[Racer Duck]

yeah, I know we still call it the "Bud" Shootout, but with Coors now the "official beer of NASCAR" and speculation still running rampant about what the race's title will actually be called I decided to be PC (a rare thing for me )

Tho't most would be interested in some things about this year's lineup. As you should know, this year the lineup will pit the top 6 teams (by manufacturer's owner's points) in to 4 "manufacturer" teams; one each for Chevy, Dodge, Ford & 'Yota. (Some kind of left-handed PR bull to try to rekindle the "brand wars".)

The Chevy team consists of

1. Jimmie Johnson in HMS #48,
2. Kevin Harvick in RCR #29,
3. Casey Mears displacing Clint Boyer in RCR #07,
4. Jeff Burton in RCR #31,
5. Jeff Gordon in HMS #24 and
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr in HMS #88.

The Dodge team consists of

1. Kasey Kahne in GEM #9,
2. David Streme displacing Ryan Newman in Penske #12,
   
3. Kurt Busch in Penske #2,
4. __???__ displacing Bobby Labonte in PE/GEM? #43,
   
5. AJ Allmendinger displacing Elliott Sadler in GEM #19 and
6. Reed Sorenson displacing AJ Allmendinger in GEM #10.

The Ford team consists of

1. Carl Edwards in RFR #99,
   
2. Greg Biffle in RFR #16,
3. Matt Kenseth in RFR #17,
4. David Ragan in RFR #6,
5. Jamie McMurray in RFR #26, and
6. Travis Kvapil in Yates #28.

The Toyota team consists of

1. Denny Hamlin in JGR #11,
2. Joey Logano displacing Tony Stewart in JGR #20,
3. Kyle Busch in JGR #18,
4. Brian Vickers in RBR #83,
5. David Reutimann in MWR #44 -> #00, and
6. Michael Waltrip in MWR #55.

some interesting tidbits about this lineup:

• there are 4 drivers in this lineup who got in because of "Silly Season" changes in rides.
• there's one car # that gets in because of "Silly Season" owner's points transfers
• there's one car without a driver and another whose driver only drove in one race during the year, finishing out of the top 30.
• 4 drivers who won poles (other than by rain-out) in 2008 are not eligible to compete this year: Ryan Newman, Joe Nemechek, Patrick Carpentier and Paul Menard.
• there are 5 drivers who would have qualified for the race according to 2009 rules, but will not because of "Silly Season" changes in rides.
• there were 10 rain-out qualifyings in 2008 which 2 drivers split evenly for poles (Jimmy Johnson and Kyle Busch).
• of the non-rain-out poles, Jimmy Johnson had 5, Jeff Gordon had 4, Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle had 2 each and Dale Earnhardt Jr, Carl Edwards, Travis Kvapil, Denny Hamlin and David Reutimann each had 1.
• of the 16 drivers (actually 15 drivers plus a ???) in the 2009 race, 11 won poles and the remainder would not have qualified for the race under 2008 Shootout rules.

so the question that begs asking is: "What do you think about the 2009 format and do you like it or dislike it?"

[wingkey1]

The shoot out, according to last seen here on the NASCAR website, indicates the "top six drivers" from each manufacturer, while this string says "top six teams".

Should "drivers" be accurate, then some of that in the opening post seems open to question/change. "Seems".

If "drivers" is accurate, do Logano and Mears still get in?

Format could be as good or as bad as any I suppose, just not sure based on the conflict noted above just how more good, or more bad it is.

Strange. Wonder what the real truth is regarding the drivers who will compete?

NASCAR.COM - Major changes coming to Budweiser Shootout in '09 - Aug 27, 2008

Weird - headline says "dirvers" but as one reads on it repeatedly says "teams". Oh well.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

The shoot out, according to last seen here on the NASCAR website, indicates the "top six drivers" from each manufacturer, while this string says "top six teams".

Should "drivers" be accurate, then some of that in the opening post seems open to question/change. "Seems".

If "drivers" is accurate, do Logano and Mears still get in?

Format could be as good or as bad as any I suppose, just not sure based on the conflict noted above just how more good, or more bad it is.

Strange. Wonder what the real truth is regarding the drivers who will compete?

this excerpt from the official announcement as shown on Jayski should clear up the driver/team question.

The 31st annual season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway will be held on Saturday night, Feb. 7, with a field of 24 cars representing the top teams from Chevy, Dodge, Ford and Toyota that will showcase the close competition in NASCAR’s premier series. That lineup will consist of the top six teams from each manufacturer, based on the final 2008 car owner points [NOT driver points]

[jks812]

I don't care for the new way. Now you have guys in it who didn't earn it and guys out of it who did earn it. I think they should have left it alone. But thats what Nascar does best, mess with what isn't wrong and make it wrong.

[Robertdjr]

Another change they made this year to the "Shootout" which I think is just plain ridiculous, is the final race went to 50 laps. 50 laps takes forever at Daytona, and that's not a shootout in my book.

[Bob Tanner]

So now it apparently IS a "team sport," with Chevy [logo's] going against Ford, MOPAR and Toyota [logo's]?
So, will the <insert make> drivers be expected to block drivers from the other "teams?"

Ryan Newman had a pole and won NA__AR's most prestigious race (Daytona 500) last year and he's out. Mikey, who had a second and did a lot of floundering gets to race?

Do I like the format? What's to like?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by jks812

I don't care for the new way. Now you have guys in it who didn't earn it and guys out of it who did earn it. I think they should have left it alone. But thats what Nascar does best, mess with what isn't wrong and make it wrong.

In NA__AR's defense, this was the race sponsor's idea of competition. NA__AR just rubber stamped it.

It's just NA__AR being NA__AR.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

So now it apparently IS a "team sport," with Chevy [logo's] going against Ford, MOPAR and Toyota [logo's]?
So, will the <insert make> drivers be expected to block drivers from the other "teams?"

Ryan Newman had a pole and won NA__AR's most prestigious race (Daytona 500) last year and he's out. Mikey, who had a second and did a lot of floundering gets to race?

Do I like the format? What's to like?

in an update to Jayski (not sure of the date but probably around 9/1) is this:

Ryan Newman says it does seem odd that Daytona International Speedway executives don't want the defending Daytona 500 winner in their season-opening Bud Shootout next spring. Since Newman and new teammate Tony Stewart will be leaving their current teams at the end of this year and driving next year for a new team, they both will be ineligible for the Shootout. Ironic, since the Daytona 500 this year was Stewart-versus-Newman.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

in an update to Jayski (not sure of the date but probably around 9/1) is this:
Quote:
Ryan Newman says it does seem odd that Daytona International Speedway executives don't want the defending Daytona 500 winner in their season-opening Bud Shootout next spring. Since Newman and new teammate Tony Stewart will be leaving their current teams at the end of this year and driving next year for a new team, they both will be ineligible for the Shootout. Ironic, since the Daytona 500 this year was Stewart-versus-Newman.

"Things get curiouser and curiouser," said Alice, as she stepped through the looking glass. (Apologies to Robert Lewis Stevenson)

Or, as a kid named Timmy would have said to the NA__AR doofuses who put their seal of approval on this fiasco: "Golly gee, Mr. Wizard! You sure screwed the pooch on this on!" (No offense meant to the early TV kid's show host, Don Herbert)

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

"Things get curiouser and curiouser," said Alice, as she stepped through the looking glass. (Apologies to Robert Lewis Stevenson)

Or, as a kid named Timmy would have said to the NA__AR doofuses who put their seal of approval on this fiasco: "Golly gee, Mr. Wizard! You sure screwed the pooch on this on!" (No offense meant to the early TV kid's show host, Don Herbert)

Hows about just... They effed up!

[Team Yates]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Hows about just... They effed up!

That is their brand of consistency!!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

Re: Originally Posted by Quality88
They effed up!

That is their brand of consistency!!

Sounds like a good summation for the legacy the latest edition of the France Family will leave to NASCAR.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Sounds like a good summation for the legacy the latest edition of the France Family will leave to NASCAR.

sure would like to think that highlighted word was misspelled and should be "last"...

[LSC9901]

For me the race has lost its significance. I'm not sure what the original idea of this race was but I liked the idea that if in 2008 you won a pole you also won a starting position in the shootout. It was a reward for a job well done. Now as noted it is about manufacturers. I will guess that they are talking about whoever it is that makes the decals since there is no difference in the car itself.

The race is not a points race and to me it is just a part of the hype that eventually leads to the 500 and another way to separate a fool and his money. I'm guessing a ticket to a practice session would be cheaper and as exciting. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find something that will hold my attention better than this 2009 farce.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

For me the race has lost its significance. I'm not sure what the original idea of this race was but I liked the idea that if in 2008 you won a pole you also won a starting position in the shootout. It was a reward for a job well done. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find something that will hold my attention better than this 2009 farce.

You hit the nail on the head, Steve. The Shootout was a race to reward those who had accomplished something significant (a pole position) who might not receive the public honour any other way, except on the day they took the green flag.

Now it's a race that rewards...??? What? Driving a specific logo'd car? WOW! I am underwhelmed! Someone please refresh my memory on what Mikey-Pooh did last season to warrant a spot in a select field. I forget.

You also might have hit on another idea. Change the name from the "Shootout" to the "Farceout."

People who came up with this concept really need to explore the potential careers in lawn-care, not auto racing.