As I discussed last week, after an offseason that saw no testing at NASCAR sanctioned tracks, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is getting ready for the first race of the 2009 season. Now although it is a non-points event, the Budweiser Shootout is one of the most anticipated races of each NASCAR season. It is a chance for drivers to let it all hang out in a bid for the glory of victory (and the lion's share of a 1.2 million dollar purse).
From the inaugural Busch Clash in 1979 to the Budweiser Shootout in 2008, this has been a race for the drivers who won a pole position in the previous season. 2009 will be different as the Shootout has become a race between drivers representing the four manufacturers that race in Sprint Cup. The top six cars in 2008 Owner Points from Chevrolet,Ford, Dodge, and Toyota are joined by a "wild card" from each make which is either the most recent Series Champion or seventh highest points finisher from the 2008 season. This has caused the starting lineup to swell to an event record of 28 cars, which beats the previous record of 23 cars that took the green flag for last year's Budweiser Shootout. On Thursday night the field was set by a drawing and saw Paul Menard select the pole for his first race in a Yates Racing Ford. Elliot Sadler joins Menard on the front row in a Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports.
It should be a wild race with a lot of excitement and perhaps a few fireworks. However, this race is merely a prelude to the 51st edition of the Daytona 500 to be run a week from Sunday. Join me next week for a preview of "The Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing!"
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