Budweiser Shootout still a 2-car race?
Friday, Feb. 17, 2012
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, climbs out of his car on track after an incident in practice for the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 17: The car of Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, sits on the back of a flat bed tow truck after a crash during practice for the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Getty Images for NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Kurt Busch, driver of the #51 Tag Heuer Avant-Garde Chevrolet Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 2012 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A lot of unknowns remain entering Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.
Friday's practices did clear up one thing: It seems the large pack racing which once dominated restrictor-plate racing in NASCAR has returned.
That became likely during a three-day test at Daytona last month. It was even more evident during practices Friday, which featured far more pack racing than two-car drafting.
In fact, the six-car wreck which unfolded during the first session developed as Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch were trying to work a two-car draft.
"It's kind of back to the way it used to be around here," said driver Clint Bowyer.
Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, A.J. Allmendinger and Kyle Busch were moving to back-up cars after the first practice.
Regardless, the change to pack racing should receive a warm welcome by fans.
Because of the rule changes implemented by NASCAR to help reduce the reliance on two-car racing tandems, many drivers this week said the Shootout would be more important than ever.
"This is just a wide-open race. There is a lot of anticipation, a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of hype and build up and usually you see something crazy happen at the beginning of these races," driver Kevin Harvick said of the buildup to the Daytona 500.
"You want to make it through the first parts of the race and try to keep yourself from getting torn up. You never know what is going to happen. I think this weekend is important."
The 2011 season ended on a high for NASCAR, with increased TV ratings and higher attendance at many tracks. The championship battle - highlighted by Stewart winning five of the 10 Chase races and a third Cup title - was the closest in history, ending in a tie.
One piece of leftover business for NASCAR was addressing the two-car drafting at Daytona and Talladega, Ala., which most fans disliked.
The results of that work will get their first review Saturday night.
STARTING LINEUP
Starting lineup for Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway:
1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Kyle Busch
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Jamie McMurray
5. David Ragan
6. Kurt Busch
7. Greg Biffle
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
9. AJ Allmendinger
10. Joey Logano
11. Carl Edwards
12. Jeff Burton
13. Ryan Newman
14. Jeff Gordon
15. Tony Stewart
16. Denny Hamlin
17. Clint Bowyer
18. Jimmie Johnson
19. Kasey Kahne
20. Michael Waltrip
21. Marcos Ambrose
22. Kevin Harvick
23. Matt Kenseth
24. Paul Menard
25. Juan Pablo Montoya
More racing news, blogs, photos and more at www.ThatsRacin.com.
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