Budweiser Shootout Lineup: Dale Jr. Starts on Pole



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It is finally here, time for the engines to fire back up. This weekend's Budweiser Shootout promises to be an action-packed, three- to four-wide race with non-stop action. With the newly paved surface at Daytona, we will see some of the best racing ever.

Eligibility is confusing for the Shootout, so let me help you out. Drivers who were in the 2010 Chase, past winners of the Daytona 500, past Rookie of the Year winners, past Budweiser Shootout winners, past Sprint Cup champions and other past Daytona points race winners (Pepsi/Coke 400) are all eligible per the rules this year. Here is the lineup for the 2011 Budweiser Shootout and a reminder of that driver's eligibility.

1. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 2004 Daytona 500 winner, 2003 and 2008 winner of Budweiser shootout and 2001 winner of the Pepsi 400
2. Tony Stewart 2010 Chase contender, two-time Champion, three-time winner of the Coke Zero 400 and Budweiser shootout (2001, 2002 and 2007)
3. Carl Edwards 2010 Chase contender
4. Denny Hamlin 2010 Chase contender, 2006 winner of Budweiser Shootout
5. Kasey Kahne 2004 Rookie of the Year
6. Bobby Labonte 2000 Winston Cup Champion (the current Sprint Cup)
7. Clint Bowyer 2010 Chase contender
8. Ryan Newman 2008 Daytona 500 winner, 2002 Rookie of the Year
9. Derrike Cope 1990 Daytona 500 winner
10. Michael Waltrip 2001 and 2003 Daytona 500 winner, 2002 Pepsi 400 winner
11. Greg Biffle 2010 Chase contender, 2003 winner of Pepsi 400
12. Jeff Gordon 2010 Chase contender, four-time series Champion and three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1997, 1999, 2005) also three-time winner of Coke Zero 400 and 1997 Budweiser Shootout
13. Juan Pablo Montoya 2007 Rookie of the Year
14. Jamie McMurray 2010 Daytona 500 winner, 2007 Pepsi 400 winner, 2003 Rookie of the Year
15. Jeff Burton 2010 Chase contender, 2000 Pepsi 400 Winner
16. Kevin Conway 2010 Rookie of the Year
17. Kurt Busch 2010 Chase contender, 2004 Champion
18. Kevin Harvick 2010 Chase contender, 2007 Daytona 500 winner and back-to-back Budweiser Shootout winner 2009 and 2010
19. Matt Kenseth 2010 Chase contender, 2003 Sprint Cup Champion, 2000 Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year and 2009 Daytona 500 winner
20. Mark Martin 1999 Budweiser Shootout winner
21. Kyle Busch 2010 Chase contender, 2008 Coke Zero 400 winner
22. Joey Logano 2009 Rookie of the Year
23. Jimmie Johnson 2010 Chase contender, five-time series Champion, 2006 Daytona 500 winner, 2005 Budweiser Shootout winner
24. Regan Smith 2008 Rookie of the Year

Now that you know where your favorite driver is starting, get ready because the racing is here. When the green flag drops for the Budweiser Shootout, it will be less than a week until all teams are back for the Daytona 500. Are you ready? I sure am!