Spark It Up!!!: Bud Shootout - Racing Tomorrow Night!!!

BUD SHOOTOUT!!

DAYTONA BEACH , Fla. (Feb. 5, 2009) – Paul Menard was the driver with the hot hand on a chilly night at the 2009 Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway.

For his first career Budweiser Shootout start, Menard, the driver of the No. 98 Menard’s Ford, picked the Budweiser bottle with the pole position flag inside.

“I had my eye on the bottle on the far right for a while and it worked out,” Menard said. “We’ll get a good, clean start and just try to hold them off.”

Other notable starters for the Budweiser Shootout, which is featuring a new format in 2009, include Tony Stewart (sixth), two-time defending Budweiser Shootout champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. (ninth), Kafast cars in the back of the field so I look for it to be a great race. Go Jeff Burton! I also am looking forward to Tony Stewart and his new team.sey Kahne (14th), three-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson (21^st) and Jeff Gordon (28^th).

The Budweiser Shootout will feature a star-studded lineup in a new format. The field will consist of the top six teams from each manufacturer based on the final 2008 car owner's points. Eligibility is based on owners competing in this event with the same manufacturer as 2008. In addition, each manufacturer will be able to enter a seventh car or "wild card" entry.

The race distance has also been increased from 70 laps to 75 (187.5 miles) on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The race will have two segments, of 25 and 50 laps. Both green- and yellow-flag laps will count.

Between segments, there will be a 10-minute pit stop at which time teams will pit and may elect to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments.

There are a lot of fast cars in the back so it will be a great race. Tony Stewart and his new team....Menard on the pole....My boy Burton in the back...Oh how I love this !