Teams ready for new-look Budweiser Shootout at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Amid much anticipation, the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series officially returns to the track Saturday night.

The 31st annual Budweiser Shootout At Daytona — the non-points precursor to the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 15 — snares the spotlight first at Daytona International Speedway.

This year, the event will have changes in its format, with a slightly longer distance and an expanded field designed to showcase the four manufacturers competing in NASCAR's premier series.

And come Saturday, no one will be more eager to mash the gas than the Budweiser Shootout's defending winner — Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet).

"Winning the first race of the year — whether it's for points or no points — is always pretty special," Earnhardt said. "There's no better way to start a season than by winning the first one right out of the gate."

Doing so may be especially important this season, given NASCAR's 2009 suspension of testing at tracks that hold NASCAR-sanctioned events. Instead of the usual January tests at Daytona and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams concentrated energy in shops and engine rooms to prepare for the season.

For the Budweiser Shootout's 28 eligible participants, Saturday night's race means the first opportunity to gather data under race conditions, a crucial component for Daytona 500 preparations.

Last year, Earnhardt used his victory to jump-start his first season at Hendrick Motorsports. The momentum carried over to a victory in the first of two 150-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500 (the Gatorade Duel), and an eventual ninth-place finish in the Daytona 500.

"It doesn't necessarily determine how the rest of your Speedweeks will go, because we run different cars for the Daytona 500," Earnhardt said. "But it's the opening act of a new season, and everyone wants to start off with a bang. I guess it's more important for bragging rights."

He cites a "good car; good motor; being in the right place at the right time," for his 2008 Budweiser Shootout win — his third overall.

"Everything was clicking," Earnhardt added. "I had teammates up front, and we worked together quite a bit. It was just a good race where everything went right."

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BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT AT DAYTONA

A New Format … The Budweiser 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 NASCAR Sprint 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.

A New Field … As announced last August, the Budweiser Shootout field now includes the top six teams from each manufacturer based on the final 2008 car owner standings. Another change announced on Jan. 16: Each manufacturer also has a "wild card" entry, which increases the field from 24 to 28 teams.

Here's the criteria for including a seventh car, or "wild card" entry:

Any owner outside the top six for each manufacturer, whose driver is a past NASCAR Sprint 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 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, the next highest eligible owner outside the top six, per manufacturer, in the final 2008 owner standings, will be eligible to fill that manufacturer's wild-card position.

Note: This year's 28-team Budweiser Shootout field is the largest in event history. Last year's 23-team field was the previous high.

The 2009 field includes five former Daytona 500 champions — including one three-time winner in Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet), one two-time winner in Michael Waltrip (No. 55 NAPA Toyota), 2007 winner Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet), 2004 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and 2006 winner Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet), also the reigning and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion.

First-time Budweiser Shootout participants include AJ Allmendinger (No. 44 Valvoline Dodge), Robby Gordon (No. 7 Jim Beam Dodge), Joey Logano (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota), Paul Menard (No. 98 Menard's Ford), David Ragan (No. 6 UPS Ford), David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota), Scott Speed (No. 82 Team Red Bull Toyota) and David Stremme (No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge).

Participants with previous Budweiser Shootout experience include Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet), Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge), Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota), Carl Edwards (No. 99 AFLAC Ford), Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota), Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge), Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford), Bobby Labonte (No. 96 ASK.COM Ford), Jamie McMurray (No. 26 Crown Royal Ford), Casey Mears (No. 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet), Elliott Sadler (No. 19 Stanley Tools Dodge), Reed Sorenson (No. 43 McDonald's Dodge), Tony Stewart (No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet) and Brian Vickers (No. 83 Red Bull Toyota).

Souce: NASCAR

2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona features revised format

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR announced Friday a revision to the 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona format that provides each manufacturer with a 'wild card' entry, increasing the size of the field from 24 to 28 cars, highlighting the manufacturers' involvement in NASCAR, and featuring more drivers for fans to support.

The 31st annual season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway will be held on Saturday night, Feb. 7. As was announced last August, the lineup will consist of the top six teams from each manufacturer, based on the final 2008 car owner points. Eligibility is based on owners competing in this event with the same manufacturer as 2008. The new wrinkle calls for each manufacturer to be able to enter a seventh car, or "wild card" entry, based on the following criteria:

• Any owner outside of the top six in year end 2008 owners' points whose driver is a past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion that attempted to qualify for all of the 2008 events (only one position will be filled per manufacturer and will be based on the most recent past champion per manufacturer).

• If an owner/manufacturer does not have a past champion driver, the next highest eligible owner outside the top six in year end 2008 owners' points from each manufacturer will be eligible to compete in the event.

As previously announced, the race distance will be increased from 70 laps to 75 (187.5 miles) on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The race will have two segments of 25 and 50 laps. Both green- and yellow-flag laps will count.

Between segments, there will be a 10-minute pit stop at which time teams will pit and may elect 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.

2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona format

Starting positions will again be determined by a blind draw, at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Thursday night, Feb. 5, on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.

The Budweiser Shootout — a "non-points" event for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors — was first held in 1979, and originally known as the Busch Clash. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won last year's event.

Souce: NASCAR

2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona to have new format

DAYTONA BEACH — The 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona will have a new format that puts more emphasis on the series' four manufacturers — and the same star-power appeal that has become a season-opening tradition for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and its fans.

The 31st annual season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway will be held on Saturday night, Feb. 7, with a field of 24 cars representing the top teams from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota that will showcase the close competition in NASCAR's premier series. That lineup will consist of the top six teams from each manufacturer, based on the final 2008 car owner points.

The race distance will be increased from 70 laps to 75 (187.5 miles) on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The race will have two segments, of 25 and 50 laps. Both green- and yellow-flag laps will count.

Between segments, there will be a 10-minute pit stop at which time teams will pit and may elect 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.

Starting positions will again be determined by a blind draw, at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Thursday night, Feb. 5, on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.

The Budweiser Shootout – a "non-points" event for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitors – was first held in 1979, and originally known as the Busch Clash. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won this year's shootout.

— Source: NASCAR

Dale Jr. wins Bud Shootout

I think he's going to enjoy his ride this year.

Fantasy NASCAR preview

Online News Editor Brandon Wynn (that's me) and Web Producer Erik Lyda will be participating in the Yahoo Sports Fantasy NASCAR this year. I tried it for the first time last year and came in fourth in my league and planned to not do it this year. I changed my mind and asked Erik to join me in hopes that it will make this blog more interesting.

We will be giving our weekly picks each Thursday and sharing our results the next week with any observations and complaints we may have.

This year should be interesting in terms of uncertainties. Obviously nothing will slow down the likes of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, but with Joe Gibbs Racing going to Toyota and a slew of new open-wheel drivers this could be a season for surprises. Not to mention the first season that will use the Car of Tomorrow full time.

The Budweiser Shootout is Feb. 9 and while it doesn't count in the point standings and there isn't a full field of drivers we will give our predictions to test out our abilities for picking winners. When the season starts we will be picking 2 A-drivers, 4 B-drivers and 2 C-drivers but for the Shootout we'll only pick 4 drivers in total.

Brandon's picks (Bill Brasky Racing): Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle and Michael Waltrip

Erik's picks (Team Clorox Disinfecting Wipes): Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin and Michael Waltrip

Budweiser Shootout race lineup

If you have signed for Fantasy we encourage you to share your picks, rumors and tips with us throughout this season.