| Race details[1] | ||||
| Date | May 21, 2011 | |||
| Location | Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina | |||
| Course | Permanent racing facility 1.5 mi (2.4 km) | |||
| Distance | 100 laps, 150 mi (240 km) | - style="vertical-align: middle;" | Weather | --> |
| Avg Speed | ||||
| Sprint Showdown< | -- | - style="vertical-align: middle;" | Pole position | --> |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | David Ragan, Roush Fenway Racing | |||
| Sprint All-Star Race | ||||
| Pole position | Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing | |||
| Showdown transfers | David Ragan (Showdown winner) Brad Keselowski (Showdown runner-up) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Fan vote) | |||
| Most laps led | Greg Biffle, Roush Fenway Racing (46) | |||
| Winner | Carl Edwards, Roush Fenway Racing | |||
| Television | ||||
| Network | Speed | |||
| Announcers | Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Michael Waltrip |
The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star Race was the 27th running of NASCAR's special non-points race involving winners of the 2010 and 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races through the 2011 FedEx 400 as well as Sprint All-Star Race 2001–2010 winners, when the event was known as "The Winston" and the "Nextel All-Star Challenge", and past Sprint Cup champions from the decade covering 2001 to 2010, including the "Winston Cup" (2001–2003) and "Nextel Cup" (2004–2007) eras. The event was run at the 1.5miles Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Charlotte, North Carolina suburb of Concord on May 21, 2011. Speed provided television coverage in the United States while MRN (over-the-air/terrestrial) and Sirius XM Radio (satellite) had radio rights.
The format of the race was similar to the 2010 event, broken down as follows:
The qualifying session for eligible drivers consisted of three laps instead of the standard two, including a pit stop after either of the first two laps, slowing to the speed limit of 45 mph entering pit road, but going full throttle as they exit.
The following drivers qualified for the race in these categories:
The following five drivers fit into the Past Champions category:
The following four drivers are eligible as a past winner of the event in the last decade:
The following ten drivers are eligible by winning a Sprint Cup points race in 2010 or 2011:
For those not listed above, a special race, The Sprint Showdown, consisting of two halves of 20 laps [{{convert|30|mi|km}}] each was held prior to the main event. The top two finishers and a driver chosen by a fan poll were promoted to the main event:
Only winning drivers, not teams, are eligible to race in the All-Star Race; previously a team could qualify for the race even if the driver who won a race for the team was no longer employed by them.
* - Trevor Bayne was scheduled to run in the All Star Race, but the Wood Brothers team withdrew him due to him still recovering from an illness.
| Driver | Team | Make | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Dodge | ||
| 6 | Ford | ||
| 09 | Chevrolet | ||
| 9 | Ford | ||
| 13 | Toyota | ||
| 20 | Toyota | ||
| 27 | Chevrolet | ||
| 30 | Chevrolet | ||
| 31 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 32 | Ford | ||
| 34 | Ford | ||
| 37 | Ford | ||
| 38 | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | |
| 43 | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | |
| 47 | Toyota | ||
| 50 | T. J. Bell (R) | Chevrolet | |
| 56 | Toyota | ||
| 60 | Germain Racing | Toyota | |
| 64 | Max Q Motorsports | Ford | |
| 66 | Toyota | ||
| 71 | Andy Lally (R) | Ford | |
| 81 | Chevrolet | ||
| 83 | Toyota | ||
| 87 | Toyota | ||
| 88 | Chevrolet | ||
| 92 | Chevrolet | ||
| 95 | Ford | ||
| Driver | Team | Make | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | |
| 1 | Chevrolet | ||
| 4 | Red Bull Racing | Toyota | |
| 5 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | |
| 14 | Chevrolet | ||
| 16 | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | |
| 17 | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | |
| 18 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | |
| 22 | Penske Racing | Dodge | |
| 24 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | |
| 25 | Mark Martin | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 29 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 33 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 39 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 42 | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | |
| 78 | Chevrolet | ||
| 99 | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | |
* - Jimmie Johnson, who usually runs the #48 car, ran the #5 for Lowe's 5% off purchase on their credit card
** - Mark Martin, who usually runs the #5 car, ran the #25 car as a throwback the first #25 car 25 years ago in 1986 driven by Tim Richmond.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Make | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | David Ragan | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 2 | 43 | A. J. Allmendinger | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford |
| 3 | 27 | Paul Menard | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Penske Racing | Dodge |
| 5 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford |
| 7 | 56 | Martin Truex Jr. | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota |
| 8 | 34 | David Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 9 | 20 | Joey Logano | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 10 | 83 | Brian Vickes | Red Bull Racing | Toyota |
| 11 | 13 | Casey Mears | Germain Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | 60 | Mike Skinner | Germain Racing | Toyota |
| 13 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 14 | 47 | Bobby Labonte | JTG Daugherty Racing | Toyota |
| 15 | 09 | Landon Cassill | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 38 | Travis Kvapil | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 17 | 66 | Todd Bodine | HP Racing | Toyota |
| 18 | 81 | J. J. Yeley | Whitney Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 19 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Toyota |
| 20 | 71 | Andy Lally (R) | TRG Motorsports | Ford |
| 21 | 50 | T. J. Bell (R) | LTD Powersports, LLC. | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 95 | David Starr | Leavine Family Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 37 | Tony Raines | Max Q Motorsports | Ford |
| 24 | 32 | Boris Said | FAS Lane Racing | Ford |
| 25 | 64 | Derrike Cope | Max Q Motorsports | Ford |
| 26 | 30 | David Stremme | Inception Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | 92 | Brian Keselowski | K-Automotive Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Make | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 33 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 4 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 5 | 25 | Mark Martin | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 4 | Kasey Kahne | Red Bull Racing | Toyota |
| 8 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet |
| 10 | 39 | Ryan Newman | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet |
| 11 | 5 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 12 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 14 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 15 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 16 | 22 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing | Dodge |
| 17 | 78 | Regan Smith | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet |
| 18 | 00 | David Reutimann | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | 6 | David Ragan* | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford |
| 20 | 2 | Brad Keselowski** | Penske Racing | Dodge |
| 21 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr.*** | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
* - Won the Showdown
** - Showdown runner up
*** - Fan Vote winner
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | David Ragan | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 40 | 22 | running |
| 2 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Penske Racing | Dodge | 40 | 18 | running |
| 3 | 9 | Marcos Ambrose | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 40 | 0 | running |
| 4 | 43 | A. J. Allmendinger | Richard Petty Motorsports | Ford | 40 | 0 | running |
| 5 | 20 | Joey Logano | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 40 | 0 | running |
| 6 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 40 | 0 | running |
| 7 | 34 | David Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 40 | 0 | running |
| 8 | 47 | Bobby Labonte | JTG Daugherty Racing | Toyota | 40 | 0 | running |
| 9 | 31 | Jeff Burton | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 40 | 0 | running |
| 10 | 83 | Brian Vickers | Red Bull Racing | Toyota | 40 | 0 | running |
| 11 | 27 | Paul Menard | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 40 | 0 | running |
| 12 | 13 | Casey Mears | Germain Racing | Toyota | 40 | 0 | running |
| 13 | 56 | Martin Truex Jr. | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 40 | 0 | running |
| 14 | 81 | J. J. Yeley | Whitney Motorsports | Chevrolet | 40 | 0 | running |
| 15 | 60 | Mike Skinner | Germain Racing | Toyota | 40 | 0 | running |
| 16 | 38 | Travis Kvapil | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 40 | 0 | running |
| 17 | 66 | Todd Bodine | HP Racing | Toyota | 40 | 0 | running |
| 18 | 50 | T. J. Bell (R) | LTD Powersports, LLC. | Chevrolet | 40 | 0 | running |
| 19 | 87 | Joe Nemechek | NEMCO Motorsports | Toyota | 40 | 0 | running |
| 20 | 92 | Brian Keselowski | K-Automotive Motorsports | Chevrolet | 40 | 0 | running |
| 21 | 37 | Tony Raines | Max Q Motorsports | Ford | 40 | 0 | running |
| 22 | 95 | David Starr | Leavine Family Racing | Ford | 29 | 0 | ignition |
| 23 | 71 | Andy Lally (R) | TRG Motorsports | Ford | 28 | 0 | running |
| 24 | 30 | David Stremme | Inception Motorsports | Chevrolet | 27 | 0 | crash |
| 25 | 32 | Boris Said | FAS Lane Racing | Ford | 3 | 0 | crash |
| 26 | 09 | Landon Cassill | Phoenix Racing | Chevrolet | 2 | 0 | crash |
| 27 | 64 | Derrike Cope | Max Q Motorsports | Ford | 2 | 0 | crash |
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99 | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 100 | 29 | running |
| 2 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 100 | 19 | running |
| 3 | 00 | David Reutimann | Michael Waltrip Racing | Toyota | 100 | 0 | running |
| 4 | 14 | Tony Stewart | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 | running |
| 5 | 16 | Greg Biffle | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 100 | 46 | running |
| 6 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 100 | 0 | running |
| 7 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 100 | 0 | running |
| 8 | 6 | David Ragan | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 100 | 0 | running |
| 9 | 29 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 | running |
| 10 | 39 | Ryan Newman | Stewart-Haas Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 | running |
| 11 | 5 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 100 | 6 | running |
| 12 | 42 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 | running |
| 13 | 22 | Kurt Busch | Penske Racing | Dodge | 100 | 0 | running |
| 14 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 | running |
| 15 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 | running |
| 16 | 33 | Clint Bowyer | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 | running |
| 17 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | Earnhardt Ganassi Racing | Chevrolet | 100 | 0 | running |
| 18 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | Penske Racing | Dodge | 99 | 0 | running |
| 19 | 25 | Mark Martin | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 93 | 0 | crash |
| 20 | 78 | Regan Smith | Furniture Row Racing | Chevrolet | 90 | 0 | fuel pump |
| 21 | 4 | Kasey Kahne | Red Bull Racing | Toyota | 59 | 0 | crash |
The formal inductions for the second class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, made up of Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, David Pearson, and Lee Petty, was held the day after the race on Sunday, May 22. This became the last year the inductions will take place in May; beginning in 2012, the ceremonies will be held in January following a June election.
The annual Craftsman All-Star Pit Crew Challenge competition was held on the Thursday prior to the race at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. The #11 Joe Gibbs Racing team, led by Mike Ford, won the competition over the #48 of Hendrick Motorsports. As a result, the #11, driven by Denny Hamlin, received the first selection of pit stalls for the All-Star Race.