Daytona Beach, FL Sports Network) - NASCAR's eligibility requirements for the
2013 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway is returning to its
roots.
The sanctioning body announced on Sunday -- prior to qualifying for the
February 26 Daytona 500 -- the field for next year's preseason, non-points
race will consist of pole winners in the Sprint Cup Series this season as well
as previous winners of the Budweiser Shootout. The eligibility format will be
the same one used from 1979 through 2008.
"Fans have expressed their desire to see this event return to its original
eligibility rules," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's 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."
The pole winner for the Daytona 500 will earn a spot in next year's Budweiser
Shootout. Last night, Kyle Busch locked up a position in the field with his
thrilling victory in the Shootout. Busch bounced back from two near wrecks and
then made a last-lap pass on reigning series champion Tony Stewart. He beat
Stewart to the finish line by 0.013 seconds, making it the closest margin in
the history of that event.
Eighteen different drivers won a pole in NASCAR's premier series last season.
The Sports Network