Budwieser shootout eligibility rules changed again.

[DougS]

NASCAR sure had to ensure that Dale Jr got in one way or another. Might be his only "win" of another season.

Budweiser Shootout eligibility rules change: NASCAR announced Wednesday a revision to the 2010 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona format that provides fans with a strong lineup of drivers highlighted by last year's top performers and a collection of previous winners at the sport's most-storied race track. The 32nd annual season-opening event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 6 with green flag set for 8:10pm/et. The new criteria are 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 12 drivers that qualified for the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
" Past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions
" Past Budweiser Shootout champions
" Past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 champions
" The reigning Raybestos Rookie of the Year
"We're always looking at ways to make this event bigger and better for our fans and we believe the new format for the Budweiser Shootout puts together an exceptionally strong lineup of our top drivers," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "In our discussions with the track, we thought by placing an additional emphasis on the drivers who had performed well at Daytona over the years would create an even more compelling element for the fans to get excited about at the beginning of the season."
The race distance will continue to 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 and 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 Thursday night, Feb. 4 on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4. The Budweiser Shootout  a "non-points" event for NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors  was first held in 1979, originally known as the Busch Clash. Kevin Harvick won last year's event. Tickets for all 2010 Speedweeks events are now available online at daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
Drivers eligible for the 2010 Budweiser Shootout include:
2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers: #48-Jimmie Johnson, #5-Mark Martin, #24-Jeff Gordon, #2-Kurt Busch, #11-Denny Hamlin, #14-Tony Stewart, #16-Greg Biffle, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, #39-Ryan Newman, #9-Kasey Kahne, #99-Carl Edwards & #83-Brian Vickers
Others (criteria filled in parentheses)
#1-Jamie McMurray (Coke Zero 400 winner)
#17-Matt Kenseth (Series champion, Daytona 500)
#18-Kyle Busch (Coke Zero 400)
#20-Joey Logano (Reigning Raybestos Rookie of the Year)
#21-Bill Elliott (Series champion, Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)
#29-Kevin Harvick (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout)
#31-Jeff Burton (Coke Zero 400)
#55-Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
#71-Bobby Labonte (Series champion)
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)
#34?-John Andretti (Coke Zero 400) - no 2010 ride announced
#75?-Derrike Cope (Daytona 500) - will supposedly run his own team again
Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout) - no current ride, last ran at Dover in 9/2004, made two 2009 attempts in #64
Terry Labonte (Series champion, Budweiser Shootout) - no current ride, last ran at Homestead 11/2009 in #08 car
Sterling Marlin (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400) - no current ride, last ran at Martinsville 10/2009 in #09 car
Ken Schrader (Budweiser Shootout) - no current ride, last ran at Phoenix 11/2008 in #96 car.(NASCAR)
28 drivers are eligible, no word if all will run the event. Eligibility based on a driver having competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series within the last two seasons (2008-2009).(12-23-2009)

[Tonyfan14]

And here I thought there would have been a fan vote.  Guess they needed a way to get Kyle Busch and Home Depot Joey Logano in the race as well.

Not complaning though because they had to change the rules last year so Tony could get it. 

[HUDSON HORNET]

"We're always looking at ways to make this event bigger and better for our fans and we believe the new format for the Budweiser Shootout puts together an exceptionally strong lineup of our top drivers," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "In our discussions with the track, we thought by placing an additional emphasis on the drivers who had performed well at Daytona over the years would create an even more compelling element for the fans to get excited about at the beginning of the season."

   
Let's see if I can wrap my feeble mind around this stimulating news. 

We, the fans, who have been experiencing withdrawal pangs during the off season (as usual) and desperately in need of a racin' fix are, in Robin's --- and no doubt NASCAR et al, opinion(S), --- harder to get fired up than a diesel engine in -20 degree weather. Therefor NASCAR deems it necessary to find a way to inject either into the mix in order to create enough excitement in the first racin' action of the new season to entice race starved fans to display a passing interest in the Budweiser AhShootI'mOut.
Artificially stimulated compulsion of the elements?
Does that about sum it all up?   

When will the clowns that be NASCAR get it through their big-block-heads that our excitement level is off the Richter scale by the time The Bud Shootout is scheduled to run.
HaiL!
If they ran box-stock Yugos for the Shootout the fans would still be on their feet cheering as the cars zipped by at mile-a-minute speeds. Hungry folks will eat, and like, almost ANYthing they're served when in a starved state. Additional spices and special ingredients won't matter or even be noticed as the venue is swallowed whole without chewing. What do fans want? A good taste, or a good race?   

NASCAR!
  ~~~~~~~~  Listen and wise up, --------
The racin' is more exciting when you do nothing to improve it.
Your meddling results in a boring event. Leave it alone. 

Let the racin' generate it's own excitement within the fans. 
It's been doin' that, or TRYIN' to anyway, for about 50 years now.
It would be 60 years, if not for The Brian tryin' to re-invent the wheel.
Talk about an ego supreme!!                                                                                             
I bet The Brian could end global warming and bring about world peace while stabilizing our economy in betwixt guzzling adult beverages and dreamin' about a pigskin review.
The Brian is my heerow.
Deserving of the ol' heave-ho.   

A "more compelling element for the fans to get excited about" ---- indeed.
Maybe if they all actually watched the races and followed the action they'd realize
that what they're trying to create has already been created, ---- naturally. And the artificial, imitation, watered-down, style of French excitement makes us nauseated enough to resort to finding our own excitement, like watchin' the grass grow on the greener side of the fence.   

Well, ........ WheW!
Ya know?
I think I'm feelin' a tad excited.   
What a compelling element THAT is.
I reckon.   

Thanx for bringin' that exciting news to our attention, Doug.   

[Tyyrus]

Well at least The Silly Old Man Qualifys to Compete this Year !

[HUDSON HORNET]

Well at least The Silly Old Man Qualifys to Compete this Year !

YeaH!
Silly ol' man.
Keeps runnin' better with age.
Reminds me of ol' Handsome Harry.

[20forLogano]

Let's all realize the simple fact of this.  They looked for a way to get Junior in.  Plain and simple.

[SMOKEN14]

Let's all realize the simple fact of this.  They looked for a way to get Junior in.  Plain and simple.

And Joey

[Tyyrus]

Hey Jr. and Joey I have no problem with , but when Mikey and Dave Blaney or Mike Bliss...Etc..ahead of top 15 or 20 Drivers because they represent a top rated Manufacturer via Team Points give me a break !

[20forLogano]

And Joey

Smoken,
Whether Joey is in or not is irrelevant at this time.  He will be one of the best ever but at this time Nascar needs Junior not Joey for the ratings so let's stop the Joey hate ok!!!!!!

[Tyyrus]

YeaH!
Silly ol' man.
Keeps runnin' better with age.
Reminds me of ol' Handsome Harry.

Yep Haulin the Mail Harry Gant ! 

[SMOKEN14]

Smoken,
Whether Joey is in or not is irrelevant at this time.  He will be one of the best ever but at this time Nascar needs Junior not Joey for the ratings so let's stop the Joey hate ok!!!!!!

Dude Not Hating on anyone Just stating a Fact They Tweaked the rules for both Jr And Joey If they didn't add Rookie of the Year Joey wouldn't be in it either I agree The Rules Mostly were changed to get no Talent jr in the shootout

[20forLogano]

Dude Not Hating on anyone Just stating a Fact They Tweaked the rules for both Jr And Joey If they didn't add Rookie of the Year Joey wouldn't be in it either I agree The Rules Mostly were changed to get no Talent jr in the shootout

And Rusty, Jarrett, Spencer, Andretti, Waltrip, Cope, Marlin, W. Burton, etc.  They changed the rule for one guy and EVERYONE knows it.  Stop haten on Joey and move on.

[DougS]

Smoken,
Whether Joey is in or not is irrelevant at this time.  He will be one of the best ever but at this time Nascar needs Junior not Joey for the ratings so let's stop the Joey hate ok!!!!!!

Your right it's not relevant for Joey to be in the show. It's relevant for HOME DEPOT to be in the show, just as it was at the All-Star race.

But as a side note the last "kid" that came to NASCAR with this much hype was named JR. And history isn't treating him so well.

[20forLogano]

Your right it's not relevant for Joey to be in the show. It's relevant for HOME DEPOT to be in the show, just as it was at the All-Star race.

But as a side note the last "kid" that came to NASCAR with this much hype was named JR. And history isn't treating him so well.

Doug,
Joey got in the All Star race because of his fans voting not because Nascar needed HD in the race.  As for the talent Junior came in based on Daddy's last name.  Their talent at 15. 16, 18 and 19 is not even close

[HUDSON HORNET]

Doug,
Joey got in the All Star race because of his fans voting not because Nascar needed HD in the race.

I appreciate it when NASCAR gets the fans involved by giving them a voice which ultimately affects the race complexion. I wonder how many votes are received by NASCAR, all totaled? I wonder who counts those votes? An independent service with no interest in the outcome, or carefully screened official NASCAR loyalists who's number counts will be more predictable and/or correctable, if necessary, ---- hidden away from curious, questioning fans and/or media types  in some unused back room in Daytona to assure secrecy until The Brian decides how the fans voted?