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Many of today's Sprint Cup drivers come from the short track days. They can probably relate many stories about good 'ol beating and banging racing...

The 2009 Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout Preview

by Kelly Crandall (Senior Writer)

8

661 reads

Preview/Prediction

January 13, 2009


Many of today's Sprint Cup drivers come from the short track days. They can probably relate many stories about good 'ol beating and banging racing. Whether it's sparks flying on the asphalt or mud slinging from the dirt tracks, everyone loves a good shootout.

On Feb. 7, 2009 NASCAR will hold their own shootout when the 31st Annual Budweiser Shootout is held in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Shootout officially kicks off each years Speedweeks. The context of the race is simple, it's a flat out, Saturday night dash for cash. There are no points on the line, the only thing that matters is going fast to get the cash.

In 1979 the first race was run under the name Busch Clash and Buddy Baker won the inaugural event. In 1998 the name changed to Bud Shootout and Rusty Wallace took home the prize. And in 2001 it became the Budweiser Shootout and Tony Stewart won his first of so far three event wins.

The Shootout used to consist of all pole winners from the previous season as well as past winners of the event. However, NASCAR changed the eligibility for this years event, opening it up to only the top six drivers from each manufacturer—Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota-from the previous years final owner points standings.

What this means is that drivers who were once in are now out and drivers that were once out are now in. Take for instance Tony Stewart and Joey Logano. Stewart would have been in the Budweiser Shootout driving his No. 20 Home Depot Toyota but when he decided to form his own team and drive a different car, Logano got the shoe-in.

Another interesting drivers note for this years race is Juan Pablo Montoya who is eligible for the Shootout but will not be in the race. Montoya earned a spot with his Ganassi Dodge team however, when Ganassi merged with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and decided to run Chevrolet's, he became ineligible.

So, let's settle who's in and who's out.

 

Chevrolet

  • Jimmie Johnson (48)
  • Kevin Harvick (29)
  • Casey Mears (07—Takes Clint Bowyer's spot. Bowyer out.)
  • Jeff Burton (31)
  • Jeff Gordon (24)
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88)

Dodge

  • Kasey Kahne (9)
  • David Stremme (12—Takes Ryan Newman's spot. Newman out.)
  • Kurt Busch (2)
  • Elliott Sadler (19)
  • No driver yet named (10)
  • Reed Sorenson (43—The sixth spot will be for the driver of the No. 43 if there is one. Robby Gordon would have gotten the spot but he has switched manufacturers to Toyota for 2009. This would have been Montoya's spot.)

Ford

  • Carl Edwards (99)
  • Greg Biffle (16)
  • Matt Kenseth (17)
  • David Ragan (6)
  • Jamie McMurray (26)
  • Travis Kvapil (28)

Five of these cars are the five Roush-Fenway cars and Kvapil runs a Roush-Yates engine.

Toyota

  • Denny Hamlin (11)
  • Joey Logano (20—Takes Tony Stewart's spot. Stewart out)
  • Kyle Busch (18)
  • Brian Vickers (83)
  • David Reutimann (00—Reutimann returns to 00 this season)
  • Michael Waltrip (55)
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8 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Ben Bomberger 5 months ago

    Much more in depth than the one I wrote earlier... good preview, I look forward to watching it next month!

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    • Kelly Crandall 5 months ago

      Thanks Ben-
      I wrote this last week but for some reason it just showed up now!

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    • Ben Bomberger 5 months ago

      I found out first hand what you were talking about when you said it didn't post for awhile... I tried to post a story 3 times this morning and it never showed up? Guess it'll appear 3 times in a couple days or something.

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  2. Nathan B 5 months ago

    Great preview Kelly ... you really have to read through the rumor mill to figure out who goes where ;)

    This is going to be a weird Shootout ... that's for sure.

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  3. Mary Jo Buchanan 5 months ago

    Excellent preview of what's to come - shortly!! I think we all need cars - whatever cars, sponsors, teams and drivers - on the track soon!

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    • Kelly Crandall 5 months ago

      Thanks Mary Jo-
      We certainly do, especially when I turned on Speed last night and saw Michael Waltrip, I love Mikey, but I prefer him in the car instead of in front of the camera!~

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  4. Ken Knight 5 months ago

    Very informative Kelly--great job! This is one of a few Nascar events I make it a point to watch if poss. The Daytona 500 is a must. Tha Charlotte All-Star race. Talledega. These are my favs.

    Keep up the good work kid!

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