Anticipation High For Griner's WNBA Debut U.S. Drivers Make Up One Third Of Indy 500 Field NASCAR Struggles With Last-Minute Ticket Buyers MLS Team Execs Forecast League's Eventual Expansion NWSL Averaging Over 4,000 Per Game Six Weeks In NFL Looking At Mid-May For Draft Westwood Calls For More European Events Goodell Confirms Date Change For NFL Draft FIVB Could Add More U.S. Tourneys NFL Draft Could Be Moved To May
Upcoming Conferences and Events
SBD/Issue 222/Leagues & Governing Bodies
Budweiser Shootout To Have Different Look, New Format In '09
Published August 7, 2008
The '09 Budweiser Shootout will have a different race format and a new method for qualifying. NASCAR's top officials, from Chair & CEO Brian France to President Mike Helton, have worked with Anheuser-Busch and Daytona Int'l Speedway (DIS) to recreate the event as part of A-B's sponsorship renewal with DIS. In the past, pole winners from the previous year have automatically qualified for the non-points race, which is considered the unofficial kickoff to the Sprint Cup season. But when Coors replaced Bud as the official beer of NASCAR and took over entitlement of the Coors Light Pole Award, A-B sought to separate its marquee event from the award. The specifics of those changes are still being finalized. Changes are expected to be announced later this month. The '09 race is scheduled for February 7, the weekend prior to the Daytona 500.
