And come Saturday, no one will be more eager to mash the gas than the Budweiser Shootout’s defending winner – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet).

“Winning the first race of the year – whether it’s for points or no points – is always pretty special,” Earnhardt said. “There’s no better way to start a season than by winning the first one right out of the gate.”

Doing so may be especially important this season, given NASCAR’s 2009 suspension of testing at tracks that hold NASCAR-sanctioned events. Instead of the usual January tests at Daytona and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams concentrated energy in shops and engine rooms to prepare for the season.

For the Budweiser Shootout’s 28 eligible participants, Saturday night’s race means the first opportunity to gather data under race conditions, a crucial component for Daytona 500 preparations.

A New Format The Budweiser Shootout race distance has been increased from 70 laps to 75 laps for 2009. That’s a total of 187.5 miles on Daytona’s high-banked, 2.5-mile layout.

As has been the case since 2003, the event will be run in two segments; only the first segment increases in distance from 20 to 25 laps.

Following the first segment, a 10-minute “pit stop” gives crews the opportunity to make normal adjustments to their cars. That means tweaks they would do on a normal pit stop during a regular NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.

* All work must be done on pit road or in the garage.
* Teams may not change springs, shocks or rear-ends.
* All green- and yellow-flag laps in both segments will count.

Following the 10-minute “pit stop”, the event’s second segment remains a 50-lap sprint for the win.

A New Field As announced last August, the Budweiser Shootout field now includes the top six teams from each manufacturer based on the final 2008 car owner standings. Another change announced on Jan. 16: Each manufacturer also has a “wild card” entry, which increases the field from 24 to 28 teams.

Here’s the criteria for including a seventh car, or “wild card” entry:

• Any owner outside the top six for each manufacturer, whose driver is a past NASCAR Sprint Cup champion who attempted to qualify for all 2008 events. Each manufacturer is permitted only one of these positions, which will be based on the most recent champion per manufacturer.
• If an owner/manufacturer doesn’t have a past NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, the next highest eligible owner outside the top six, per manufacturer, in the final 2008 owner standings, will be eligible to fill that manufacturer’s wild-card position.

The 2009 field includes five former Daytona 500 champions – including one three-time winner in Jeff Gordon, one two-time winner in Michael Waltrip, 2007 winner Kevin Harvick, 2004 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and 2006 winner Jimmie Johnson.

First-time Budweiser Shootout participants include AJ Allmendinger, Robby Gordon, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Scott Speed and David Stremme.

Participants with previous Budweiser Shootout experience include Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Elliott Sadler, Reed Sorenson, Tony Stewart and Brian Vickers.

Fast Facts

• What: 31st annual Budweiser Shootout At Daytona
• Where: Daytona International Speedway
• When: Saturday, Feb. 7
• Time: 8:10 p.m. (ET)
• TV: FOX, 8 p.m. (ET)
• Radio: MRN; SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Channel 128
• 2008 Winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“For anyone out there who isn’t familiar with Kevin Buskirk you will be very soon. Kevin’s worked with some of the best in the business. He worked with me in 2004 on the No. 38 team at Yates when we won three poles and two races and made the Chase. He won the Daytona 500 as an engineer on the No. 29 team at Richard Childress Racing in 2007. The guy flat out knows what he’s doing and we are thrilled that he came over to join us for 2009.”

“The No. 19 Dodge team has a lot to prove this year. We are coming in with a big, and when I say big—I mean HUGE chip on our shoulders and we want to make sure that we are competitive each and every week of the season. There is no room for error and each and every member of this team is going to be held accountable. The No. 19 team has been given the tools to be successful and now it is up to all of us to use those tools and get this car  competitive and into victory lane.”

“This is my first trip to the racetrack as a married man. A lot of guys out there have told me that for some reason they’ve raced better since they got married. No one can really give me the specifics on the science behind it, but I’m looking forward to see if that is indeed the case.”

“I know earlier this offseason I told a lot of media folks on the NASCAR teleconference that I was already in big trouble with the future Mrs. Sadler before our honeymoon because of a passport issue. I want to make sure I clear the air and let everyone know that the issue was resolved and I received my passport the Friday before we left. To be honest, I lose a lot of stuff and this wasn’t much different, but this time I had to answer to my wife!”

“Sure I’m excited about racing Saturday night. It kind of nice to be able to go into this Daytona and know that I can focus on racing and not stress about how the car will be rolling off the hauler and if I’ll get the chance to race.

“This is one of the most exciting races of the season and a great way to get everything started. It’s cool that all four Richard Petty Motorsports cars will be in the Shootout. It gives us a jump on Speedweeks and good momentum for the new season. Hopefully we learn a lot Saturday night and we transfer that to next weekend’s performance as well.

“The Valvoline paint scheme is pretty cool. I love the retro vibe and that it’s commemorating what Kyle and Valvoline did 30 years ago is an honor. Hopefully we can do Valvoline and the Petty name proud here again.

“The King has been awesome and supportive and obviously has a lot of experiences we can learn from.  You don’t win 200 races without knowing what you are doing. He’s been  someone I have always admired and it will be neat to have him in our meetings. When he speaks you listen.

“Richard Petty Motorsports is looking pretty good now. Kasey, Elliott, Reed and myself are going to work really hard this year to get all of us there in the points and hopefully the Chase. I’m really hoping we can run well early in the season and get the attention of a company looking to get into the sport. We have a lot to offer any sponsor both on and off the track.”

1. David Reutimann, No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
2. Kurt Busch, No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge
3. David Ragan, No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
4. Robby Gordon, No. 7 Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge
5. Casey Mears, No. 07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
6. Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge
7. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
8. David Stremme, No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge
9. Tony Stewart, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
10. Greg Biffle, No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
11. Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
12. Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
13. Elliott Sadler, No. 19 Richard Petty Motorsports  Dodge
14. Joey Logano, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
15. Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
16. Jamie McMurray, No. 26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
17. Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
18. Jeff Burton, No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
19. Reed Sorenson, No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge
20. AJ Allmendinger, No. 44 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge
21. Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
22. Michael Waltrip, No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
23. Scott Speed, No. 82 Red Bull Racing Toyota
24. Brian Vickers, No. 83 Red Bull Racing Toyota
25. Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
26. Bobby Labonte, No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Ford
27. Paul Menard, No. 98 Yates Racing Ford
28. Carl Edwards, No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford

The draw for starting position in the non-points Shootout is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Thursday on SPEEDTV with the race scheduled for 8:10 p.m. Saturday.

Two weeks till the Bud Shootout and I’m starting to get pumped.