What’s New in 2010? Budweiser Shootout

It’s just about time for the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway!  There’s been another format change that could confuse casual viewers and make them ask the question “if all the big names in the sport are out on the track, why isn’t everybody else?”.

For decades, all of the previous season’s pole winners were eligible to compete along with the past winners of the exhibition race. With Budweiser dropping their sponsorship of the pole award at the end of the 2008 season, the format was reworked for 2009 to reward all of the top teams across the 4 manufacturers. As we get ready to start the new season, Penske Racing is the only Dodge team still standing to compete in next month’s Shootout. A change needed to be made.

Eligibility for the 2010 Budweiser Shootout:

1)   Last season’s Chase for the Sprint Cup contenders
2)   Past Budweiser Shootout winners
3)   Past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 race winners (the two Sprint Cup events at Daytona International Speedway per season)
4)   A past Sprint Cup Series champion
5)   Last season’s Rookie of the Year

28 drivers are eligible for the 2010 Budweiser Shootout. They are:

John Andretti
Greg Biffle
Geoff Bodine
Jeff Burton
Kyle Busch
Kurt Busch
Derrick Cope
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Carl Edwards
Bill Elliott
Jeff Gordon
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
Matt Kenseth
Bobby Labonte
Terry Labonte
Joey Logano
Sterling Marlin
Mark Martin
Jamie McMurray
Juan Pablo Montoya
Ryan Newman
Ken Schrader
Tony Stewart
Brian Vickers
Michael Waltrip

At this time, it is not known if all 28 drivers will race in the event. Starting positions will be determined using a blind-draw method at the Budweiser Shootout Party shown live from the track and aired on the SPEED Channel on February 4th.

The race will continue to be a 75-lap event. There will be two segments with the first lasting 25 laps with a 10-minute pit stop before the final 50 lap shoot out.

The new format change will guarantee all of the biggest names in the sport will be eligible to race in the Shootout. It will guarantee all of the best will be able to race each other in a very competitive fashion. Money and bragging rights will be on the line, not points. The formula should keep all fans including the casual viewer interested for 187.5 miles. Did NASCAR get it ‘right’ this time?

The 32nd Annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, February 6th TV time: 8 pm on FOX