defending race champion)
• 2-Kurt Busch (2004 series champion)
• 17-Matt Kenseth (2003 series champion)
• 24-Jeff Gordon (Four-time series champion, most recently 2001)
• 71-Bobby Labonte (2000 series champion)

Past All-Star race-winning drivers

The following five drivers were eligible as a past winner of the event in the last decade:

• 9-Kasey Kahne (Sprint All-Star Race XXIV winner)(2008)
• 29-Kevin Harvick (Sprint All-Star Race XXIII winner)(2007)
• 5-Mark Martin (Sprint All-Star Race XXI winner)(2005)
• 39-Ryan Newman (Sprint All-Star Race XVIII winner)(2002)
• 88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Sprint All-Star Race XVI winner)(2000)

2009 or 2010 race winners

The following eight drivers were eligible by winning a Sprint Cup points race in 2009 or 2010:

• 18-Kyle Busch (2009 Shelby 427)
• 12-Brad Keselowski (2009 Aaron's 499)^§
• 00-David Reutimann (2009 Coca-Cola 600)
• 20-Joey Logano (2009 Lenox Industrial Tools 301)
• 11-Denny Hamlin (2009 Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500)
• 83-Brian Vickers (2009 Carfax 400)^†
• 1-Jamie McMurray (2009 AMP Energy 500)^§

§ – McMurray was the winning driver in the #26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford in the AMP Energy 500; that team would later be owned by Latitude 43 Motorsports, and McMurray became the driver of the #1 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet for the 2010 season, also winning the 2010 Daytona 500. The #09 team for which Brad Keselowski drove to victory in the Aaron's 499, as well as the #26 team were not eligible unless:

a) the team won a race prior to May 16;

b) won one of the two top positions of the Sprint Showdown or

c) Aric Almirola, who drove the #09 car or either David Stremme or Boris Said, the respective drivers of the new #26 car, were selected in the fan poll.

† – On May 13, Vickers was sidelined with blood clots in his legs and chest, and Casey Mears replaced him as the interim driver in the #83 Red Bull Racing Toyota. Mears would not have qualified for the event; NASCAR gave the team approval for the driver switch.

For those not listed above, a special race, The Sprint Showdown, consisting of two halves of 20 laps [30 miles (48 km)] each was held prior to the main event. The top two finishers – Martin Truex Jr. and Greg Biffle – and a driver chosen by a fan poll – Carl Edwards – were promoted to the main event. Only winning drivers, not teams, are eligible to race in the All-Star Race.

Showdown

All-Star Race

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All-Star Race

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All-Star Race

Induction of the Charter Class to the NASCAR Hall of Fame

On October 14, 2009, the Charter Class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame were announced, consisting of Bill France Sr., the organization's founder, his son Bill France Jr., seven time series champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt and former driver-owner Junior Johnson. The formal inductions were held on Sunday, May 23 on the Ceremonial Plaza of the new building.

Craftsman All-Star Pit Crew Challenge

The annual Craftsman All-Star Pit Crew Challenge competition was held on the Wednesday prior to the event at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Denny Hamlin's #11 team dethroned Jeff Burton's #31 team as champions, and earned the right to be the first team to choose their pit stall for the race.

Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge

The third annual Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge – judged by former driver Jimmy Spencer, TNA wrestler Jeff Hardy, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith along with Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti from the rock group Creed – was held prior to the All-Star Race. Joey Logano won the event with 67 points.