2013 Shootout – February 16 on FOX

3-Time Sprint Cup Champion
Tony Stewart

73 days until the Daytona Shootout! But hours after  the checkered flag dropped on the 2012 running of the Daytona  Shootout,  NASCAR announced new eligibility standards for the 2013 race. Back in February 2012 Jeff Gluck posted details about the changes on The New Eligibility Rules.

The biggest change the rules put on the 2013 running is the return to pole winners and previous Shootout winners only. While many applaud this return to the old school, it means the current Cup Champion is not eligible to participate. Many Brad Keselowski fans are upset about that. But this isn’t the first time the Cup Champion hasn’t participated in the shoot out. The last time that happened was 2004 when 2003 Cup Champion Matt Kenseth was excluded from the shootout race.

That’s not the only change people are talking about. It doesn’t seem right not to call the shootout by it’s old familiar title “The Budweiser Shootout”. But Budweiser no longer sponsors the shootout. They do sponsor the Duels which will be held February 21, 2013 on Speed.

The 2013 Shootout Entries.

22 Drivers are eligible to participate in the 2013 Daytona  Shootout.
As of February 12th, 2013; 19 Drivers have signed up to race the renamed Sprint Unlimited race. For us however, it will always be the Shootout!
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