Post by mountaineer501 on Feb 5, 2009 8:28:56 GMT -5
The Budweiser Shootout traditionally kicks off Speedweeks. The non-points event has jump-started the Sprint Cup Series season since 1979. From 1979 to 1997, the event was known as the "Busch Clash," and in 1998 became the "Bud Shootout." The current name -- "Budweiser Shootout at Daytona" -- was adopted in 2001.
The Shootout previously consisted of drivers who earned a Bud Pole Award in the previous season and past champions of the event who did not earn a Bud Pole during the previous year but finished among the top 50 in the season's final championship standings.
The Shootout's entry format will change in 2009: only the top six teams and one wild-card entry in owner points from each manufacturer will earn berths in the season-opening exhibition race at Daytona.As announced this past August, the field now includes the top six teams from each manufacturer based on the final 2008 car owners' standings. Another change announced on Jan. 16: Each manufacturer also has a "wild card" entry, which increases the field from 24 to 28 teams.
The "wild card" criteria: Any owner outside the top six for each manufacturer, whose driver is a past Cup champion who attempted to qualify for all 2008 events. Each manufacturer is permitted only one of these positions, which will be based on the most recent champion per manufacturer.
If an owner/manufacturer doesn't have a past Cup champion, the next highest eligible owner outside the top six, per manufacturer, in the final 2008 owners' standings, will be eligible to fill that manufacturer's "wild card" position.
The 2009 field includes five former Daytona 500 champions: Jeff Gordon, Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.
First-time Shootout participants include A.J. Allmendinger, Robby Gordon, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Scott Speed and David Stremme
The Shootout race distance has been increased from 70 laps to 75 laps for 2009. That's a total of 187.5 miles on Daytona's high-banked, 2.5-mile layout.
As has been the case since 2003, the event will be run in two segments; only the first segment increases in distance from 20 to 25 laps.
Following the first segment, a 10-minute "pit stop" gives crews the opportunity to make normal adjustments to their cars. That means tweaks they would do on a normal pit stop during a regular Cup Series event.
• All work must be done on pit road or in the garage.
• Teams may not change springs, shocks or rear-ends.
• All green- and yellow-flag laps in both segments will count.
Following the 10-minute "pit stop", the event's second segment remains a 50-lap sprint for the win
The Shootout previously consisted of drivers who earned a Bud Pole Award in the previous season and past champions of the event who did not earn a Bud Pole during the previous year but finished among the top 50 in the season's final championship standings.
The Shootout's entry format will change in 2009: only the top six teams and one wild-card entry in owner points from each manufacturer will earn berths in the season-opening exhibition race at Daytona.As announced this past August, the field now includes the top six teams from each manufacturer based on the final 2008 car owners' standings. Another change announced on Jan. 16: Each manufacturer also has a "wild card" entry, which increases the field from 24 to 28 teams.
The "wild card" criteria: Any owner outside the top six for each manufacturer, whose driver is a past Cup champion who attempted to qualify for all 2008 events. Each manufacturer is permitted only one of these positions, which will be based on the most recent champion per manufacturer.
If an owner/manufacturer doesn't have a past Cup champion, the next highest eligible owner outside the top six, per manufacturer, in the final 2008 owners' standings, will be eligible to fill that manufacturer's "wild card" position.
The 2009 field includes five former Daytona 500 champions: Jeff Gordon, Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.
First-time Shootout participants include A.J. Allmendinger, Robby Gordon, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Scott Speed and David Stremme
The Shootout race distance has been increased from 70 laps to 75 laps for 2009. That's a total of 187.5 miles on Daytona's high-banked, 2.5-mile layout.
As has been the case since 2003, the event will be run in two segments; only the first segment increases in distance from 20 to 25 laps.
Following the first segment, a 10-minute "pit stop" gives crews the opportunity to make normal adjustments to their cars. That means tweaks they would do on a normal pit stop during a regular Cup Series event.
• All work must be done on pit road or in the garage.
• Teams may not change springs, shocks or rear-ends.
• All green- and yellow-flag laps in both segments will count.
Following the 10-minute "pit stop", the event's second segment remains a 50-lap sprint for the win