What is the Budweiser Shootout?

Question

If the Daytona 500 is the first race of the season, why is the Budweiser Shootout listed as the first race on the schedule?

Answer 1

The Budweiser shootout is a Non-Points race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series "Bud Pole Award" winners from the previous season, and past winners of that race. It is listed first on the schedule, because it is the first race of the season, even though it awards no points. The NASCAR All-Star race in May is also listed on the NSC schedule, but is another Non-Points race.

BTW....this is to be the LAST Bud Shootout, as Budweiser is leaving NASCAR as the "Official Beer of NASCAR." Coors has taken over as "The Official Beer of NASCAR," but it is undetermined if they will have a "Bud Shootout" type race next year.

Answer 2

The Bud Shootout is a exhibition race for the drivers that have earned at least one Bud Pole from the previous year or have won one Bud Shootout race before in their career. This is only done for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and is raced eight days before the Daytona 500 is raced.

The Daytona 500 is considered the first race of the season because the "500" is the first official race that gives points out to each of the drivers based upon their finishing position.

Also, the Gatorade Duel is before the 500 as well and is also an exhibition race as well. These are the reasons why the Budweiser Shootout is listed before the Daytona 500 is but also why the 500 is considered the first race of the season.

Answer 3

The Budweiser Shootout is a Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held the weekend before the Daytona 500. It began as the 'Busch Clash' and was a fifty-mile "all-out sprint". In its current format, it is made up of two segments: a short 20-lap (62.5 mile) segment, followed by a ten-minute intermission. After the intermission, the race concludes with a 50-lap (125 mile) segment in which each car must make a pit stop for fuel, all in all making the Shootout a total of a mere 187.5 miles. The Daytona 500 mile race is the first points race of the season and the 'Main event' of, what is known as, 'Speed Weeks' which consist's of all the races in and around the speedway leading up to the Daytona 500.

The Shootout, like the Sprint All-Star Challenge held at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May, carries no points for the winner but rather a large purse. It's designed to encourage an all-out driving style not seen in regular-season races.
The smaller, invitation-only field consists of all of the pole position winners from the previous season as well as former event winners. The starting lineup is determined by a random draw, not by qualifying as all other races are determined.

Due to Budweiser discontinuing sponsorship of the NASCAR pole award after the 2007 season, the 2008 Budweiser Shootout will be the last shootout for the time being.

ONE INTERESTING NOTE: Richard Petty, his famous #43, and all of the drivers piloting the 43 up to and including Bobby Labonte have never raced in the Bud Shootout.
The reason is, In order to be 'signed-up' for or in 'contention to recieve' an invitation to the Shootout after actually winning a Pole Position, you must have a small *Budweiser* decal on the fender within the row's of all the other tiny contention sponsor decals that all car's use such as Holley Carbs., Sunoco fuel, Clevite-77 bearings etc. etc.
Richard Petty promised his Mother, at her request from the very beginning of his career, that he would never indorse Alcohol. So to keep his promise, he does not run the *Budweiser* decal on the #43 at all, therefore he simply isn't even on the entry list to accept invitations to the Bud Shootout period. That's the first thing Petty tell's his prospect driver's before even presenting a contract and he's never had a driver go somewhere else because of that.

Answer 4

The budweiser shootout is a non-points race, there for it is not an official nascar points race, thus the Daytona 500 is the first race because it is the first NASCAR points race.

the bud shootout is a race before the 500 where all the previous years bud pole winners, and past shootout winners race. The winner of the Bud Shootout is on the pole for the 500 if i remmeber correctly.

Answer 5

The Bud Shootout is a non points race. It's made up of past bud winners and the last seasons pole sitters. The 500 is the first points race. So for that reason, it's listed as the first race.

Answer 6

JG Race 1194 said it the best. I don't think I could even add to that. It is unfortunate that they are loosing sponsors that have been around for as long as I have been a fan (30 + years). I was just getting used to the Nextel cup, which will now be the Sprint cup. No more Bud Shootout, but even if it is called the Coors Shootout, it is still one of the best races of the season.

Answer 7

And now that you know what it is...this year will be the last one. Coors Light is now the official beer of NASCAR! They have not said as to whether they will continue the race. Either way, it wont be the Bud Shootout anymore. Next year is the Coors Pole Award!

Answer 8

It's an exhibition race for all the drivers that won a Bud Pole Award (pole position) the previous year. It is also open to former Bud Shootout winners.

Answer 9

This is a non-points race held at Daytona. It involves pole winners from the last year. It is a 70 lap race.

Answer 10

I agree, good job to my boy Jr for winning the 2008 bud shootout. Nothing like winning a race sponsored by your old sponsor. Hope he goes back and enjoys the Bud because the AMP will keep him up all night.