NASCAR Expands Eligibility for the Bud Shootout.
By: Drew Hierwarter
From time to time NASCAR has adjusted the format of the race, but except for a name change to the “Bud Shootout”, it has remained basically the same through the years. Until now that is.
For the 2010 Bud Shootout NASCAR has decided to, huh, expand the field somewhat. The new qualification for entry is based on the following criteria among those drivers who have competed in the Cup Series within the past two seasons:
• The 12 drivers that qualified for the 2009 Chase
• Past Cup Series champions
• Past Budweiser Shootout champions
• Past Daytona points race winners
• The reigning rookie of the year
The race distance will still be 75 laps run in segments of 25 and 50 laps. All caution laps will count. Between segments there will be a 10-minute pit stop for teams to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments.
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s Vice President of Competition made the following statement; “We’re always looking at ways to make this event bigger and better for our fans and we believe the new format for the Budweiser Shootout puts together an exceptionally strong lineup of our top drivers. In our discussions with the track, we thought by placing an additional emphasis on the drivers who had performed well at Daytona over the years would create an even more compelling element for the fans to get excited about at the beginning of the season.”
Starting positions will again be determined by a blind-draw and the 32nd annual season-opening event will once again launch Speedweeks at Daytona this coming February 6th with the green flag set for 8:10 p.m. Eastern time.
Here is the list of drivers who are eligible for this year’s “Bud Shootout”:
John Andretti, July race winner
Greg Biffle, 2009 Chase
Geoff Bodine, Daytona 500, Shootout winner
Jeff Burton, July race winner
Kurt Busch, 2009 Chase
Kyle Busch, July race winner
Derrike Cope, Daytona 500 winner
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona 500, July race, Shootout winner
Carl
Bill Elliott, Series champion, Daytona 500, July race, Shootout winner
Jeff Gordon, 2009 Chase
Denny Hamlin, 2009 Chase
Kevin Harvick, Daytona 500, Shootout winner
Jimmie Johnson, 2009 Chase
Kasey Kahne, 2009 Chase
Matt Kenseth, Series champion, Daytona 500 winner
Bobby Labonte, Series champion
Terry Labonte, Series champion, Shootout winner
Joey Logano, Reigning Raybestos rookie of the year
Sterling Marlin, Daytona 500, July race winner
Mark Martin, 2009 Chase
Jamie McMurray, July race winner
Juan Montoya, 2009 Chase
Ryan Newman, 2009 Chase
Ken Schrader, Shootout winner
Tony Stewart, 2009 Chase
Brian Vickers, 2009 Chase
Michael Waltrip, Daytona 500, July race winner
Several of the drivers on the eligibility list have not been competing in the Cup Series on anything resembling a regular basis in recent seasons. For example, Ken Schrader’s last Cup race was
As always, your comments are welcomed. Do you like this change? Should it go back to just Pole winners? How would you do it?
December 28th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
No! Pole means nothing now. What do we expect with Coors sponsoring the Pole and Bud sponsoring the Shootout.
December 28th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
You mean, ‘NASCAR cheapens the field for the 2010 Budweiser Shoot-out”. Every year, since the Shoot-out Exhibition race has been run, the Dummies in Daytona find a way to add the favs of the year before, with an eye to making more money. They should just call it an exhibition, just like any local track promoter would do, and select who they want in the field, and quit trying to make-up some kind of legitimacy for the participants. We all know it’s about money. The Bozos on the Beach oughta just say so.
December 28th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
It is interesting to look at who won what. For all of you who think that Jr is not a very good driver, look at which of the criterion he meets, every thing but rookie of the year and series winner. Interesting to also see which of the big names haven’t done as well as he has. I like the new format; at least it has to do 100% with what the driver has accomplished instead of the kind of car he drives.
December 28th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Doing some research on past winners for both the Daytona 500 and Firecracker 400, past Cup champs, past Shootout winners, and the reigning ROY, there could be as many as 46 eligible drivers. Whether or not all 46 would show up is a different matter. Based on what I’ve seen of the criteria, you could have Rex White, Ned Jarrett, David Pearson, The King, Cale Yarborough, Motormouth Waltrip Sr, the Allison brothers, and several others show up based on the past champion criteria. But let’s face it. It’s all to keep the “teacher’s pets” coming back, to sell outrageously priced t-shirts and hats, and gouging fans for every last nickel they have.
December 28th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Another year, another pity pass for the Shoot-out. 2009 pity pass was for Tony Stewart, 2010 pity pass for Dale Jr. What a joke!
December 29th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Mad Man,
The one part of the equation you may have missed is that the eligible drivers must have raced in the last two years.
“The new qualification for entry is based on the following criteria among those drivers who have competed in the Cup Series within the past two seasons:”
That eliminates those drivers you mentioned.
December 31st, 2009 at 8:18 pm
In essence, the field would be reduced from last year, which was 28. My estimation will have the field at 22 with Andretti, Cope, Schrader, T. Labonte, G. Bodine and Marlin not taking part.
February 6th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
I think it should be every DRIVER that STARTED every race the season before