Budweiser Shootout: Return of pack drafting at Daytona?
Autoracing Betting Lines
02/14/2012 -
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup. Date:
Saturday, February 18. Race: Budweiser Shootout. Site: Daytona International
Speedway. Track: 2.5-mile tri-oval. Start time: 8:10 p.m. (et). Laps: 75.
Miles: 187.5. 2011 Winner: Kurt Busch. Television: FOX. Radio: Motor Racing
Network (MRN)/SIRIUS NASCAR Satellite.
The 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season will rev up on Saturday night with
the 34th running of the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.
This year's scheduled 75-lap, 187.5-mile preseason race will feature a field
of 25 cars.
The format for this race is unchanged from last year, but there is a tweak in
the eligibility requirements. Drivers finishing among the top-25 in the Sprint
Cup point standings this past season as well as active drivers who are not in
the top-25 but previously won the Budweiser Shootout, the Daytona 500 or the
400-mile July race at Daytona are eligible.
Trevor Bayne, the 2011 Daytona 500 winner, will not be among the 25 drivers
competing in the Budweiser Shootout, since Wood Brothers Racing could not
secure sponsorship for his No.21 team in this event. Bayne is entered to
compete in the Daytona 500.
Geoffrey Bodine, Derrike Cope, Bill Elliott, Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader
are also eligible for the Budweiser Shootout but not participating in the
event.
The Budweiser Shootout will serve as a dress rehearsal for the Daytona 500 and
Gatorade Duels (twin 150-mile qualifying races for the 500). NASCAR recently
revised its rules for restrictor-plate racing in an effort to minimize and
perhaps eliminate two-car tandems, which have become an unpopular style of
racing at restrictor-plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway).
NASCAR is hopeful the rule changes will return pack racing.
"When you pack race, in most instances, if not all, it's important to race the
whole time," said Jimmie Johnson, who won the preseason race at Daytona in
2005. "You're going to have to race for the win from the first lap. Unlike
what we have now, where you know you can make up so much time in a short
period of laps, you'll be much more engaged throughout the race."
NASCAR has also banned communications between drivers on their car radios
during a race at plate tracks in another attempt to break up the two-car
breakaways.
Most Sprint Cup teams participated in a three-day test session at Daytona last
month. During the test, NASCAR gathered data when as many as 20 cars ran in a
draft. Further modifications to the restrictor plates and the size of the
front grille opening on the cars could be forthcoming.
Teams competing in the Budweiser Shootout will also get a chance to
familiarize themselves with the new electronic fuel injection systems during
race conditions.
Several drivers will make their debuts with new teams in the Budweiser
Shootout. They include: A.J. Allmendinger (Penske Racing), Clint Bowyer
(Michael Waltrip Racing), Kurt Busch (Phoenix Racing), Kasey Kahne (Hendrick
Motorsports) and David Ragan (Front Row Motorsports).
"It's definitely something to be excited about and look forward to, and I
can't wait to get down there and practice a little bit, and then qualifying on
Sunday is going to be exciting," Kahne said.
Busch, who drove the No.22 car for Penske last year, is the defending race
winner.
Marcos Ambrose and Brad Keselowski are those drivers who are competing in this
race for the first time.
The starting lineup for the Budweiser Shootout will be determined during a
random drawing held Friday evening at Daytona.
<< Budweiser Shootout: Return of drafting at Daytona?
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup. Date:
Saturday, February 18. Race: Budweiser Shootout. Site: Daytona International
Speedway. Track: 2.5-mile tri-oval. Start time: 8:10 p.m. (et). Laps: 75.
Miles: 187.5. 2011 Winn
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NFL Sports Betting
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North.
Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash. NFL Betting
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