2009 Budweiser Shootout Lineup, As of Today

It's funny how a few comments on an article can turn into an idea to go ahead and write an article, but this one came from just that.

While responding to a question on who would get Montoya's spot in the Budweiser Shootout next month, I got aggravated thinking of the new qualification procedures NASCAR decided to go with this year.

First off, here is a look at the lineup, as of today of course. People change seats in NASCAR more than the clock ticks in 60 seconds.

For the Chevrolets you have: No. 48 Jimmie Johnson, No. 29 Kevin Harvick, No. 07 Casey Mears, No. 31 Jeff Burton, No. 24 Jeff Gordon, and No. 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The Dodge camp will bring: No. 9 Kasey Kahne, No. 12 David Stremme, No. 2 Kurt Busch, No. 43 (Reed Sorenson?), No. 19 Elliot Sadler and (with the loss of Juan Pablo Montoya), the No. 10 (driven by who knows? Probably Allmendinger if they run it).

Ford will bring mostly Roush Cars with: No. 99 Carl Edwards, No. 16 Greg Biffle, No. 17 Matt Kenseth, No. 6 David Ragan, No. 26 Jamie McMurray, and No. 28 Travis Kvapil.

For Toyota you will see: No. 11 Denny Hamlin, No. 20 Joey Logano, No. 18 Kyle Busch, No. 83 Brian Vickers, No. 00 David Reutimann (using No. 44 points, but No. 00 on car), and No. 55 Michael Waltrip.

Here is the problem I have with this new format. Tony Stewart, two time NASCAR Champion is now on the outside looking in—simply because he switched teams.

Last year's Daytona 500 winner, Ryan Newman will join Smoke at home that weekend, as will Chase contender Clint Bowyer.

Yet you have guys like Stremme, possibly Allmendinger and Kvapil that will make the race?

Nothing against those guys, but come on. The old system of winning a pole, race or the event within the past 10 years was the best possible option.

It put the best drivers in the event, which is what the fans want to see. Nobody wants to see Waltrip and Kvapil get in solely because there are no other Toyota and Ford teams out there.

With the drop of Montoya, Gillett-Evernham now has a car in the shoot-out with an unnamed driver. That's just crazy.

I'm sorry NASCAR, I've defended some of the changes you have made in recent years, but this one has got me flabbergasted.

I know what the idea was—and equal representation of each manufacture.

But make that manufacture earn their way into the race, don't just hand them an automatic six spots every year.

If their teams aren't out there winning poles and/or races, then they don't deserve to be in the pre-season activities.

What's next, mandating the Chase have at least three representatives from each manufacture? Sounds crazy doesn't it? But it's not too far fetched for the guru's running NASCAR's top Series anymore.

I have faith that the event will have a good turn-out and fans will be excited, but if they were going to make a change, it could have at least been done fairly.

B-Blog