LET'S GO RACIN' BOYS
With an accompaniment of off-season expectations and optimism, tonight's 29th annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona marks the first on-track event of the 2007 season.
But only for 21 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series teams.
Exclusive by design – all Budweiser Pole Award winners from the previous year along with former eligible event winners – the Shootout's excitement is guaranteed, and its benefit is enormous.
Why? It's the first time drivers hit the track under race conditions, and although a non-points exhibition, perhaps no laps are more anticipated than the first.
Unpredictability is inherent. Witness last year's upset by victory by eventual Raybestos Rookie of the Year Denny Hamlin. Then unproven, Hamlin and his team used the win to jump-start what would be a phenomenal rookie run.
No rookies are eligible for this year's field, but 11 past Budweiser Shootout victories are sprinkled among the 21 eligible drivers, including two-time event winners Jarrett, Ken Schrader, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart.
On Deck: Budweiser Pole Day And The Gatorade Duel At Daytona
While the 29th annual Budweiser Shootout kicks off the 2007 season, NASCAR Nextel Cup Series drivers' first order of official business looms tomorrow, on Budweiser Pole Day, when teams begin the qualifying process for the Daytona 500.
Qualifying for the 500 is definitely unique.
This year, for an impressive list of big-name drivers, it also will be undoubtedly unforgiving.
Daytona 500 qualifying has three elements: Sunday's Budweiser Pole Day and next Thursday's two 150-mile Gatorade Duel at Daytona qualifying races – plus the factoring in of the final 2006 car owner point standings' top 35.
Here's what we know:
On Budweiser Pole Day, the top two qualifiers are locked in for the front row of the Daytona 500, set for Sunday, February 18 at Daytona International Speedway.
Those top 35 teams from the final 2006 owner points also are assured spots in the Daytona 500, leaving 26 of the 61 anticipated entries--the "non-35s"--on the outside looking in, forced to race their way in. This year, the group includes five former Daytona 500 champions: Sterling Marlin, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott, Ward Burton and Derrike Cope.
From each Gatorade Duel race, the top two "non-35s" finishers will earn starting spots.
To complete the field, positions 40-43 will be filled by the four fastest non-35 drivers from Budweiser Pole Day who didn't qualify via their Gatorade Duel finishes. Or maybe … it'll be the three fastest; if a past series champion has failed to qualify via pole day or the duel races, he'll get the 43rd and final spot via the Past Champion Provisional.
This is a qualifying format that can seem a bit complex. But this year, there is a harsh reality that cuts through the complexity and keeps it simple via this bottom line: Starting spots for the Daytona 500 are going to be harder than ever to come by.
For those increasingly anxious non-35 drivers, the challenge is doubly daunting.
- They'll want to be fast on Budweiser Pole Day, which sets the starting order for the Gatorade Duel events. No way will they want to start deep in a restrictor-plate field, then try to get to the front in only 60 laps.
- Thing is, once the Gatorade Duel races begin, the pressure will be on to go flat-out no matter where you started.
Obviously, some very big names are likely to be on the sidelines for the 49th Annual Daytona 500.
Taking a closer look at this year's high-profile "non-35" group, you find a collective total of 75 NASCAR Nextel Cup victories and eight Daytona 500 championships.
Aside from the former 500 champions, here's a rundown of some others who must race their way into the sport's biggest event.
- Three series veterans with new teams in 2007 – Brian Vickers (Red Bull Racing), Joe Nemechek (Ginn Racing), and Jeremy Mayfield (Bill Davis Racing), all who have won Cup races.
- A talented group of rookies vying for their first Daytona 500 experience – Paul Menard, David Reutimann and AJ Allmendinger.
- Finally, 72-year-old driver James Hylton, the 1966 rookie of the year who boasts nearly 30 years of NASCAR racing experience, will try to qualify for his 17th Daytona 500. A Cinderella task, but not unprecedented. In 2006, Kirk Shelmerdine filled that role with his own, small team, earning the 42nd starting spot and finishing 20th in the Daytona 500. His winnings for that race (a career-high $272,008) enabled him to continue funding his team.
And so we're back to racing. It's a good thing, too, 'cause the off-season took it's toll on the tallglassofmilk. What I thought would be a slow-moving blogging vacation was a fast-moving blogging train of tragedies, tales of true love and trickery, and a trainwreck in my inbox. Oh, and some downright insanity, too.
Were you asleep at the wheel?
OFF-SEASON FAQs
Legends were lost
Bobby Hamilton (1957-2007)
Benny Parsons (1941-2007)
Stars were born
Hendrick Carlson
Caden Wade Kvapil
Cooper Berrier
Ashton Lewis III
Drivers were domesticated
Burney and Niki got married
A.J. and Lynne got married
Greg and Nicole got engaged
Timothy and Sara set a date
Jeff and Ingrid are pregnant
Elliott's ready to settle down
Smoke's having wedding thoughts
There were indidents and accidents
Biffle dislocated his shoulder
JJ broke his wrist
Truex peed himself
Unser failed sobriety tests
There was justice served and ignored
Chip Williams: GUILTY
Mickey Thompson's killer: GUILTY
Kymberly Brantigan: BUSTED
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 10, 2007 (Photo: Jeanie Booth)
THE EARNHARDT FAQter
This generation's most well-known name in racing endured more than their fair share of drama during the off-season.
First, Teresa questioned stepson Dale Jr.'s commitment to racing. Junior countered: he's finally realized what matters to this... Not to worry. It's just typical family issues. But then there's the family's friend. Could he make Junior question his commitment to DEI?
Then there was the public announcement of a "girlfriend." And the fiancée (not). There were hints and allegations. (and unreturned phone calls.)
Then Teresa expanded the family business beyond Dale Jr. Kerry Dale was brought in to handle a wide range of responsibilities. And his 17-year-old son Jeffrey was signed to a long-term driving services contract with DEI.
Then, on behalf of Junior, big sister Kelley asked for 51% ownership in their father's company.
Quoting this...
Junior: "The main factor is the ownership part. It has nothing to do with money and nothing else really. I would really like my team; I like how things are going. Max [Siegel] is going to be great for the company. The motors are improving, everything is on an upswing. My father has been gone for almost six years now; I want majority ownership." Over 50%? "Absolutely."
To be continued...
The Young'ns
Dale Sr.'s youngest, Taylor, 18, who has competed successfully on the
Junior Southern Rodeo Series for the past four years, will represent
Sharpie in ten races throughout the country on the 2007 Equestrian
Barrel Racing circuit.
Jeffrey, who has competed in the Late Model series, and recently took part in the General Motors Developmental Program, will be a DEI developmental driver, driving Chevys fielded by Andy Santerre Motorsports in the NASCAR Busch East Series. He will also drive in the UARA Late Model Touring Series.
Quoting this...
Jeffrey: "Signing with DEI is a dream come true. To progress as a driver at the premier organization that Dale and Teresa built means a lot to me. I know I'll be surrounded with the right equipment to take me to the next level, so now it's up to me to prove myself."
THE FAST AND FEMALE
Dust and ruffles: 'Girlie girls' team up to become off-road racers. - Like all serious off-road buggy racers, they needed a sponsor, but they faced some challenges. Big potential sponsors wanted more information. What would they race? What kind of track record did they have? How would they represent the sponsor? One by one, they got their rejections. But the racers kept in touch with their contact at SoBe, which sells vitamin-enriched water, who promised he was working his connections. They crossed their fingers and hoped for the best.
The call came on a Monday. "Where do I send the check?"
Full story at the OC Register.
WHAT'S AHEAD
TGOM returns (ha! like I ever left...) next week with more updates and new FAQs!
