The Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown is a Super Late Model championship event at Irwindale Speedway, originally held from 2006-10 seasons as a non-championship NASCAR event for lower-level series, and since the 2020 motorsport season, revived by the circuit was a Super Late Model event for the SRL Southwest Tour.
The original format from 2003-11 seasons were sanctioned by NASCAR. The revived event, which the track and the Southwest Tour still recognise continually, continues to be held at Irwindale.
2006 format
In 2006, the Showdown was a two-race card, as it had been throughout its brief history. One was for drivers in the AutoZone Elite Division, comprising the Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest divisions. The other was for drivers in the Grand National Division, which was made up of the Busch East and AutoZone West Divisions.
The top 15 drivers in points in each of the two Grand National series comprised the field for that division's race for a total of 30, while the top 10 drivers in points in each of the four Elite series set the field for that division's race, or 40 in total.
On Friday night, the fields were split in half and the drivers competed in qualifying races (akin to the Gatorade Duel) to determine the starting lineup for the following night's main event. The drivers with the worst position in their respective division's standings started at the front of the field, and the lineups were filled by alternating the series. (For example, a Northwest driver followed by a Southeast driver followed by a Southwest driver followed by a Midwest driver.)
Drivers in the first race took the inside lanes for the Saturday main event, while those in the second race took the outside lane. All drivers entered automatically qualified for the main race.
2007 format
The 2007 Showdown was held October 19–20, again at Irwindale Speedway, with a new two-day format.
The first race became a 150-lap Super Late Model race held on the Friday night, with any Super Late Model racer who races in a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series track eligible for the event.
The Grand National race featured major changes:
The race is 250 laps (held in 3 segments of 100, 100, and 50 laps with 10-minute breaks in between – the only time cars are allowed to change tires except for flats or damage) and features a 40-car starting field. Top 15 drivers in both Grand National divisions invited and receive bonus money. Any driver approved by NASCAR to race in this division at tracks of one-half mile or greater may attempt this race. (Previously, only the top 15 in each division was eligible.) Only exempt cars automatically qualified for the race. Exemptions were awarded on the following (Any Grand National team may help these champions in other cars obtain a ride): Any Grand National race winner in 2007. All NASCAR Regional Series champions for 2007 Busch East Series NASCAR West Series Whelen Modified Tour Whelen Southern Modified Tour Canadian Tire Series Corona Series leader as of September 2 (Due to the race being before the NCS season ends; this problem was resolved with the 2008 season by moving the race to January 2009) Whelen All-American Series National Champion These exempt drivers (minimum seven) will be added with the top cars from Friday qualifying to form a 30-car starting field. A 50-lap last chance qualifier will establish the final ten cars for Saturday's 250-lap feature.
The format change was required because the Elite Division is no longer in place. NASCAR disbanded the division after the 2006 season.
2008 season format
A major criticism of the format was that because of the All-Star Showdown date, it could result in the race being held before certain major races (such as the ones at Phoenix International Raceway on Sprint Cup weekend) could be held before the Showdown. NASCAR had a problem with the Corona Series still in progress before the Showdown.
Thus, NASCAR moved the race to January 2009 for the 2008 season champions, allowing the entire NASCAR season for regional racing to finish before running the Showdown.
The 2008 season format will remain the same, with the Camping World East and West, Whelen Modified, Southern Modified, and All-American National, Canadian Tire, and Corona Series champions, and also race winners from the Camping World East and West series entered in the race.
The 150-lap late model race on Friday continues.
Rain interrupted the Showdown and forced all three races to be run on Saturday; however, only the Camping World Series race was run to its conclusion, with the race going past 10:30 pm.