Budweiser Shootout!

Monday February 04, 2008 @ 03:57 PM EST

Posted by nascarjanet

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing returns to the track this weekend as the series officially kicks off the 2008 season with the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.

A total of 23 drivers are eligible for the 2008 Budweiser Shootout – which will be the record for the largest field in the history of the event (The previous high was 22 in 2002). There were 18 drivers who gained eligibility by winning a pole in 2007, while five others are eligible because they are past winners of the Budweiser Shootout (and finished in the top 50 in final series point standings). Four drivers will be competing in the event for the first time.

Eligible drivers based on 2007 pole award(s):

1. Jeff Gordon (7)

2. Ryan Newman (5)

3. Jimmie Johnson (4)

4. Clint Bowyer (2)#

5. Kasey Kahne (2)

6. Kurt Busch

7. Carl Edwards

8. Martin Truex Jr. #

9. Denny Hamlin

10. Greg Biffle

11. Casey Mears

12. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

13. Jamie McMurray

14. J.J. Yeley #

15. Reed Sorenson #

16. David Gilliland

17. Dave Blaney

18. Michael Waltrip

#- First-time participants

Drivers eligible based on being past winners of the Shootout (years won in parentheses):

19. Tony Stewart (2001, 2002, 2007)

20. Dale Jarrett (1996, 2000, 2004)

21. Mark Martin (1999)

22. Ken Schrader (1989, 1990)

23. Bill Elliott (1987)

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