Patrick Carpentier says he’s never made a promise he hasn’t kept. Even if it was just a little humiliating.

Nobody believed the open wheel veteran would honor the bet he made in 2002 after he won the Mid-Ohio CART race. But Carpentier took off his driving uniform, Nomex and ran the full course wearing only the checkered flag.

Could we have a repeat performance after the All-Star race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway this weekend?

Carpentier has promised to shed his clothes and sprint down pit lane if fans vote him into the race.

“If we don’t race our way in, I hope the fans remember what I promised. I told them I would run naked down pit road if they voted me in and I’m serious. We’ll see if they give me that chance.”

Carpentier can keep his clothes on if he finishes in one of the top two spots in the Sprint Showdown. The top two finishers advance into the All-Star race. Additionally, the driver with the highest number of fan votes, who is still on the lead lap at the conclusion of the second segment, will also earn a starting spot in the All-Star event.

The 60-mile race consists of two 20-lap segments with an optional pit stop between the two.

TV and Radio Times: Qualifying is set for Friday at 5:10 p.m. (ET) on SPEED TV and PRN Radio. Race time on Saturday is 7:30 p.m. (ET) on Fox and PRN Radio.

DRIVER PATRICK CARPENTIER QUOTES:

THIS WHOLE ALL-STAR EVENT IS NEW TO YOU ISN’T IT? “It really is. This is one of the neat things about NASCAR. They always do things to make the sport stand out and this is one of those times. The drivers will be excited. The fans will be excited. It’s just going to be fun weekend. One of the coolest things is how the fans will be able to vote a driver into the All-Star from the Showdown race.

“I’ve been looking forward to this race for a while. It’s going to be nice to have a Friday where I’m not stressed about qualifying on time. This race is going to be all about fun.

“We had a pretty decent test at Lowe’s a couple weeks ago. So hopefully we can run strong enough to finish in the top-two in the Showdown race. But we’d be more than happy if we got the fan vote. We just want the chance to race in the All-Star.”

ARE YOU REALLY PREPARED TO STREAK IF THE FANS VOTE YOU IN? “I certainly am. For those of you who don’t remember, this wouldn’t be my first time streaking. I did it at the Mid-Ohio road course. I bet some friends that if I won the race I would run a lap naked. I ended up winning the race. So I had to do what I had to do. A bet’s a bet. So I can guarantee you, if the fans vote me in, I will live up to my promise.”

NOTES

Chassis

Carpentier will be driving chassis No. 239, which finished 28th at Texas and participate in Charlotte testing last week. Backup is No. 218.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway

This is Carpentier’s first event in race conditions as LMS The No. 10 Charter crew participated in testing at LMS last week.

2008 Season

Carpentier started 4th at Richmond – his best start of the season. The Quebec-native led four laps at Darlington. His first laps led of 2008. It was the first time a rookie has led at Darlington since 2004. His 28th place finish at Texas was his best finish of the 2008 season. Additionally, the 36-year-old earned Raybestos Rookie of the Race honors after Texas. Carpentier has started every race that he has had a chance to qualify for, excluding only the Daytona 500.

History

Carpentier began his career with Gillett Evernham Motorsports at Watkins Glen last season. Carpentier’s accomplishments outside of NASCAR include two Champ Car World Series wins, three CART victories and a Toyota Atlantic Championship.

Gillett Evernham Motorsports

Ray Evernham served as Jeff Gordon’s crew chief from 1992-’99 winning 47 races and three Cup championships. Evernham founded Evernham Motorsports in 2000 and began first full season of competition in 2001 serving as the cornerstone of Dodge’s return to NASCAR. George Gillett Jr. became co-owner with Evernham in October 2007. Gillett also owns the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL and the Liverpool soccer team in the English Premier League. Gillett Evernham Motorsports campaigns Kasey Kahne in the No. 9, Patrick Carpentier in the No. 10, and Elliott Sadler in the No. 19 in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. The organization also fields the No. 9 in NASCAR Nationwide Series races with its Sprint Cup drivers plus rookie Chase Miller. Gillett Evernham Motorsports owns 13 victories and 24 poles.