Unlike Major League Baseball, there is virtually no chance that NASCAR's all-star event will end in a tie.

Now in its 19th year, The Winston has arguably become the most competitive major league all-star event. And this year, there are a million reasons why.

Series sponsor RJ Reynolds will award $1 million to Saturday night's winner and for that reason alone drivers have plenty of incentive.

"Last year, I said I would race just as hard if the winner got 10 bucks, but a million to win certainly gets your attention," said 2000 Winston winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. "Is it about the money? I should say 'no,' but, hell yeah -- a million dollars is a million dollars, ya know?"

The Daytona 500 is the only other race on the Winston Cup schedule that pays more than a million to win. The Brickyard 400, which paid last year's winner Bill Elliott $449,056, is a distant second.

But even without the money, The Winston has seemingly been heading in the opposite direction of stick and ball sports' all-star events when it comes to player motivation.

While the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB all-star games are all entertaining, it's obvious that players in those games tend to hold something back. After all, why should they risk injury and their careers in a relatively meaningless game when there are more important ones still ahead?

Nonetheless, this has not been the attitude of NASCAR drivers when it comes to The Winston.

"The race is all or nothing. It is all about winning," said Kenny Wallace.

The same cannot be said about Baseball. Winning was never less important than last year's MLB All-Star game which ended in a tie. The American and National leagues both ran out of pitchers so commissioner Bud Selig decided what the heck, it's been a good show, let's go home.

This is not to say NASCAR wouldn't do the same thing. This year's rain-shortened Daytona 500 -- or should I say 272.5 -- proved as much. However, The Winston has been immune to driver apathy. In fact, the intensity level may be higher in this exhibition event than it is in some official races.

	Drivers don't hold back in The Winston -- just ask race winner Jeff Gordon and Michael Waltrip in 2001.

"This weekend is a different deal. You have a little bit different mind set," explained Johnny Benson. "There's nothing to leave on the table. You aren't going to worry about points, or saving the car for the long run or anything like that. Those last few laps are all about getting to the checkered flag."

Kevin Harvick agrees. "It's not just, 'I'm here to get as many points as I can get and go on,' it's 'I'm here to win the race and everything else doesn't matter.'"

While popularity is the most prevalent of the criteria for becoming an all star in most other sports, performance determines who qualifies for The Winston. To be eligible, drivers must have won an event within the past 12 months. There are also wild card provisionals reserved for past Winston Cup champions and former winners of the event.

This effectively eliminates some of the problems other sports have had where fan voting leaves deserving players off rosters. However, it has created problems of its own.

There is always a consolation event, sometimes more than one, that allows otherwise ineligible drivers an opportunity to qualify for The Winston by racing their way in. This year, the winner of The Winston Open, a 30-lap opening act, will transfer to the main event. Here's the flaw: Because of that, The Winston -- a winners only event -- has been won twice by drivers who had never won until that point in their careers (Michael Waltrip in 1996 and Ryan Newman in 2002).

So it's not a perfect system, but it is exciting.

Said Earnhardt Jr.: "It's all about guts." Which begs the question, do baseball and basketball players described their all-star games that way? Probably not.

Playing in any NFL game takes courage, but when was the last time a quarterback stayed in the pocket too long or sacrificed his body and took a big time hit scrambling for a first down in the Pro Bowl? It just doesn't happen. Guts, sure. Risks? Nah.

Some other sports' exhibitions might be better described as "All-Stare" games because typically players spend most of their time on the bench watching as others are rotated in and out. In The Winston, all the stars are on the track at the same time -- at least to start. To stay there they must earn the right.

	“	Last year, I said I would race just as hard if the winner got 10 bucks, but a million to win certainly gets your attention. Is it about the money? I should say 'no,' but, hell yeah -- a million dollars is a million dollars, ya know? ”
		— Earnhardt Jr.

This year's "Survival of the Fastest" format breaks The Winston into three segments, totaling 90 laps. After the first 40 circuits four of the 24 drivers will be eliminated. Following the second 30-lap period another six cars will be axed. This creates pressure and requires drivers to bring their A-game.

"If you make a mistake, blow a corner and two guys get by you, and you're one spot away from being bumped, you're not going to get a second chance to get into the next race. You've missed it. That's it. You're done," said Tony Stewart.

The format in itself adds excitement; something other sports might be well served to take note of. Sure, there would be those who objected, but imagine adding a four-point shot to the NBA All-Star game. Perhaps the NHL could jazz up its mid-season exhibition by awarding each team three free power plays to be used at their discretion. Maybe the NFL could subtract points for turnovers.

I know, all of those are crazy ideas. But there is one area where Major League Baseball could definitely benefit by following NASCAR's lead. Have a winner.

Mike Massaro covers NASCAR for ESPN and ESPN.com.