With Wide-Open Field, The Shootout Should Be A Good One

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With Wide-Open Field, The Shootout Should Be A Good One

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With each Sprint Cup season comes one of the greatest non-points events that is incredibly exciting, relatively short, and, best of all, a race where drivers let it all hang to earn bragging rights as the first winner of the season.
 

The Budwesier Shootout started off as a race for pole position winners and for 33 years, it’s been the race that gets Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway off to a start.

The 34th running is set for Saturday, Feb. 18 and

starts at 8:10 p.m. with live national coverage on FOX Sports and MRN Radio.

Unlike other events where qualifying laps set the starting grid, this one’s different.
 

Numbers will be drawn in a special ceremony at 8:00 pm on Feb. 17th for starting position among drivers active in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during the 2011 season.

Other to get in are the highest-ranked 25 competitors in 2011 driver points, previous winners at Daytona, including the Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola, and past Budweiser Shootout events.
 

“Throughout its long history, the Budweiser Shootout has produced plenty of fireworks on the track and race fans can expect another exciting star-studded night of racing as we kick off the new NASCAR season,” said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III.
 

NASCAR officials are also excited to get the season under way with 75 laps of intense racing.
 

“By taking the top 25 competitors in last year’s driver points and combine that with former race winners at Daytona, you have all the ingredients for an extremely deep and talented field of drivers for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition.

“When you take a look at the roster of drivers that this entails, I have to believe this is one of the most competitive fields that have ever been assembled for this event.”
 

NASCAR has spelled out the race’s special distance and format. The race distance will consist of two segments – 25 and 50 laps. Both green-flag laps and yellow-flag laps will count.

Between segments there will be a 10-minute pit stop allowing teams to pit to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Crews will be permitted to work on cars and will be allowed to perform functions they would do on a normal pit stop in a regular NASCAR Sprint Cup event. All work must be performed on pit road or in the garage. Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear ends will not be permitted.
 

Here’s a look at some of those eligible for the race and some thoughts on their chances to win.

Tony Stewart - If his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Chevy starts strong and up front, its going to be a great night. The downside is he has a new crew chief in Steve Addington and the communication between them may not yet be up to speed. Stewart has won it more than any other active driver, in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
 

Carl Edwards - His No. 99 Roush-Fenway Racing Ford is on win mode in 2012 and that also applies to this race. His motto for 2012 is to “Win on Sunday, Points on Monday.”

 

Kevin Harvick - Crew chief Shane Wilson will need to learn his driver and how he likes his No. 29 RCR Enterprises Chevys. This race will be a great test for finding the things he likes best in his cars. Harvick won the race in 2009 and 2010.
　

Matt Kenseth - The driver of the No. 17 Roush-Fenway Fords may be a quiet guy, but he can push the peddle when its time to go. He could be a strong favorite to win if practice speeds prove good.
　

Brad Keselowski - Still a bit new to Sprint Cup racing, he lwon’t be afraid to put his blue deuce in a tight spot.
　

Jimmie Johnson - Now that he’s had a break in his Sprint Cup title runs, Johnson is humble but not afraid to put his new dark blue colors up front. He knows how to find success on Daytona’s high banks and plans to start his sixth title run on a high note. He was a shootout winner in 2005.
　

Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Wins haven’t come easily over the past few seasons for the 2003 and 2008 shootout winner, but this race may give him a stage on which to shine. A win here would get him on the right track for 2012.
　

Jeff Gordon - The past winner of this race way back in 1994 and 1997 is very hungry to do it again in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Like teammate Johnson, he has a new paint scheme and wants nothing more than to show it off. His sixth career title could come in 2012 and another win in this race could set the momentum.
 

Denny Hamlin – The Virginia driver has a new bounce in his step and he and new crew chief Darian Grubb intend to put the No. 11 Toyotas in victory lane. He won it in 2006 and he’ll be tough in this year’s shootout as well.
 

Ryan Newman - His boss Stewart won his third career championship in 2011 and has spread the wealth to Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolets. Newman seems to perform well in the shootout and loves the shorter special events. If he’s hot, look out.
 

Kurt Busch - In a new ride with the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolets for 2012, the defending race winner feels he might have a lot to prove after his sudden departure from Penske Racing. He should be fast and at the front. It’s a new driver-car combination that can win – we’ll see.
 

Kyle Busch – As it was for his brother, there was plenty of turbulence for the driver of the No. 18 JGR Toyotas. He goes into the shootout with a new year and new attitude to boot. But don’t expect anything but total aggression in the Shootout – hopefully within reason and the rules.
 

There are plenty of others in the Shootout - such as Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, A.J. Allmendinger, Greg Biffle, Paul Menard, Martin Truex Jr., Marcos Ambrose, Jeff Burton, Juan Pablo Montoya, Mark Martin, David Ragan, Joey Logano and Brian Vickers.

Ragan and Vickers have not yet found Sprint Cup rides for the race or the 2012 season.
 

Others are eligible, too, should they find rides for the race. Bill Elliott is in with his Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 and previous Budweiser Shootout win. Geoff Bodine is also there with a Daytona 500 and Budweiser Shootout, along with Derrike Cope, Michael Waltrip, Jamie McMurray and Trevor Bayne with 500 or 400 race victories at Daytona. Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader are eligible through past Budweiser Shootout wins.
 

The Budweiser Shootout should be one of the best races of the season. With NASCAR’s greatest drivers in the lineup, how could it not be?

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