(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)
NASCAR has announced the new rule changes for the 2010 Budweiser Shootout. The new criteria are based upon the following qualifications, with the eligibility on a driver having competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in the last two seasons.
1. The drivers that qualified for the 2009 Chase for the Sprint Cup.
2. Past NASCAR Sprint Cup Champions.
3. Past Budweiser Shootout Champions.
4. Past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 champions.
5. The reigning Raybestos Rookie of the Year.
DRIVERS ELIGIBLE FOR THE 2010 BUD SHOOTOUT ARE:
1. #48 Jimmie Johnson
2. #5 Mark Martin
3. #24 Jeff Gordon
4. #2 Kurt Busch
5. #11 Denny Hamlin
6. #14 Tony Stewart
7. #16 Greg Biffle
8. #42 Juan Pablo Montoya (JPM)
9. #39 Ryan Newman
10. #9 Kasey Kahne
11. #99 Carl Edwards
12. #83 Brian Vickers
13. #1 Jamie McMurray ( Coke Zero 400 winner)
14. #17 Matt Kenseth (Daytona 500 winner and past Champion)
15. #18 Kyle Busch (Coke Zero 400 winner)
16. #20 Joey Logano ( 2009 Rookie of the Year)
17. #21 Bill Elliott ( Series champion, Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Bud Shootout)
18. #29 Kevin Harvick ( Daytona 500 Bud Shootout)
19. #Jeff Burton ( Coke Zero 400)
20. #55 Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
21. #71 Bobby Labonte ( Series Champion)
22. #88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (Dayton 500, Coke Zero 400, Bud Shootout)
23. #34? John Andretti (Coke Zero 400) no ride at this time.
24. #75? Derrike Cope ( Daytona 500) will enter a car from his new team.
Additionally, Geoff Bodine, Sterling Marlin, Terry Labonte, and Ken Schrader are all eligible to race in this event if they can secure a ride!
The rule changes for the 2010 Budweiser Shootout appear to pair the best drivers together for a great “winner take all” shootout style race to start off the 2010 NASCAR season! The emphasis has, once again and rightfully so, returned to the driver and his fetes, not the manufacturer.
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
