Budweiser Shootout turns 25 in 2003: The Budweiser Shootout at Daytona will celebrate its silver anniversary in the desirable showcase position the non-points race has enjoyed since its inception in 1979. NASCAR announced today the The Budweiser Shootout at Daytona is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9 at Daytona International Speedway, continuing the tradition of the much-anticipated, non-points race jumpstarting the opening weekend of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The 2003 The Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, previously known as the Busch Clash and Bud Shootout, will feature NASCAR Winston Cup drivers who earned a Bud Pole Award during the 2002 season as well as any former Budweiser Shootout champions who did not win a Bud Pole but participated in a NASCAR Winston Cup Series points-paying event during this current season. The opening weekend of the 2003 season also will feature Bud Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500. Bud Pole qualifying will be held Saturday, Feb. 8 and will set the front row for the Daytona 500, which will be run Sunday, Feb.16. The Budweiser Shootout at Daytona is one of three non-points events held during the NASCAR Winston Cup season, two of which are hosted by Daytona International Speedway. DIS also will play host to the Gatorade 125s on Thursday, Feb. 13. The Winston is the third and final non-points race that is traditionally held during the NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. R.J. Reynolds officials announced Wednesday that the 2003 version of The Winston will be held Saturday, May 17 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.(NASCAR PR)(8-23-2002)
The 2003 Budweiser Shootout Lineup
2002 Pole Winners
NOTE: this is a DRIVERS race, not team, if the driver switches teams, he goes, not the old team
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson (poles at Daytona 500, Talladega, Charlotte,Richmond)
2) #32-Ricky Craven (pole at Rockingham)
3) #66-Todd Bodine (pole at Las Vegas) - in the #54 in 2003
4) #9-Bill Elliott (poles at Atlanta, Texas, NHIS, Pocono; and won Shootout 1987)
5) #24-Jeff Gordon (poles at Bristol-both, Martinsville; won Shootout in 1994,1997)
6) #12-Ryan Newman (poles at California, Chicago, NHIS, Martinsville, Rockingham, Phoenix)
7) #22-Ward Burton (pole at Richmond)
8) #17-Matt Kenseth (pole at Dover)
9) #88-Dale Jarrett (pole at Michigan, won Shootout in 2000)
10) #20-Tony Stewart (poles at Sonoma, Indy; won in 2001, 2002)
11) #29-Kevin Harvick (pole at Daytona)
12) #28-Ricky Rudd (pole at Watkins Glen) - in the #21 in 2003
13) #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr (poles at Michigan, Kansas)
14) #2-Rusty Wallace (pole at Dover, won Shootout in 1998)
15) #97-Kurt Busch (pole at Homestead)
Past Budweiser Shootout Winners(if they do not win a pole in 2002) are automatically eligible:
16) #6-Mark Martin (won in 1999)
17) #09-Geoffrey Bodine (won in 1992) - will drive the #11 Hooterss Ford ina one race deal
18) #36-Ken Schrader (won in 1989,1990) - in the #49 in 2003
19) #5-Terry Labonte (won in 1985)
WINSTON CUP POLES in 2002:
- ) Ryan Newman, 6
- ) Bill Elliott, 4
- ) Jimmie Johnson, 4
- ) Jeff Gordon, 3
- ) Ricky Craven, 2
- ) Dale Earnhardt Jr, 2
- ) Tony Stewart, 2
- ) Todd Bodine, 1
- ) Ward Burton, 1
- ) Matt Kenseth, 1
- ) Dale Jarrett, 1
- ) Kevin Harvick, 1
- ) Ricky Rudd, 1
- ) Rusty Wallace, 1
- ) Kurt Busch, 1
MANUFACTURER WINSTON CUP POLES in 2002:
Chevy - 10 (4 different drivers)
Dodge - 5 (2 different drivers)
Ford - 14 (8 different drivers)
Pontiac - 2 (1 driver)
Total Races: 36 (31 poles won - qualifying cancelled due to water seepage at Pocono or at Darlington(2), at Talladega(2), at Lowe's(2), at Atlanta(2) - due to rain - #40-Marlin started 1st per OWNERS points for both races - #48-Johnson started 1st at Talladega, - #20-Stewart started 1st at Lowe's; #20-Stewart started 1st at Atlanta; not counted in the above totals)
