Amid much anticipation, the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series officially returns to the track Saturday night.
The 31st annual Budweiser Shootout At Daytona – the non-points precursor to the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 15 – snares the spotlight first at Daytona International Speedway.
This year, the event will have changes in its format, with a slightly longer distance and an expanded field designed to showcase the four manufacturers competing in NASCAR’s premier series.
And come Saturday, no one will be more eager to mash the gas than the Budweiser Shootout’s defending winner – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet).
“Winning the first race of the year – whether it’s for points or no points – is always pretty special,” Earnhardt said. “There’s no better way to start a season than by winning the first one right out of the gate.”
Doing so may be especially important this season, given NASCAR’s 2009 suspension of testing at tracks that hold NASCAR-sanctioned events. Instead of the usual January tests at Daytona and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams concentrated energy in shops and engine rooms to prepare for the season.
For the Budweiser Shootout’s 28 eligible participants, Saturday night’s race means the first opportunity to gather data under race conditions, a crucial component for Daytona 500 preparations.
Last year, Earnhardt used his victory to jump-start his first season at Hendrick Motorsports. The momentum carried over to a victory in the first of two 150-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500 (the Gatorade Duel), and an eventual ninth-place finish in the Daytona 500.
“It doesn’t necessarily determine how the rest of your Speedweeks will go, because we run different cars for the Daytona 500,” Earnhardt said. “But it’s the opening act of a new season, and everyone wants to start off with a bang. I guess it’s more important for bragging rights.”
He cites a “good car; good motor; being in the right place at the right time,” for his 2008 Budweiser Shootout win – his third overall.
“Everything was clicking,” Earnhardt added. “I had teammates up front, and we worked together quite a bit. It was just a good race where everything went right.”
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