What is the format for the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race? Format, qualifying and new tires

The 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race is here and the format is intriguing.

All-Star Weekend begins Friday and continues all the way through Sunday night with a $1 million prize on the line for the winning driver and team.

The format and qualifying may seem a bit confusing, here's what to know about the race weekend.

What is the format for the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway?

The 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race is scheduled for 200 laps. There will be stage breaks at Lap 100 and Lap 150.

Drivers who have won points races in either the 2023 or 2024 seasons, past All-Star Race winners or Cup Champions make up the field. A total of 17 drivers are locked into the field with these criteria.

Two of the final three spots are determined by the All-Star Open, which precedes the All-Star Race. The top two finishers from the Open earn transfer spots into the All-Star Race. The final spot is determined by a fan vote for the driver with most votes who had not already raced his way into the All-Star Race.

Heat races were scheduled to determine the starting lineup for the NASCAR All-Star Race. But rain washed that out. That will now be determined by Friday's qualifying.

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What's the Pit Crew Challenge and how does it affect the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race?

The Pit Crew Challenge is a competition to see which team can complete the fastest pit stop. The teams' times in the challenge will determine the starting order for both the NASCAR All-Star heat races and the All-Star Open. The challenge is Friday night.

One driver at a time, they'll leave pit road to begin a time trial. After one complete lap at full speed, the driver will slow down to pit-road speed and go through a pit stop with four new tires and a mock fuel delivery. The driver will then return to the track and race back to the checkered flag.

The winner of the Pit Crew Challenge will win the pole for both the NASCAR All-Star Race and the first heat.

There are different tire combinations for the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race? What does that mean?

NASCAR is bringing three different types of tires to use for the 2024 All-Star Race. A total repave of North Wilkesboro Speedway allows for some flexibility in strategy for this season. Open-wheel racing fans may be familiar with the different compounds.

For the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race, there is a new tire option called the "option" tire. It's a softer compound and allows for more grip and faster lap times, but it wears out faster. This tire is designated by red lettering on the sidewall.

There is the usual tire NASCAR and Goodyear, referred to as the "prime" tire, which will have the traditional yellow Goodyear lettering on the sidewall. That tire doesn't wear out as fast but doesn't yield as quick of lap times.

Lastly, there will be a wet-weather tire in case of rain. NASCAR and Goodyear came up with a wet-weather tire to use at road courses and short tracks, like North Wilkesboro. These tires will have white lettering on the sidewall.

Teams have nine sets of tires -- five sets of primes and four of options -- for the weekend. There will be three sets of primes and two sets of options for the preliminary events (practice, qualifying, heats and Open) and two sets of each prime and option for the All-Star Race itself.

Teams cannot mix and match primes and options, all four tires must be the same compound at all times. Qualifying will be run on the prime tires. Teams will be required to start the race itself on the option tires, with a mandatory four-tire pit stop coming at the halfway break.