A record field of 28 cars is set to take the green flag Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway for the annual Budweiser Shootout.
The 31st version of the made-for-TV race has a new format. Instead of including only the previous year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup pole-winners and other drivers who have won the Shootout, the lineup will consist of the top six teams and a wild-card entry from each of the four manufacturers that compete in Cup.
Kasey Kahne, who drives a Dodge for Richard Petty Motorsports, said the bigger lineup should produce more action in the race that gets the Cup season under way.
“The Shootout is always an exciting race to be a part of,” he said. “There’s no pressure. No points on the line, just putting it all out there for the win. You can take a few extra chances that you might not take in the Daytona 500.”
The race distance will be increased from 70 laps to 75 (187.5 miles) on the 2½-mile oval and will be divided into segments of 25 and 50 laps.
Jeff Burton, who hasn’t won a Cup pole since 2006, said he’s excited about getting to drive in the Shootout.
“I hate going to Daytona when there is a race running and I’m not in it,” Burton said. “This year, we’re able to go down there and get a race in before the year starts and I think that’s a really good thing, especially without testing.
“All four manufacturers are equally represented in this race, which is not only good for our sport, but it will also add a lot of excitement for the fans. The Shootout is a fun race to watch and, hopefully, it’s more fun to be a part of.”
The lineup will be determined Thursday in a blind draw.
MODEST GOALS: When team owner Rick Hendrick hired 50-year-old Mark Martin to run full-time this year, most everyone assumed it was to give the longtime NASCAR star an opportunity to finally win the Sprint Cup championship that has eluded him.
But the four-time series runner-up said the 2009 championship is not the real goal of his first full Cup season since 2006.
“(Winning the championship is) so far out of my mind right now,” Martin said. “I want to win a race — singular. When that gets accomplished, we’ll start talking about multiples. And I want to contribute to this race team.
“Short term, I want to get (crew chief) Alan (Gustafson) and the (No.) 5 team’s confidence up and get them performing on a level they’re capable of. But, as a whole, I just want to make a contribution to Hendrick Motorsports.”
The last of Martin’s 35 Cup wins came in 2005 while driving for longtime boss Jack Roush.
Martin said he can hardly wait to begin this new phase of his career, particularly driving a Hendrick Chevrolet in the Daytona 500, which he nearly won in 2007 in a last-lap duel with Kevin Harvick.
“I came so close in 2007 and had a great car that year,” Martin said. “This year, I think I’ll probably have the best car I’ve ever had for Daytona and probably the best opportunity to go out there and win it.
“I want to have a great race car, and I think that’s important. But there will be about 10 really good cars out there, and only one guy will have all the luck. I’d rather be lucky than good when it comes to the Daytona 500.”
NEW TEAM: Jeremy Mayfield will return to NASCAR Sprint Cup competition in 2009 as both team owner and driver. He will try to get the new team off on the right foot by qualifying for the Daytona 500.
Mayfield, who has not driven a full Cup season since 2005, co-owns the new team with Gary Smith, Chairman and CEO of Big Red, Inc. Smith’s ALL SPORT brand will sponsor the team’s No. 41 Toyota.
“Team ownership is something I’ve always wanted to pursue,” Mayfield said. “I have to give NASCAR a lot of credit for the things they’ve done in the sport over the last two years to make it possible for people like me to get involved as a team owner.
“The new CoT car and, even more importantly, the testing ban have made it a reality for me to come in and compete in the Cup Series.”
Veteran Tony Furr will be the team’s crew chief, while Triad Racing Technologies will supply the engines and chassis.
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