Dale Jr. and the Bud Shootoout

Yes, now we can smell the start of the NASCAR season, as it's less than one week away before the first points race. Of course, you've got the Daytona twin qualifying races Thursday afternoon to wet your appetite. I've followed NASCAR for years and never tried to figure out how the drivers that need the transfer spots to get into the 500 get them. It's just too complicated and I'd rather just watch what will hopefully be some good racing.
Which brings me to the Bud Shootout.
The first NASCAR competition on the new pavement at Daytona was I thought, a little disappointing at the end. Yes, they can say there were more lead changes in those 187 plus miles than there have been in 25 Daytona 500s, but what really matters is coming down to the end how many guys had a chance for the win? The answer was four and that's not a good number. If the answer had been 12 or 15, OK, I can live with that. If the answer had been more than 20, now that would be better. NASCAR won't likely let a four-car pack control the final laps in the 500 Sunday, they may pay somebody to throw some debris on the track to cause a yellow, to bunch the field back up if that happens.
So, let's just hope the 500 has a better finish than the Bud Shootout.
And for the record, I've always hated the yellow line rule. Either you can pass'em or you can't.
On to Junior.
Yes, everyone is loving it that he's on the pole after Sunday's qualifying. There are two things to say about that: 1) It should be no surprise. He loves Daytona and it is probably one of the few places where he still have confidence to go fast. 2) Where you start at Daytona is pretty much meaningless, except for the fact that if you start up front it might help you avoid "the big one" early in the race. But that stuff usually happens later when everyone forgets they're going 206 mph and starts bumping each other around.
Don't get me wrong. I like Junior, though he's not my favorite, he's a easy to pull for. If he would happen to win at Daytona it would be great for him and the sport, but winning Daytona does anything but guarantee success for the rest of the season.
And one last bit: Darrell Waltrip's new word when it comes to drafting, coopitition, yeah, I'm into it, even though I often agree more with what Larry McReynolds says than what Darrell says.
Later this week, I'll have my season picks to make the top 12 Chase for the Championship.

Why I like the Bud Shootout

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Bud Shootout at 8 p.m. Saturday will give us our first real action of the season. Yes, we realize it's a made for TV event and we know there are no points awarded for this sort of preseason showdown. And that's just the point.
Everybody in this race is going for the win. There's no talk about having a good day for the points standings, or the dreaded "points racing" quotes we hear from time-to-time. It's all about being first to the checkered flag, which is the way it should be.
The field will feature the 12 drivers who qualified for the 2010 Chase for the Championship, past Bud Shootout champions, past Daytona points race winners and Sprint Cup rookies of the year for the last 10 years. There are 30 drivers eligible and there are really no significant absences. Neighborhood bully Kevin Harvick has won the last two Bud Shootouts and it would be no surprise to see him up front again considering his aggressive driving style and there is no risk of losing any points.
The event also is run in two segments, the first being 25 laps and the second 50 laps. There will be a 10-minute break between segments to allow crews to check their cars, especially the tires as it will be the first race on Daytona's new pavement.
The starting order will be set by a blind draw at 8 tonight.

No more bumps, but more bumping in Shootout

NASCAR released the lineup for the Bud Shootout to be held at Daytona International Speedway Saturday, Feb. 12. It will be broadcast on FOX with the green flag set for 8:10 p.m. Though it's not a Sprint Cup Series points race, it will be the first race on the newly paved speedway. The speedway didn't undergo a simple resurfacing project during this offseason, it was much more in depth. The old surface was torn up and taken off, then after landscaping work, the new surface was put down. No more bumps, but maybe more bumping on the smooth surface.
Here's a look at the drivers that are in and the criteria that made them eligible.

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)

The event is 75 laps, with two segments, the first one being 25 laps with a 10-minute pit stop for crews to change tires and make any other adjustments. Yellow flags will count and the starting order will be determined by a blind draw at 8 p.m., Feb. 11.