Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site - 2012 Budweiser Shootout

2012 BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT

Updated 2-19-2012

THE RACE, Saturday, February 18, 2012

TV: FOX at 8:10pm/et

Green Flag Scheduled: 8:29 pm/et

Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) & SiriusXM Satelitte Radio Channel 90

Jumps to sections on this page:

Final Results
Segment 1 Results
Starting Lineup / Practice
Event Schedule
Television / Radio Coverage
Purse / Race Awards
Paint Schemes
Chassis
Race Information
Odds
Goodyear Tire Notes
Entry List
Drivers/Teams Chart
Records and Facts
Past Bud Shootout Winners
Past Bud Shootout Formats

RACE RESULTS

2013 Shootout / 2012 Pole Winners page

No more Budweiser Shootout BUT the will have the Budweiser Duel UPDATE: Budweiser and Daytona International Speedway announced the beer brand will take on an enhanced role in NASCAR's season opening festivities. Beginning with the 2013 season, Budweiser will become the official title sponsor of Speedweeks –the ten-day stretch of stock-car races from the Shootout to the Daytona 500. Budweiser also will secure entitlement of the Budweiser Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races that determine the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. These enhancements to Budweiser's partnership with DIS will replace the brand's existing entitlement of the season-opening, non-points Shootout.
"Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway marks the official start of the NASCAR season, and the opportunity to expand our presence throughout the ten-day event puts Budweiser even more in the thick of it all," said Brad Brown, vice president of sports & entertainment marketing, Anheuser-Busch. "The Shootout has been an important element of our NASCAR program for 34 years, but this opportunity to enhance our partnership makes Budweiser even more relevant to our consumers as well as the fans of the Daytona 500."
As part of the sponsorship, Budweiser will also receive the presenting sponsorship of the Daytona 500 pre-race broadcast show. The brand will also receive increased access for consumer hospitality events, including naming rights to the 5th Turn hospitality area throughout Speedweeks. "Budweiser is the longest running active partner with Daytona International Speedway and we are incredibly excited to enter this new chapter with them in 2013," said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood. "The opportunities created by this enhanced partnership are compelling and our fans will benefit the most. The intensity and fun atmosphere that Budweiser brought to the Shootout for so many years will be taken up several notches as they assume a much broader role during Speedweeks and 'The Great American Race.' "(Daytona International Speedway)(2-24-2012)
UPDATE: The conflicting beer sponsorships led to some awkward eligibility rules over the past few years. Chitwood says he is pursuing several leads for potential title sponsors for the Shootout, but Coors Light is not one of them. Budweiser's exclusivity with the Speedway precludes a rival beer maker from naming the season-opening exhibition race. (NASCAR News Service)(2-25-2012)

Bud Shootout TV Ratings: Fox earned a 4.0 overnight Nielsen rating for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night, up 3% from last year's race. The telecast was the top-rated program of the day and gave Fox a win in primetime among all networks.(Sports Business Journal), in 2011 the race had a 3.9 rating and in 2010 it was a 4.2 overnight. See more on my 2012 TV Ratings page.(2-21-2012)

Race & Commercial Breakdown of the 2012 Bud Shootout: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, or wonder how often your driver was focused on, here is the breakdown for Saturday's race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 8:10 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 10:27 PM (all times are EST). Fox was the broadcast team for this event.
Total number of commercials: 68
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 39
Total number of brief promos of products/services during the race broadcast: 17
Total amount of time these brief promos take during broadcast: app. 1 min. 25 sec.
Start time to record race/commercial periods: 8:10 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 10:27 PM
Total minutes: 137
Minutes of race broadcast: 105
Minutes of commercials: 32
Total race brdcst time 105 Total comm. brdcst time 32
Number of missed restarts: 0
Number of 'mystery cautions' (debris not shown): 0
Number of 'Digger' appearances: 4
(CawsnJaws.com) see more, drivers focused and links on my 2012 TV Commercials page.(2-21-2012)

Shootout Eligibility Returns To Its Roots For 2013: NASCAR released the eligibility requirements for the 2013 Shootout at Daytona, an announcement that signals a return to the fan-favorite preseason event’s roots. Next season’s field will consist of 2012 Coors Light Pole winners and past Shootout winners who have attempted to qualify for at least one race during the 2012 season. Eligibility rules for next season’s annual non-points race mirror those from 1979-2008, and puts greater emphasis on each weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole qualifying session.
“Fans have expressed their desire to see this event return to its original eligibility rules,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “We listened and decided it would be best to return to the eligibility rules of years past adding further meaning to pole qualifying for each NASCAR Sprint Cup race.” This announcement comes prior to 2012’s first qualifying session, adding intrigue to an already important event. Today’s fastest qualifier, in addition to winning the pole for next Sunday’s Daytona 500, will also earn a spot in next year’s Shootout. Two Daytona 500 starting positions will be locked in after today’s qualifying session. The fastest two cars in qualifying will sit on the front row. Last night, Kyle Busch won his first Shootout at Daytona, locking up a spot in next year’s field. Busch passed defending series champion Tony Stewart in the tri-oval, edging the three-time titlist by a margin of victory of .013 seconds – the closest in Shootout history. Last season, 18 different drivers won a pole (NASCAR).
NOTE: it is being called 'The Shootout', no word if Budweiser will still be the title sponsor for the race.(2-19-2012)

Kyle Busch wins a WILD Bud Shootout #18-Kyle Busch won the 2012 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway followed by #14-Stewart, #9-Ambrose, #2-Keselowski, #11-Hamlin, #16-Biffle, #39-Newman, #15-Bowyer, #99-Edwards and #42-Montoya. Busch beat Stewart to the line to win by 0.013 seconds, the closed finish for a Bud Shootout. While the 2-car tandem racing is gone, the big packs are back, with three big wrecks during the race, which ended under a green-white-checked finished, going 82 laps. Pole sitter #56-Truex Jr. was involved in the 2nd wreck and finished 19th.
The first "big one" occurred in the first 25-lap segment when #34-Ragan and #27-Menard made contact, turning the #27, collecting #55-Waltrip, #5-Kahne, #11-Hamlin, #31-Burton, #17-Kenseth and #42-Montoya. The #27, #34 and #55 were too damaged to continue the race after 9 laps.
The second "big one" occurred on lap 56 when #9-Ambrose was pushing #20-Logano, the #20 moved up and got turned sideways, collecting Ambrose, #29-Harvick, #17-Kenseth, #88-Earnhardt Jr. and pole sitter #56-Truex Jr. All but Ambrose were too damaged to continue.
The final "big one" happened when #24-Gordon got into #18-Busch turning Busch, who recovered, but Gordon shot up towards the outside wall and into #51-Busch, collecting #1-McMurray and #48-Johnson, also some damage to #99-Edwards, #22-Allmendinger and #9-Ambrose. Gordon ended up on his side, then he barrel rolled a couple times, with the car ended up on the roof, but Gordon got out of the car and was OK.
Only 10 of 25 cars finished on the lead lap, only 13 cars finished the race and 12 cars did not finish the race.
See results on the 2012 Budweiser Shootout Results page (pdf).(2-18-2012)

Budweiser Shootout At Daytona - Fast Facts:
* Kyle Busch won the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, his first victory in six starts in the annual non-points preseason event.
* Busch¡¦s previous best finish in the Shootout was fourth in 2010.
* Busch led three laps in the victory, the fifth time he has led the Shootout.
* This is the first Budweiser Shootout victory for Toyota.
* The margin of victory of .013 seconds is the closest in Budweiser Shootout history.
* Tony Stewart finished second, his eighth top-10 finish in the last nine Shootouts.
* Marcos Ambrose finished third in his Budweiser Shootout debut.
(Provided by NASCAR Statistics)(2-18-2012)

Bud Shootout Results the 2012 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway is over, the results after lap 83:
#18-Busch, Toyota, 82, 3 laps led, won by 0/013 seconds
#14-Stewart, Chevy, 82, 7 laps led
#9-Ambrose, Ford, 82, 1 lap led
#2-Keselowski, Dodge, 82
#11-Hamlin, Toyota, 82
#16-Biffle, Ford, 82, 17 laps led
#39-Newman, Chevy, 82
#15-Bowyer, Toyota, 82
#99-Edwards, Ford, 82
#42-Montoya, Chevy, 82, 1 lap led
#31-Burton, Chevy, 81
#22-Allmendinger, Dodge, 80, 1 lap led
#5-Kahne, Chevy, 79
#48-Johnson, Chevy, 75, accident, 2 laps led
#24-Gordon, Chevy, 73, accident, 16 laps led
#1-McMurray, Chevy, 73, accident, 10 laps led
#51-Busch, Chevy, 73, accident, out
#20-Logano, Toyota, 54, accident, 1 lap led
#56-Truex Jr., Toyota, 54, accident, 6 laps led
#88-Earnhardt Jr., Chevy, 54, accident, 12 laps led
#17-Kenseth, Ford, 54, accident
#29-Harvick, Chevy, 54, accident, out 3 laps led
#27-Menard, Chevy, 8, accident, out
#34-Ragan, Ford, 8, accident, out
#55-Waltrip, Toyota, 8, accident, out
(2-18-2012)

SEGMENT 1 RESULTS

McMurray wins segment 1 of Bud Shootout #1-McMurray won segment 1 of the 2012 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway followed by #24-Gordon, #29-Harvick. #18-Busch, #9-Ambrose, #99-Edwards, #51-Busch, #16-Biffle, #48-Johnson and #20-Logano. #88-Earnhardt Jr, led the most laps with 12. Pole sitter #56-Truex Jr. finished 14th and led 5 laps. There was one 'big one' when #34-Ragan and #27-Menard made contact, turning the #27, collecting #55-Waltrip, #5-Kahne, #11-Hamlin, #31-Burton, #17-Kenseth and #42-Montoya. The #27, #34 and #55 were too damaged to continue the race.(2-18-2012)

Bud Shootout Segment 1 Results Segment 1 of the 2012 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway is over, the results after lap 25 and at the break:
#1-McMurray, Chevy, 5 laps led
#24-Gordon, Chevy,
#29-Harvick, Chevy, 2 laps led
#18-Busch, Toyota,
#9-Ambrose, Ford,
#99-Edwards, Ford,
#51-Busch, Chevy,
#16-Biffle, Ford,
#48-Johnson, Chevy,
#20-Logano, Toyota,
#88-Earnhardt Jr., Chevy, 12 laps led
#15-Bowyer, Toyota,
#42-Montoya, Chevy, 1 lap led
#56-Truex Jr., Toyota, 5 laps led
#14-Stewart, Chevy,
#39-Newman, Chevy,
#17-Kenseth, Ford,
#22-Allmendinger, Dodge,
#2-Keselowski, Dodge
#11-Hamlin, Toyota, -2 laps
#31-Burton, Chevy, -2 laps
#5-Kahne, Chevy, -3 laps
#27-Menard, Chevy, -16, accident, out
#34-Ragan, Ford, -16, accident, out
#55-Waltrip, Toyota, -16, accident, out
(2-18-2012)

Starting Lineup, Practice & Pit Stalls

2012 Budweiser Shootout Pit Stall Selections

Truex draws the pole for Bud Shootout: #56-Martin Truex Jr. will lead the 25-car field to the green flag in the 34th annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway. Truex secured the top starting position through the random selection process that took place Friday night at the SPEED Stage. The starting lineup was determined at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party during which the participating drivers selected a Budweiser bottle featuring a number behind the Budweiser label. The number serves as the driver's starting position. Truex was the 18th driver to participate in the annual raw party and will make his second start in the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night.
"It's just cool," Truex said after picking the pole position. "I haven't been in this race in a few years. I absolutely hated being down here (those years) and watching this race, so it's cool just to be in it and to get the pole is icing on the cake. My car was really good today in practice," he continued. "I was happy with it. It drove really good. I heard a lot of guys were having some handling issues, but my car was great, so I'm pretty excited about it. (My car) had good speed and was able to stay up in the front of the pack in the draft. We're looking forward to tomorrow night."
The defending winner of the Budweiser Shootout, #51-Kurt Busch, will start from the sixth position while Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevy drew the 22nd starting spot.(Budweiser PR)
See the starting lineup on the Bud Shootout Starting Lineup (pdf).(2-17-2012)

Starting Order for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway was shown on SPEED and the drivers chose bottles of Budweiser and peeled the label off the bottle to determine their position. #99-Edwards chose the first bottle. The entire lineup:
#1-McMurray, Chevy, chose 25th, starts 4th
#2-Keselowski, Dodge, chose 5th, starts 3rd
#5-Kahne, Chevy, chose 14th, starts 19th
#9-Ambrose, Ford, chose 19th, starts 21st
#11-Hamlin, Toyota, chose 9th, starts 16th
#14-Stewart, Chevy, chose 4th, starts 15th
#15-Bowyer, Toyota, chose 13th, starts 17th
#16-Biffle, Ford, chose 16th, starts 7th
#17-Kenseth, Ford, chose 3rd, starts 23rd
#18-Busch, Toyota, chose 12th, starts 2nd
#20-Logano, Toyota, chose 23rd, starts 10th
#22-Allmendinger, Dodge, chose 15th, starts 9th
#24-Gordon, Chevy, chose 8th, starts 14th
#27-Menard, Chevy, chose 17th, starts 24th
#29-Harvick, Chevy, chose 2nd, starts 22nd
#31-Burton, Chevy, chose 20th, starts 12th
#34-Ragan, Ford, chose 22nd, starts 5th
#39-Newman, Chevy, chose 10th, starts 13th
#42-Montoya, Chevy, chose 21st, starts 25th
#48-Johnson, Chevy, chose 6th, starts 18th
#51-Busch, Chevy, chose 11th, starts 6th
#55-Waltrip, Toyota, chose 24th, starts 20th
#56-Truex Jr., Toyota, chose 18th, starts 1st/POLE
#88-Earnhardt Jr., Chevy, chose 7th, starts 8th
#99-Edwards, Ford, chose 1st, starts 11th
(2-17-2012)

Final Bud Shootout Practice at Daytona International Speedway is over. The top 5, slowest and notes:
#1-McMurray 197.698
#42-Montoya 197.694
#16-Biffle 196.331
#5-Kahne 195.529
#9-Ambrose 195.495
Slowest: #48-Johnson 189.821 & #88-Earnhardt, Jr. 189.729
Notes: Just 12 drivers got on track. The session was scheduled for 60 minutes, but teams got on track less than 10 minutes before light rain showers brought out the red flag.
See speeds on the Bud Shootout Practice 2 Speeds (pdf).(2-17-2012)

1st Bud Shootout Practice at Daytona International Speedway is over after 60 scheduled minutes, the top 5, slowest and notes:
#17-Kenseth 201.762
#31-Burton 201.739
#34-Ragan 200.151
#1-McMurray 199.858
#39-Newman 199.592
Slowest: #48-Johnson 190.706 & #88-Earnhardt Jr. 196.416
Notes: 45 minutes into the practice, #14-Stewart pushed the #51-Busch, #51 went sideways, collecting the #14 along with #2-Keselowski, #18-Busch and #22-Allmendinger. Looks like #2, #18 and #22 will go to backup cars.The #14 team will fix theirs.
#88-Earnhardt Jr. stayed off track for about 20 minutes at the start, then got on the track and teamed up with #48-Johnson. Running in packs and some two-car tandems.
See speeds on the Bud Shootout Practice 1 Speeds (pdf).(2-17-2012)

See practice speeds for the Bud Shootout, now in PDF files at:
Bud Shootout Practice 1 Speeds (pdf)
Bud Shootout Practice Happy Hour Speeds (pdf)

Chip Bolin to Fill-In for Bob Osborne at Bud Shootout: Chip Bolin will serve as crew chief this weekend at Daytona International Speedway on the #99 Fastenal Ford with Carl Edwards due to the passing of Bob Osborne's father. Osborne will return to Daytona next week to lead Edwards and the team in the Gatorade Duels and the Daytona 500. Bolin is currently the head engineer for Roush Fenway Racing and previously served at Matt Kenseth's Sprint Cup crew chief.(RFR)(2-15-2012)

Event Schedule

(Times are local to the Track)

Thursday, Febuary 16

9:30 am NSCS Haulers Enter
11:00 am NSCS Garage Opens
6:00 pm NSCS Garage Closes

Friday, Febuary 17

9:00 am NSCS Garage Opens
3:30 pm NSCS Budweiser Shootoout Spotters Meeting
5:00 pm 5:45 pm NSCS Budweiser Shootout Practice
6:30 pm 7:30 pm NSCS Final Budweiser Shootout Practice
8:00 pm NSCS Drawing for Budweiser Shootout Starting Position
9:00 pm NSCS Garage Closes

Saturday, Febuary 18

9:00 am NSCS Garage Opens
4:00 pm Race Inspection begins for Budweiser Shootout Cars
6:30 pm NSCS Budweiser Shootout Driver / Crew Chief Meeting
7:50 pm NSCS Budweiser Shootout Driver Intros
8:10 pm NSCS Budweiser Shootout
11:30 pm NSCS Garage Closes

Television / Radio Coverage

Race Coverage of the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2012.
TV: FOX at 8:10pm/et; pre-race show at 8:00pm/et; green flag scheduled for 8L29pm/et.
Radio: MRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio
Re-Air: Sunday, February 19 at 5:00pm/et on SPEED
Qualifying: draw party, which determines the starting lineup at 8:00 pm/et on Friday, February 17 on SPEED at 8:30pm/et
Budweiser Shootout practice: Friday, February 17, 5:00 - 5:45pm/et, TV-SPEED
Budweiser Shootout Happy Hour practice: Friday, February 17, 6:30 -7:30pm/et, TV-SPEED

Race Information

Distance: 75 laps/187.5 miles (25 laps in first segment; 50 laps in second segment).
Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshals: U.S. Armed Forces - PO1 William Kimberl; PO1 Andres Reyes; PO2 Aaron Schwartz
Command to start engines: U.S. Armed Forces - PO1 William Kimberl; PO1 Andres Reyes; PO2 Aaron Schwartz
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: ?
Invocation: Dr. Tim McNeil, 1st United Methodist Church, Daytona Beach
National Anthem: Country vocal quartet Little Big Town
Military Flyover: none
Format (same as 2011): 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. Starting positions will again be determined by a blind draw at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party at 8:00pm/et on Friday, Feb. 17 on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.
2012 Driver Eligibility: The criteria to make the 2012 Budweiser Shootout is based upon the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series within the last two seasons:
* The 25 drivers who finished in the top 25 in drivers points in 2011
* Past Budweiser Shootout champions
* Past Daytona points race winners
See my Drivers/Teams Chart below for the driver list and how they are eligible

Purse / Race Awards

Budweiser Shootout Purse History:
2012: $1,040,667
2011: $1,040,667
2010: $1,095,439
2009: $1,217,154
2008: $1,217,154
2007: $1,153,518
2006: $1,119,920
2005: $1,087,300

Paint Schemes

Car#-Driver Sponsor / Scheme
Promo / Hood Image Link

#5-Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance #5 Team Schemes Page

#27-Paul Menard Peak - blue #27 Team Schemes Page

#31-Jeff Burton Caterpiller #31 Team Schemes Page

#39-Ryan Newman Wix Filters #39 Team Schemes Page

#51-Kurt Busch TAG Heuer Eyewear #51 Team Schemes Page

#55-Michael Waltrip Aaron's #55 Team Schemes Page

#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr National Guard #88 Team Schemes Page

#99-Carl Edwards Fastenal #99 Team Schemes Page


Car#-Driver	Sponsor / Scheme Promo / Hood	Image Link
#5-Kasey Kahne	Farmers Insurance	#5 Team Schemes Page
#27-Paul Menard	Peak - blue	#27 Team Schemes Page
#31-Jeff Burton	Caterpiller	#31 Team Schemes Page
#39-Ryan Newman	Wix Filters	#39 Team Schemes Page
#51-Kurt Busch	TAG Heuer Eyewear	#51 Team Schemes Page
#55-Michael Waltrip	Aaron's	#55 Team Schemes Page
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr	National Guard	#88 Team Schemes Page
#99-Carl Edwards	Fastenal	#99 Team Schemes Page

Odds

Odds of Winning the Budweiser Shootout:
Vegas Insider - Bud Shootout Odds
Bud Shootout Preview by Micah Roberts

Some Chassis Selections

Chassis selections for the Bud Shootout: see the list of many teams and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Daytona International Speedway in the Bud Shootout:
MISSING? why are some teams missing? like the #11, #24 or others? those teams do not report what chassis in the race previews or prs.
#1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the #1 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats team will bring chassis #808 to the Budweiser Shootout. This is the same chassis that McMurray drove in the Budweiser Shootout in 2010 and 2011, crossing the finish line in third-place and second-place respectively.
#9-Marcos Ambrose: The #9 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 715 for the Budweiser Shootout. This Stanley Ford Fusion was run last season at Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway.
#14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-634 debuted during Daytona in 2011. It set the 10th fastest time in Daytona 500 qualifying, which slotted it fifth for the Gatorade Duel. In that race, Stewart drove Chassis No. 14-634 to a 12th-place finish, which gave him a 25th-place starting spot for the Daytona 500. While he never led a lap in the season-opening race, Stewart was a top-10 mainstay – that is until the final lap, when he was shuffled out of the draft en route to a 13th-place finish. It had numerous sessions in the wind tunnel between Daytona and the April 17 race at Talladega, where in its third career start, it finished 17th after starting 30th. It returned to Daytona in July for the Coke Zero 400, where it started 19th and finished 11th. It returned to Talladega in October where it notched its fifth career start and last of the 2011 season with a 12th-place qualifying effort and a seventh-place finish. Chassis No. 14-634 has been refined for 2012 and was tested extensively at Daytona Jan. 12-14.
#16-Greg Biffle: is racing primary chassis RK-781 which is a brand new chassis. The backup chassis is RK-689 which last ran Daytona in July – finished 18th.
#17-Matt Kenseth: will run primary chassis RK-793 which is a brand new chassis.
#18-Kyle Busch: Chassis No. 321 will make its second-ever start in the Bud Shootout at Daytona. No. 321 made its debut in the October 2011 Good Sam Club 500 at Talladega, where Busch started 33rd, led five laps, but was collected in a multi-car accident on lap 105. While the M&M’s team repaired the car and Busch eventually returned to the race, the accident relegated him to a 34th-place finish.
#20-Joey Logano: and the #20 Home Depot team will take chassis #298 to Daytona for the Shootout. Chassis #325 will serve at the team’s backup for Daytona. It’s the same car the team used in the Daytona test back in January.
#27-Paul Menard Chassis No. 335 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This #27 Chevrolet Impala was a brand new addition to the RCR fleet for the 2011 season and was last seen on track at Talladega Superspeedway in October, where Menard started seventh and finished 12th.
#29-Kevin Harvick: will utilize Chassis No. 295 in Saturday's Budweiser Shootout. Harvick drove this car to Victory Lane in the 2010 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway and also scored a seventh-place finish with it in that year's Daytona 500.
#31-Jeff Burton will race chassis No. 343 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable.This chassis, built in 2011 for RCR's #29 entry with driver Kevin Harvick, competed in three superspeedway events last season including first the Daytona 500 where Harvick finished 42nd after retiring early due to engine failure. Harvick also guided this machine to a top-five finish at Talladega Superspeedway in April (started-38th, finished-fifth) and a top-10 finish in July in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway (started-31st, finished-seventh).
#39-Ryan Newman Chassis No. 39-664 has previously been raced at both Daytona in July of last season and at Talladega in October At Daytona, Newman had a strong racecar, evidenced by his leading four times for a race-high 25 laps. But for Newman, the race was once again an example of his bad luck streak at restrictor-plate races. Newman was relegated to a 23rd-place finish thanks to being shuffled out of the lead on the race’s final restart and being collected in a last-lap accident. Back in the shop, bodywork was repaired on the car before its next outing in the fall race at Talladega, but Newman didn’t fare any better. Despite leading five laps early, he finished 16 laps down in 38th. Newman suffered damage to his racecar on lap 81 when contact sent him spinning into the infield grass, ripping the splitter from beneath the front bumper. Once again, the car’s bodywork had to be repaired and the team updated the car in accordance with NASCAR’s rules. The car was tested at Daytona in January.
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya: crew chief Heroy and the No.42 team are bringing chassis #1101 to the Budweiser Shootout. This is the chassis that Montoya drove to a sixth-place finish in the 2011 Daytona 500.
#48-Jimmie Johnson: will pilot chassis No. 618. Chassis No. 698 will serve as backup.
#51-Kurt Busch Chassis No. 560 was last raced in October 2011 at Talladega Superspeedway, where Landon Cassill started 38th and finished 16th.
#99-Carl Edwards the #99 Fastenal team will be unloading chassis RK-799 which is brand new.
(from team PR's/sites if reported)(2-18-2012)

Goodyear Tire Notes and Fast Facts

Tire:
Goodyear Eagle Superspeedway Radials (Sprint Cup and Nationwide);
Goodyear Wrangler Superspeedway Radials (Camping World Truck)

Number of Tires:
Sprint Cup (total): Left-side -- 1,500, Right-side -- 1,500;
Nationwide: Left-side -- 550, Right-side -- 550;
Camping World Truck: Left-side -- 350, Right-side -- 350

Set limits:
Shootout: 6 sets for event;
Daytona 500: up to 10 sets through Friday's practice sessions, and up to 10 sets for Saturday's final practice through the race;
Nationwide: 6 sets for event;
Camping World Truck: 4 sets for event

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4138; Right-side -- D-4412

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.9 in; Right-side -- 88.4 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 55 psi; Right Rear -- 50 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 27 psi; Left Rear -- 27 psi;
Right Front -- 50 psi; Right Rear -- 48 psi

Notes: Teams in all three NASCAR series will run the same tire codes at Daytona, though the Sprint Cup and Nationwide tires will be branded "Goodyear Eagle," while the Camping World truck tires will be branded "Goodyear Wrangler" . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that teams in all three of these series ran at both Daytona and Talladega last season . . . this left-side code (D-4138) has been run by Sprint Cup teams at Talladega since 2009 . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Daytona . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

Records and Facts:

Shootout at Daytona Tidbits:
· The number of participants has ranged from a low of seven in 1981 to a high of 28 in 2009 (25 are entered for this year’s event).
· The drivers with the most Shootout appearances:
o Bill Elliott (23)
o Mark Martin (23)
o Rusty Wallace (19)
o Ken Schrader (19)
o Jeff Gordon (18)
· Mark Martin had appeared in the most consecutive Shootout races, competing in 20 consecutive events from 1989-2008. The active leader in consecutive appearances is Jeff Gordon, with 18. This year marks his 19th.
There have been eight multiple winners in the Shootout:
o Tony Stewart has won three of the last 10 (2001, 2002 and 2007).
o Dale Earnhardt won six events, most all-time (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).
o Dale Jarrett won in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
o Other multiple winners: Neil Bonnett (1983-1984), Ken Schrader, (1989-1990), Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and 2008) and Kevin Harvick (2009-2010).
o Bonnett, Schrader, Stewart and Harvick are the only drivers to win back-to-back races. No driver has ever won three consecutive Shootouts.
· Buddy Baker (1979), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Jeff Gordon (1994), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Denny Hamlin (2006) all won the first Shootout in which they competed.
· There have been three winners from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987) and Ken Schrader (1989).
Seven drivers have won the Shootout (1979-2011) and the same season’s championship. Dale Earnhardt is the only one to have accomplished it multiple times – four times.
Tony Stewart (2002)
Jeff Gordon (1997)
Dale Earnhardt (1993)
Dale Earnhardt (1991)
Dale Earnhardt (1986)
Darrell Waltrip (1981)
Dale Earnhardt (1980)
Four drivers have won consecutive Shootouts (1979-2010). None went on to win that year’s Daytona 500:
Kevin Harvick (2009-10)
Tony Stewart (2000-01)
Ken Schrader (1990-91)
Neil Bonnett (1983-84)
Shootout Manufacturer Recap:
Manufacturer, Victories, Last Victory - Driver
Chevrolet, 19, 2010 – Kevin Harvick
Ford, 7, 2004 – Dale Jarrett
Buick, 2, 1982 – Bobby Allison
Oldsmobile, 2, 1980 – Dale Earnhardt
Pontiac, 2, 2002 – Tony Stewart
Dodge, 1, 2011 – Kurt Busch
By the Numbers: Shootout at Daytona:
.058 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kurt Busch over Jamie McMurray in 2011, the closest margin in Shootout history
1 – Laps led by Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Dale Jarrett (2000 and 2004) and Kevin Harvick (2009) in the Shootouts they won
2.75 – Average finish by Dale Earnhardt, best by any driver with multiple starts
5 – Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance (Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006)
6 – Number of Shootout wins by Dale Earnhardt, the series leader
7 – Number of fewest starters in the field for the Shootout (1981)
11 – Number of starts before winning, most since race began in 1979 (Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin)
14 – Number of different leaders in the 2009 event, most since race began in 1979
19 – Number of wins by Chevrolet in the Shootout, leads all manufacturers
27 – Kevin Harvick’s starting position in 2009, the lowest by a race winner in the event’s history
28 – Number of lead changes in the 2011 event, highest number since race began in 1979
44 – Laps led by Greg Biffle in 2005, the most by a driver who did not win the event
47 – Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, the most in a single Shootout
98 – Number of all-time laps led in the Shootout (1979-2011) held by Dale Earnhardt
Two drivers have swept the Shootout, Daytona 500 pole and Daytona 500 from 1979-2010: Dale Jarrett (2000) and Bill Elliott (1987).
One driver has swept the Shootout, Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400 from 1979-2011: Bobby Allison (1982).
The Bud Shootout and the Daytona 500 winners: Five times has the winner of the Budweiser Shootout gone on to win the Daytona 500 the following week:
Dale Jarrett (2000 and 1996)
Jeff Gordon (1997)
Bill Elliott (1987)
Bobby Allison (1982)
No Budweiser Shootout...but still won the Daytona 500: Since 1979, when the Budweiser Shootout began, eight drivers have won the Daytona 500 who did not compete in the Budweiser Shootout the week before:
Trevor Bayne (2011)
Michael Waltrip (2001, 2003)
Ward Burton (2002)
Dale Earnhardt (1998)
Sterling Marlin (1994)
Dale Jarrett (1993)
Derrike Cope (1990)
Richard Petty (1979)
The "Budweiser Shootout" held 1979-2008, was a non-points event (formerly named the "Busch Clash" and "Bud Shootout") has jump-started the NASCAR Cup Series and was the season-opening race at the "World Center of Racing" one week before the Daytona 500. The 70 lap race among the winners of the "Bud Pole Award" from the most recent season and included past champions from prior "Busch Clash" and "Bud Shootout" events. Previously, Bud Pole second-round-fastest qualifiers from all points races were eligible to race for one slot in the Budweiser Shootout; there is no longer a qualifying race (as there is no longer a 2nd round of qualifying). This was a DRIVERs race, so if Driver A left Team A and went to Team B, then it was Driver A in the Team B car and the Team A car is not eligible unless they found a new driver who was eligible

DRIVERS ELIGIBLE FOR THE
2012 BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT

2012 Budweiser Shootout eligibility rules:
* The 25 drivers who finished in the top 25 in drivers points in 2011
* Past Budweiser Shootout champions
* Past Daytona points race winners
(based on a driver having competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series last seasons)

34th Annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Daytona International Speedway - 2/18/2012
Last Update: 2/13/2012 2:26:00 PM

Enty List for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout

# Car# Driver Manu Sponsor Owner

1 1 Jamie McMurray Chevy Bass Pro Shops Teresa Earnhardt

2 2 Brad Keselowski Dodge Miller Lite Roger Penske

3 5 Kasey Kahne Chevy Farmers Insurance Linda Hendrick

4 9 Marcos Ambrose Ford Stanley Richard Petty

5 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota FedEx Express J D Gibbs

6 14 Tony Stewart Chevy Mobil 1 Margaret Haas

7 15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 5-Hour Energy Rob Kauffman

8 16 Greg Biffle Ford 3M Jack Roush

9 17 Matt Kenseth Ford Best Buy John Henry

10 18 Kyle Busch Toyota M&M's Joe Gibbs

11 20 Joey Logano Toyota Home Depot Joe Gibbs

12 22 A.J. Allmendinger Dodge Shell / Pennzoil Walter Czarnecki

13 24 Jeff Gordon Chevy Drive to End Hunger Rick Hendrick

14 27 Paul Menard Chevy Menards / Peak Richard Childress

15 29 Kevin Harvick Chevy Budweiser Richard Childress

16 31 Jeff Burton Chevy Caterpillar Richard Childress

17 34 David Ragan Ford MHP-Power Pak Pudding Bob Jenkins

18 39 Ryan Newman Chevy U.S. Army Tony Stewart

19 42 Juan PabloMontoya Chevy Target Chip Ganassi

20 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevy Lowe's Jeff Gordon

21 51 Kurt Busch Chevy Tag Heuer Avante-Garde James Finch

22 55 Michael Waltrip Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine Bill Jenkins

23 56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota NAPA Auto Parts Michael Waltrip

24 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy National Guard / Diet Mountain Dew Rick Hendrick

25 99 Carl Edwards Ford Fastenal Jack Roush

Eligible but not entered

x 55 Mark Martin Toyota Aaron's Dream Machine Bill Jenkins

x 21 Trevor Bayne Ford Motorcraft Wood Brothers

x ? Brian Vickers x xl x

x ? Bill Elliott x x x

x ? Geoff Bodine x x x

x ? Derrike Cope x x x

x 32 Terry Labonte x Frank Stoddard x

x 32 Ken Schrader Federated Auto Parts Frank Stoddard x

Enty List for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout
#	Car#	Driver	Manu	Sponsor	Owner
1	1	Jamie McMurray	Chevy	Bass Pro Shops	Teresa Earnhardt
2	2	Brad Keselowski	Dodge	Miller Lite	Roger Penske
3	5	Kasey Kahne	Chevy	Farmers Insurance	Linda Hendrick
4	9	Marcos Ambrose	Ford	Stanley	Richard Petty
5	11	Denny Hamlin	Toyota	FedEx Express	J D Gibbs
6	14	Tony Stewart	Chevy	Mobil 1	Margaret Haas
7	15	Clint Bowyer	Toyota	5-Hour Energy	Rob Kauffman
8	16	Greg Biffle	Ford	3M	Jack Roush
9	17	Matt Kenseth	Ford	Best Buy	John Henry
10	18	Kyle Busch	Toyota	M&M's	Joe Gibbs
11	20	Joey Logano	Toyota	Home Depot	Joe Gibbs
12	22	A.J. Allmendinger	Dodge	Shell / Pennzoil	Walter Czarnecki
13	24	Jeff Gordon	Chevy	Drive to End Hunger	Rick Hendrick
14	27	Paul Menard	Chevy	Menards / Peak	Richard Childress
15	29	Kevin Harvick	Chevy	Budweiser	Richard Childress
16	31	Jeff Burton	Chevy	Caterpillar	Richard Childress
17	34	David Ragan	Ford	MHP-Power Pak Pudding	Bob Jenkins
18	39	Ryan Newman	Chevy	U.S. Army	Tony Stewart
19	42	Juan PabloMontoya	Chevy	Target	Chip Ganassi
20	48	Jimmie Johnson	Chevy	Lowe's	Jeff Gordon
21	51	Kurt Busch	Chevy	Tag Heuer Avante-Garde	James Finch
22	55	Michael Waltrip	Toyota	Aaron's Dream Machine	Bill Jenkins
23	56	Martin Truex Jr.	Toyota	NAPA Auto Parts	Michael Waltrip
24	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Chevy	National Guard / Diet Mountain Dew	Rick Hendrick
25	99	Carl Edwards	Ford	Fastenal	Jack Roush
Eligible but not entered
x	55	Mark Martin	Toyota	Aaron's Dream Machine	Bill Jenkins
x	21	Trevor Bayne	Ford	Motorcraft	Wood Brothers
x	?	Brian Vickers	x	xl	x
x	?	Bill Elliott	x	x	x
x	?	Geoff Bodine	x	x	x
x	?	Derrike Cope	x	x	x
x	32	Terry Labonte	x	Frank Stoddard	x
x	32	Ken Schrader	Federated Auto Parts	Frank Stoddard	x

Eligible drivers announced for the Bud Shootout: NASCAR announced today the list of eligible competitors for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout. The 34th annual season-opening event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 18 with start time set for 8:10 pm/et. FOX Sports and MRN Radio will broadcast live nationally. Criteria for the non-points race are based upon the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having been active in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during the 2011 season:
• The highest ranked 25 competitors in 2011 Driver Points
• Previous winners at Daytona, including the Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 and Budweiser Shootout events [not already in by being in top 25]
“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.”
“By taking the top 25 competitors in last year’s driver points and combine that with former race winners at Daytona, you have all the ingredients for an extremely deep and talented field of drivers for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “When you take a look at the roster of drivers that this entails, I have to believe this is one of the most competitive fields that have ever been assembled for this event.”
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 NASCAR Sprint 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. Starting positions will again be determined by a blind-draw at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 pm/et on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.
The Budweiser Shootout was first held in 1979 and was originally known as the Busch Clash. Kurt Busch is the defending race champion.
Tickets for the Budweiser Shootout start at $39, with special advance pricing available for tickets purchased in Janaury, and admission is free for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased for all 2012 Speedweeks events including the Budweiser Shootout online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
Drivers eligible for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout include:
2011 Top 25 Driver Points
#14-Tony Stewart
#99-Carl Edwards
#29-Kevin Harvick
#17-Matt Kenseth
#2-Brad Keselowski
#48-Jimmie Johnson
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.
#24-Jeff Gordon
#11-Denny Hamlin
#39-Ryan Newman
#51-Kurt Busch
#18-Kyle Busch
#15-Clint Bowyer
#5-Kasey Kahne
#22-A.J. Allmendinger
#16-Greg Biffle
#27-Paul Menard
#56-Martin Truex Jr.
#9-Marcos Ambrose
#31-Jeff Burton
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya
#55-Mark Martin
#34-David Ragan
#20-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)
#55-Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
#1-Jamie McMurray (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
#21-Trevor Bayne (Daytona 500)
#?-Terry Labonte (Budweiser Shootout)
#?-Ken Schrader (Budweiser Shootout)
(DIS), see eligible drivers, links and past news on the 2012 Budweiser Shootout page and for 2011, see my 2011 Budweiser Shootout page and 2011 Bud Shootout Results page.(12-14-2011 / 2-13-2012)