Racing News Digest

There goes NASCAR changing things up a bit again. But I think I like it. In fact I have liked quite a few of the recent changes that have taken place.

The point of the “revised criteria” is to give a stronger driver line-up for the fans. Who can argue with that?

The new criteria will include last years top 12 performers along with past winners of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Along with meeting the following the criteria, drivers also must have competed in a NASCAR race with in the last 2 years.

• The 12 drivers that qualified for the 2009 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

• The reigning Raybestos Rookie of the Year

The race distance will continue to 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 and 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 Thursday night, Feb. 4 on the SPEED stage in the Midway, outside Turn 4.

Drivers eligible for the 2010 Budweiser Shootout include:

Jimmie Johnson

2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Drivers

Mark Martin
Jeff Gordon
Kurt Busch
Denny Hamlin
Tony Stewart
Greg Biffle
Juan Pablo Montoya
Ryan Newman
Kasey Kahne
Carl Edwards
Brian Vickers

Others (criteria filled in parentheses)

John Andretti (Coke Zero 400)
Geoff Bodine (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout)
Jeff Burton (Coke Zero 400)
Kyle Busch (Coke Zero 400)
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)
Kevin Harvick (Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout)
Matt Kenseth (Series champion, Daytona 500)
Bobby Labonte (Series champion)
Terry Labonte (Series champion, Budweiser Shootout)
Joey Logano (Reigning Raybestos Rookie of the Year)
Sterling Marlin (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)
Jamie McMurray (Coke Zero 400)
Ken Schrader (Budweiser Shootout)
Michael Waltrip (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400)

I am already going through some serious NASCAR withdrawl and can not wait for the Budweiser Shootout to kick off the 2010 season.

The 32nd annual season-opening event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 6 with green flag set for 8:10 p.m.