NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race: Big Bucks lead to short fuses

CONCORD, N.C.

There's no need for the typical explosive pre-race show heading into Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. There will be enough fireworks ... and tempers ... and grinding sheet metal. All are products of the kind of all-out, pedal-to-the-metal racing featured in an event that pays the winner $1 million.

Three-time race winner Jeff Gordon refers to that payday, among the sport's richest, as "that carrot out in front of you and makes you go after it that much harder."  Sometimes too hard. // Crashes have eliminated 40 cars in the last five all-star races - and in fields that ranged from only 20 to 24 cars. Doesn't matter if it's newcomers (Kyle Busch has crashed in both his appearances) or former champions (Tony Stewart has crashed in two of the last three all-star races), this event penalizes mistakes equally.

Part of it is the big payday, the other part the format: four 25-lap sprints, each paying bonuses for the top three places: $75,000, $20,000, $10,000.  Here's a look at some of the more memorable crashes that have highlighted NASCAR's big-money sprint:

1989

Rusty Wallace and Darrell Waltrip battle for the lead heading for the white flag when they make contact. Waltrip spins. Wallace goes on to win. Afterward, Waltrip says of Wallace's payday: "I hope he chokes on the $200,000."

1992

The first night all-star race. Kyle Petty taps leader Dale Earnhardt in turn 3 and Earnhardt spins. Petty takes the lead, but Davey Allison catches him, and they run side by side across the finish line. They bump just after Allison wins, sending Allison into the wall. He goes to the hospital with a concussion instead of to Victory Lane.

2001

Rain falls as the race begins, creating a multi-car crash that included Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Michael Waltrip. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, NASCAR allows those teams to race their backup cars. Gordon wins in his backup.

2002

Kurt Busch taps Robby Gordon, sending Gordon into a spin late in the race. Busch concedes he did it to get a caution and bunch the field. NASCAR later fines Busch $10,000. Earlier in the event, Elliott Sadler crashed, blaming Ryan Newman. Sadler tosses his helmet at Newman's car.

2003

Tony Stewart triggers a six-car crash that leaves Bill Elliott with three broken bones in his left foot. Stewart apologizes and then rips the style of racing the all-star race breeds. "It's starting to become not worth it," he said. "I want to be racing a long time, and I don't want to get wrecked on a non-points race that has turned out to be a hackfest every year."

2004

Kurt Busch runs into the back of teammate Greg Biffle on the frontstretch, triggering a 12-car crash. "Kurt Busch has got his head up his whatever," Biffle says afterward. Busch apologizes and adds: "I've got to get myself in check, I guess."

2005

Tony Stewart taps Joe Nemechek, who gets into Kevin Harvick, starting an accident that damages nine cars. Harvick confronts Nemechek and slaps him on the helmet. Harvick says of Nemechek: "He can... shove it where the sun don't shine." Said Nemechek of Harvick: "He's just being an idiot."

2007

Brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch make contact and crash, the first time the brothers have taken each other out in a Cup race. Said Kurt: "I've been trying to tell him to calm down a little bit and back it off. Instead of running 100 percent maybe he should run at 98. He was at 102 right there."