NASCAR announced Friday a revision to the 2009 Budweiser Shootout format that provides each manufacturer with a "wild card" entry, increasing the size of the field from 24 to 28 cars.
The 31st annual season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway will be held on Feb. 7. As was announced last August, the lineup will consist of the top six teams from each manufacturer, based on the final 2008 car owner points.
The new wrinkle calls for each manufacturer to be able to enter a seventh car, or "wild card" entry, based on some presise criterias such as past Cup Series champion.
It has been decided that the race distance will be increased from 70 laps to 75 on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. Starting positions will again be determined by a blind draw.
The Budweiser Shootout - a non-points event for Cup Series competitors - was first held in 1979, and originally known as the Busch Clash. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won last year's event.
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images
The 31st annual season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway will be held on Feb. 7. As was announced last August, the lineup will consist of the top six teams from each manufacturer, based on the final 2008 car owner points.
The new wrinkle calls for each manufacturer to be able to enter a seventh car, or "wild card" entry, based on some presise criterias such as past Cup Series champion.
It has been decided that the race distance will be increased from 70 laps to 75 on the 2.5-mile tri-oval. Starting positions will again be determined by a blind draw.
The Budweiser Shootout - a non-points event for Cup Series competitors - was first held in 1979, and originally known as the Busch Clash. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won last year's event.
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images