The 2012 edition of the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona marks the 34th running of the annual season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Daytona International Speedway. The race will feature the second-largest field in event history as 25 drivers are entered in this year’s Budweiser Shootout.
The Budweiser Shootout at Daytona has featured 19 different winners, including the late Dale Earnhardt, whose six victories are record for the event. Among active drivers, reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has the most wins in the event with three. Stewart scored back-to-back Budweiser Shootout victories 2001 and 2002, and visited Victory Lane again in 2007.
While Kurt Busch is the most recent winner of the Budweiser Shootout, Budweiser driver Kevin Harvick has two wins in the annual season-opener with his back-to-back victories in 2009 and 2010.
The PLAYERS’ Performance
· Of the 25 drivers entered in the event, seven are previous Budweiser Shootout winners: Busch (2011), Harvick (2009 and 2010), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and 2008), Stewart (2001, 2002 and 2007), Denny Hamlin (2006), Jimmie Johnson (2005) and Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997).
· Marcos Ambrose and Brad Keselowski are scheduled to make their first start in the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday. Five drivers have scored wins in their first Budweiser Shootout start, including: Buddy Baker in the inaugural event in 1979, Earnhardt in 1980, Gordon in 1994, Dale Jarrett in 1996 and Hamlin in 2006.
· Five drivers have won the Budweiser Shootout after leading only the final lap of the race. The list of drivers includes: Earnhardt (1980), Neil Bonnett (1983 and 1984), Rusty Wallace (1998), Jarrett (2004) and Harvick (2009).
By the NUMBERS
3
Only three drivers have won the Budweiser Shootout after starting from the pole position. Darrell Waltrip won from the top spot in 1981, Bill Elliott accomplished the feat in 1987 and Ken Schrader did the same in 1989.
4
Four different drivers have won back-to-back Budweiser Shootout: Harvick (2009-10), Stewart (2001-02), Schrader (1989-90) and Bonnett (1983-84).
5
The Budweiser Shootout winner has gone on to win the Daytona 500 the following weekend on five occasions. Bobby Allison pulled off the Daytona Speedweeks sweep in 1982 and Bill Elliott did the same in 1987. Jarrett accomplished the feat twice in his career (1996 and 2000). Gordon also scored wins in both the Budweiser Shootout and the Daytona 500 in 1997.
7
The winner of the Budweiser Shootout has gone on to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship seven times. Earnhardt was the first to do it in 1980, and repeated in 1986, 1991 and 1993. Waltrip (1981), Gordon (1997) and Stewart (2002) also scored championships after starting the season off with a win in the Budweiser Shootout.
11
The record for most starts before scoring a win is 11, a mark shared by Mark Martin and former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Rusty Wallace.
12
The drivers scheduled to participate in this year’s Budweiser Shootout have combined for a total of 12 wins in the race. Three victories are credited to Stewart. Harvick, Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon have each earned two wins in the Budweiser Shootout, while Busch, Hamlin and Johnson have scored one a piece.
27
Harvick holds the record for lowest starting position by a winner in the Budweiser Shootout. In 2009 he started the race from the 27th position and took the lead on the final lap to score the victory.
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