NASCAR’s 34th annual season-opening event, the Budweiser Shootout, will have 33 top NASCAR drivers in the field when the green flag drops on February 18, 2012 at Daytona International Speedway.
The announcement sparked many jokes on social media about who isn’t eligible, but the entry standard seemed to emphasize winning and point leading.
1. The highest ranked 25 competitors in 2011 Driver Points
2. Previous winners at Daytona, including the Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola, and Budweiser Shootout events
Courtesy of Daytona International Speedway:
“The criteria for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout ensures race fans that the best NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will battle for a coveted victory on the historic high banks,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “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.”
2011 Top 25 Driver Points
Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski,
Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman,
Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, 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, Brian Vickers
Others (criteria in parentheses)
Bill Elliott (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)
Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout)
Derrike Cope (Daytona 500)
Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
Jamie McMurray (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
Trevor Bayne (Daytona 500)
Terry Labonte (Budweiser Shootout)
Ken Schrader (Budweiser Shootout)
Details are available on www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com
Six major NASCAR tracks are within a day's drive of Tampa. Great destinations justify journeys.
Here the NASCAR venue is considered local if tracks are within a 10 hour drive from Tampa—Daytona International Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway.
FYI WIRZ is the select presentation of motorsports topics by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com. Information and quotes derived from motorsports industry press releases.
Comments