2011 NASCAR Budweiser Shootout

[bradk12fan]

The field is set by the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having competed in Cup within the past two seasons:

* The 12 drivers who qualified for the 2010 Chase

* Past Cup champions

* Past Budweiser Shootout champions

* Past Daytona points race winners

* Cup rookie of the year drivers from 2001-10

Eligible drivers:

Driver    Filled criteria
John Andretti    July race winner
Greg Biffle    2010 Chase
Geoff Bodine    Daytona 500, Shootout winner
Clint Bowyer    2010 Chase
Jeff Burton    2010 Chase
Kurt Busch    2010 Chase
Kyle Busch    2010 Chase
Kevin Conway    2010 rookie of the year
Derrike Cope    Daytona 500 winner
Dale Earnhardt Jr.    Daytona 500, July race, Shootout winner
Carl Edwards    2010 Chase
Bill Elliott    Series champion, Daytona 500, July race, Shootout winner
Jeff Gordon    2010 Chase
Denny Hamlin    2010 Chase
Kevin Harvick    2010 Chase
Jimmie Johnson    2010 Chase
Kasey Kahne    2004 rookie of the year
Matt Kenseth    2010 Chase
Bobby Labonte    Series champion
Terry Labonte    Series champion, Shootout winner
Joey Logano    2009 rookie of the year
Sterling Marlin    Daytona 500 winner
Mark Martin    Shootout winner
Jamie McMurray    Daytona 500, July race winner, 2003 rookie of the year
Juan Montoya    2007 rookie of the year
Ryan Newman    Daytona 500 winner, 2002 rookie of the year
Ken Schrader    Shootout winner
Regan Smith    2008 rookie of the year
Tony Stewart    2010 Chase
Michael Waltrip    Daytona 500, July race winner

Of the 30 or so drivers that are eligible, about 20-25 are guaranteed to start the 2011 Bud Shootout. Those who either currently do not have a ride for the shootout, or will not be racing include:
Sterling Marlin
Ken Schrader
John Andretti
Geoff Bodine
Derrike Cope
Kevin Conway * (Most likely to compete)
Terry Labonte ** (Co-owns a team, but has not announced any plans on the Bud Shootout)
Bill Elliott *** (Drives for the Wood Brothers, who will most likely compete)

[bradk12fan]

The race distance will again be 75 laps (187.5 miles), consisting 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 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.

The Bud Shootout was originally created as the 'Busch C;ash in 1979 and was a 50 lap non-points race. To be eligible, you used to have to either win a pole in the previous season, or have won a Bud Shootout, but in 2009, Coors Light took over the naming rights of the Pole Award, which from 1978-2008 was sponsored by Budweiser. Budweiser wanted to continue the Bud Shootout, but required Nascar to change the rules of who's eligible, and to increase the length of the event. In 2009, Nascar had the top 6 cars from each manufacturer compete in the event, but when Dodge was reduced from 9 to 4 cars before last season, Nascar again changed the rules to what we have now.