2009 Budweiser Shootout: New Rule Changes for NASCAR's First Race of the Season

The traditional start to the racing season for NASCAR is speedweeks and the first race for the Sprint Cup series is the non-points event, Bud Shootout. In the past, the drivers who earned a pole during the previous season's regular events were the ones to participate in the season opener.

With drivers like Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahn winning several poles during a single season the number of cars in the first event became fewer and fewer making for a less exciting event. Last year, in an effort to increase the field NASCAR changed the rules to allow the top six teams in owners points for each of the four manufacturers (Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, and Toyota) to compete in the Shootout. It became confusing however when drivers changed teams and manufacturers from one season to the next.

This year NASCAR is once again trying to adjust their rules and are introducing "The Wild Card". In addition to the top six teams in owners points for each manufacturer there will be four wild cards. Each manufacturer will be allowed to field a seventh car. The final spot for each manufacturer will go to either a past champion who attempted to qualify for all of the previous season's races or the next highest eligible owner outside the top six the previous year. Whether the new rule will be a success remains to be seen, for now the field is set to include the following drivers;

With so many drivers taking the field for the first competition of the season it seems like this event is just like any other. NASCAR's attempt at improving the sport and the top series in the past have been met with criticism, especially among the sports die-hard and more traditional fans. Whether this change will be successful or will require additional changes next year will be decided on February 7th, at the conclusion of the 2009 Budweiser Shootout.

For more information on NASCAR and it's rules, drivers, and races visit www.nascar.com

Feb 1, 2009 8:39 AM

Guest :

If your goal is to make nascar less then what it was, you at getting there. The more you try to be fair and unstanding, the less you make it. The best racing there was, was in the 60's thur the 80's. Has the safety improved, absolutely, an for that I am happy. But the more you interfere with the teams with all your silly rules, that you change when you want too. You are taking the fun and enjoyment of the ones who have been racing fan's since the real racing area. Look at all the great race tracks you have done away with, just so you could go to places with bigger stands and more media appeal. The racing isn't better, if anything it's boring. If you want it to be what it once was, then let the teams do what they can to make it more exciting for the race and the fans. If they come up with something that makes the cars better, let them. As long as you have the safety equipment in the cars, it will be better. Put competition and ingenuity back in nascar, and what the racing improve. No matter what you do, there is always going to be better teams then others, there always have been. We need the rivalries we use to have between car makers.

Feb 2, 2009 4:42 PM

Guest :

I think you are forgetting the biggest reason for this rule change, sponsorship.Budweiser is no longer the pole-award sponsor, Coors Light is. That created a problem for Budwieser. Although it may make it intersting it takes a lot of the meaing out of it. In prior years Ken Schrader and other people would of made it as past champions of this race. Michael Waltrip wouldn't of even made the race. Instead, the same old drivers that are in the top 10 every week are in the shootout and now 'other' drivers don't have a chacne to pull of an upset or show fans and other drivers what they are made of. Take a glance at the projected starting line-up...Chevy- 3 Hendrick 3 RCR and Stewart. Ford - 5 Roush a Yates and Labonte. Dodge - I'll be honest, that's a variety. But that's due to the fact that Dodge hasn't been doing great in the past few years. Toyota - 3 Gibbs 2 Waltrip and a possibility of 2 Red Bulls. This can be blamed on NASCAR for the failure to sign Coors Light as the shootout sponsor or the failure to keep Bud as the pole-award sponsor. Money is starting to ruin this sport. Something so sacred to NASCAR fans is now ruined because of sponsorship conflicts, not because NASCAR wanted to make it more interesting. NASCAR just added some things like 5 laps and a break to make it more interesting. Bad judgement on NASCAR's part...

Feb 6, 2009 8:22 PM

Guest :

This is just another reason why I won't watch NASCAR anymore. I have been put off year after year and I'm getting close to not watching or following at all. First, the lucky dog was introduced. Then, Toys were given advantages, probably because France got a big payday. Now they are screwing with tradition, at least as long as I've been a fan. I'll watch Daytona, Talledega, and Bristol. That's about it, but mess with the rules anymore and I'm done.