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Pre-race Report: Bud Shootout
Event/Date: Bud Shootout – Feb. 7, 2009
Venue: Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
- Kevin Harvick’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Performance History at Daytona International Speedway
- Highlights
- Quotes from Kevin Harvick
- Todd Berrier Quote
Kevin Harvick’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Performance History at Daytona International Speedway
Date | Race | Start | Finish | Laps Completed | Total Laps | Status | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/8/03 | Budweiser Shootout | 16 | 9 | 70 | 70 | Running | $39,700 |
| 2/7/04 | Budweiser Shootout | 5 | 3 | 70 | 70 | Running | $63,000 |
| 2/12/06 | Budweiser Shootout | 18 | 20 | 15 | 72 | Running | $31,377 |
| 2/10/07 | Budweiser Shootout | 20 | 5 | 70 | 70 | Running | $53,000 |
| Totals/Averages | 14.75 | 9.25 | 225 | 282 | $187,077 |
Highlights
This Week’s Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway
Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 219 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the Budweiser Shootout. This chassis was used in all four superspeedway events in 2008. Kevin Harvick drove it to a 14th-place finish in last year’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, and to a 12th-place finish in the July Daytona event. At Talladega Superspeedway, Harvick drove this car to a 24th-place finish in the April Sprint Cup Series race, and to a 20th-place result in October.
Stats Facts
In four Budweiser Shootouts, the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil team has finished in the top-10 three times, with its best finish being a third-place result in the 2004 event. In 2006, Harvick completed just 15 laps of the 72-lap event, finishing 20th.
Mr. Consistency
Harvick has not recorded a DNF in 80 consecutive races, which is the modern-era record (1972-present). Harvick’s RCR teammate, Clint Bowyer, currently has the second-longest active streak at 73.
“I’m Going to Disney World”
Instead of heading back to North Carolina following Sunday’s Daytona 500 qualifying session, Kevin Harvick and his wife, DeLana, will spend one of their days off taking in the sights at Walt Disney World, near Orlando, Fla.
The Race
The Budweiser Shootout dates back to 1979 and this non-points event is considered the unofficial kickoff to the Sprint Cup Series season. The 2009 installment will consist of 75 laps, broken up into two segments of 25 and 50 laps, respectively.
In the past, the Budweiser Shootout field was made up of past winners of the event, along with drivers who won a pole position in a Sprint Cup event during the previous season.
This season, the format has changed to put more emphasis on the division’s four auto manufacturers. The starting lineup will be made up of the top six cars in the final 2008 owner’s points standings in each manufacturer’s stable, plus an additional wild card entry from each of the four manufacturers.
With 28 entries, this year’s event is the largest field in the race’s history. Starting positions will be determined by random draw at the annual Bud Shootout Draw Party on Thursday night, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. on the SPEED stage outside Turn 4.
Three of a Kind
In addition to Harvick and the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet, RCR will also be represented in the Bud Shootout by Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) and Casey Mears (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet).
Five-Time Bud Shootout Champ
RCR won the Budweiser Shootout five times with driver Dale Earnhardt (in 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995), and an RCR entry has appeared in 22 of the 30 races.
Catch the Action
Flag-to-flag coverage of the Budweiser Shootout from Daytona International Speedway will be televised live Sat., Feb. 7, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on FOX and will be broadcast worldwide on Motor Racing Network and Sirius- XM Satellite Radio.
Quotes from Kevin Harvick
Does the Budweiser Shootout take on added significance this year, given that you haven’t been on track at Daytona for testing?
“Yeah, I think it’s a significant race this year, just for the fact that you haven’t been able to go to Daytona and test and do the things that you’ve been able to do in the past. I think they should leave the testing out at Daytona forever and make the Bud Shootout the test session, but I don’t know if that’s ever going to happen. I think it plays a huge role in getting your stuff where it needs to be and a lot of notes and things that you need for the next week.”
With the addition of the wild card entries, there are 28 entries in the race. What do you think about there being so many cars on track in what will be such a short race?
“I think it’s good. I think everybody was a little worried about how the format laid out the cars, and now that there are some wild cards in it, I think it will make a good race and a good kickoff to the season for the fans.”
Todd Berrier Quote
Given the lack of a Daytona test this year, will the Bud Shootout be very helpful in preparing for the Daytona 500?
“I think running the Bud Shootout will make more of a difference to the drivers than it will (the crew chiefs). Typically at Daytona you have what you have, and you’re not going to get much better than you are when you unload. (The drivers) are all rusty and haven’t tested anything all winter, so that’s the main thing. Some of those guys will be racing for the first time since Homestead, so shaking the rust off before the Daytona 500 will be helpful.”