Speedweeks Opener Features Stellar Field

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 7, 2011) – With a strong lineup that features former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions, last year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field, a host of former outstanding rookies, along with a collection of previous winners at the sport’s most storied race track, NASCAR announced Friday the list of eligible competitors for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.

LISTEN: THE FINAL LAP BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT PREVIEW SHOW

The 33rd annual season-opening event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 12 with green flag set for 8:10 p.m. FOX and MRN will broadcast live nationally. It marks the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event held on the track’s newly repaved surface. Criteria are based upon the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series within the last two seasons:

· The 12 drivers that qualified for the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
· Past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions
· Past Budweiser Shootout champions
· Past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola champions
· NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year drivers from 2001-2010

“When you take a look at the field for this year’s Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, it’s loaded with all-star caliber drivers,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “From former series champions and Chase drivers, to the past 10 rookie of the year performers, to drivers who have had success at Daytona, we believe the fans are in store for a terrific and highly competitive event on a brand new racing surface.”

The race distance will again be 75 laps (187.5 miles), consisting of two segments – 25 and 50 laps. Both green-flag laps and yellow-flag laps will count. Between segments there will be a 10-minute pit stop allowing teams to pit to change tires, add fuel and make normal chassis adjustments. Crews will be permitted to work on cars and will be allowed to perform functions they would do on a normal pit stop in a regular NASCAR Sprint Cup event. All work must be performed on pit road or in the garage. Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted.

Starting positions will again be determined by a blind-draw at the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party on Friday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.

The Budweiser Shootout – a “non-points” event for NASCAR Sprint Cup competitors – was first held in 1979, originally known as the Busch Clash. Kevin Harvick has won the last two events.

Tickets for all 2011 Speedweeks events are now available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Drivers eligible for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout include:

2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers
Jimmie Johnson
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Carl Edwards
Matt Kenseth
Greg Biffle
Tony Stewart
Kyle Busch
Jeff Gordon
Clint Bowyer
Kurt Busch
Jeff Burton

Others (criteria in parentheses)
John Andretti (Coke Zero 400)
Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout)
Kevin Conway (Series rookie of the year)
Derrike Cope (Daytona 500)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)
Bill Elliott (Series champion, Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Budweiser Shootout)
Kasey Kahne (Series rookie of the year)
Bobby Labonte (Series champion)
Terry Labonte (Series champion, Budweiser Shootout)
Joey Logano (Series rookie of the year)
Sterling Marlin (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
Mark Martin (Budweiser Shootout)
Jamie McMurray (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400, Series rookie of the year)
Juan Pablo Montoya (Series rookie of the year)
Ryan Newman (Daytona 500, Series rookie of the year)
Ken Schrader (Budweiser Shootout)
Regan Smith (Series rookie of the year)
Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)

OFFICIAL ENTRY LIST

1 1 Jamie McMurray Teresa Earnhardt Kevin Manion 11 Chevrolet Bass Pro Shops-Tracker Boats
2 4 Kasey Kahne Dietrich Mateschitz Kenny Francis 11 Toyota Red Bull
3 5 Mark Martin Mary Hendrick Lance McGrew 11 Chevrolet GoDaddy.com
4 11 Denny Hamlin J D Gibbs Michael Ford 11 Toyota FedEx Express
5 14 Tony Stewart Margaret Haas Darian Grubb 11 Chevrolet Mobil 1
6 115 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Bobby Kennedy 11 Toyota NAPA
7 16 Greg Biffle Jack Roush Greg Erwin 11 Ford 3M
8 17 Matt Kenseth John Henry Jimmy Fennig 11 Ford CROWN ROYAL BLACK
9 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Dave Rogers 11 Toyota M&M’s
10 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Greg Zipadelli 11 Toyota Home Depot
11 22 Kurt Busch Walter Czarnecki Steve Addington 11 Dodge Shell Pennzoil
12 24 Jeff Gordon Rick Hendrick Alan Gustafson 11 Chevrolet Drive to End Hunger
13 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Gil Martin 10 Chevrolet Budweiser
14 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Todd Berrier 10 Chevrolet Caterpillar
15 33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Shane Wilson 10 Chevrolet Cheerios-Hamburger Helper
16 39 Ryan Newman Tony Stewart Tony Gibson 11 Chevrolet Wix Filters
17 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chip Ganassi Brian Pattie 11 Chevrolet Target
18 47 Bobby Labonte Tad Geschickter Frank Kerr 11 Toyota Reese-Highland
19 48 Jimmie Johnson Jeff Gordon Chad Knaus 11 Chevrolet Lowe’s-Kobalt Tools
20 64 Derrike Cope Larry Gunselman Dave Fuge Jr 10 Toyota TBA
21 78 Regan Smith Barney Visser Pete Rondeau 11 Chevrolet Furniture Row Racing
22 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr Rick Hendrick Steve Letarte 11 Chevrolet National Guard-AMP Energy
23 97 Kevin Conway Andrea Nemechek Scott Eggleston 11 Toyota Extenze
24 99 Carl Edwards Jack Roush Bob Osborne 11 Ford Scotts EZ Seed