http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/8491...have-new-format

The 31st annual season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 7 will have a field of 24 cars representing the top six teams from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota. It will be based on the 2008 final car owner points.

The Shootout, a non-points event, was originally known as the Busch Clash and first held in 1979. Over the years, it has been a showcase for the previous year's pole winners and previous winners.

That is because in the past, the race was for the previous year's pole winners. The BUD pole winners. Now COORS sponsors the pole award, so I guess they had to change something.

another fine move by NASCAR

Just one more NASCAR race I will no longer make the time to watch.

Thanks NASCAR I keep gaining more free time each year.

Seems like Nascar is evolving.
FUBAR should be its new name!

What a joke. As it stands right now that would put Michael Waltrip in the shootout. A guy who hasn't won a pole/race in what five years now?

I agree, Turning the Bud shootout into a PC nobody looses march, SUCKS This race was to reward Achivement not give everyone who is a participant a Ribbon, NASCAR Dropped the ball yet again

Right now, this would be your field...

Chevy: Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, and Clint Bowyer (assuming they let him keep his points, else Casey Mears).

Ford: Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, David Ragan, Jamie McMurray, and Travis Kvapil.

Toyota: Kyle Busch, Joey Logano (taking Tony Stewart points OR A.J. Allmendinger as 6th in points), Denny Hamlin, Brian Vickers, David Reutimann, and Michael Waltrip.

Dodge: Kasey Kahne, Driver X (taking Ryan Newman's points OR Reed Sorenson if 6th in points), Kurt Busch, Elliott Sadler, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Bobby Labonte.

MIGHT as well let all 43 drivers in

With the old format you would have as of right now:

Chevy: Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jr, Jeff Gordon, Paul Menard, Joe Nemechek

Ford: Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards

Dodge: Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Patrick Carpentier

Toyota: Kyle Busch, Brian Vickers

Past Champs: Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, Ken Schrader, Bill Elliot, Dale Jarrett, Terry Labonte

Plus.. you have 12 races left and any new pole winner would be added to the group.

just lets everyone in Morgan sheppard, Derick cope, and maybe a fan vote kyle petty or kenny wallace



nascar is trying to ruin the sport

I haven't gone and read the details yet, but I assume that with car owner points being the criteria, anybody can be behind the wheel when this race is run. The car owner could assign anyone, not necessarily his regular driver.

Before, it was the driver who got in, not the car owner. In some cases, that was bad for the car owner, though. A driver would earn a pole position and then switch teams during the winter and his new owner would get the car into the race.

Oh well, the Busch Clash and Bud Shootout have been eliminated. Its not a new format, its a new race to replace the one that was canceled.

Let's cancel NASCAR and make ARCA the premier stock car series.

-Maurice

NASCAR will phase itself out soon enough!

Please, Not until September 2012 (thats when I start drawing my IUOE Pension)

I belive Waltrip has won the shoot out so that would make him eligible for life just like anyone else who has ever won the race

No, because this is not the same Shootout any longer. Do you think Budweiser wants it to say, "Michael Waltrip by virtue of winning a Coors Pole award and then going on to win the Busch Clash the following year is in the Bud Shootout for life" ?

They would have to say he won the Coors Pole award, not the Busch Pole award because they always say that Dale Earnhardt is a seven time Sprint Cup champion.

So, is Michael Waltrip really guaranteed a spot even if he were not amongst the top six Toyota teams?

-Maurice

Jayski does not list Michael as a past shoot out winner.

YEAR BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT WINNER
Year, Winner, Make, Winnings
2008: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr, Chevy, $215,000
2007: #20-Tony Stewart(3), Chevy, $215,000
2006: #11-Denny Hamlin, Chevy, $213,380
2005: #48-Jimmie Johnson, Chevy, $219,945
2004: #88-Dale Jarrett(3), Ford, $213,000
2003: #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevy, $205,000
2002: #20-Tony Stewart(2), Pontiac, $200,955
2001: #20-Tony Stewart, Pontiac, $202,722
YEAR BUD SHOOTOUT WINNER
2000: #88-Dale Jarrett(2), Ford, $115,000
1999: #6-Mark Martin, Ford, $108,000
1998: #2-Rusty Wallace, Ford, $100,882

YEAR BUSCH CLASH WINNERS (# of wins)
1997: #24-Jeff Gordon(2), Chevy, $54,000
1996: #88-Dale Jarrett, Ford, $62,500
1995: #3-Dale Earnhardt(6), Chevy, $57,000
1994: #24-Jeff Gordon, Chevy, $54,000
1993: #3-Dale Earnhardt(5), Chevy, $60,000
1992: #7-Geoff Bodine, Ford, $39,000
1991: #3-Dale Earnhardt(4), Chevy, $60,000
1990: #25-Ken Schrader(2), Chevy, $95,000
1989: #25-Ken Schrader, Chevy, $75,000
1988: #3-Dale Earnhardt(3), Chevy, $75,000
1987: #9-Bill Elliott, Ford, $75,000
1986: #3-Dale Earnhardt(2), Chevy, $75,000
1985: #44-Terry Labonte, Chevy, $65,000
1984: #12-Neil Bonnett(2), Chevy, $50,000
1983: #75-Neil Bonnett, Chevy, $50,500
1982: #88-Bobby Allison, Buick, $50,000
1981: #11-Darrell Waltrip, Buick, $61,500
1980: #2-Dale Earnhardt, Olds, $50,000
1979: #28-Buddy Baker, Olds, $50,000

Miachael won the All Star race at CHARLOTTE. Is that what it's still called?

I agree with Maurice,, dump NASCAR, bring on ARCA and add 2 more dirt shows, one at Eldora, and one at Knoxville(?) or someplace and start all over.

I think I've only watched 3 or 4 races since Dale died and none since they changed to the good old boy starting line up system. NASCAR has it so wrong. this is just one more check in the block to keep me from turning on the TV. This is maybe my second post of 900 in the NASCAR section. I just hate what they've done to the big leagues. I'll turn on the DVR and watch the Frank Kimmel show if I need to see a superspeedway race. Been like that for me for the last what 5 years now no reason to change. Final NASCAR post for awhile probably ever.

Jake

According to Clint Bowyer, he's the worst driver in NASCAR. I don't think I could disagree with him!!!