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StumblePublished Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 | 9:47 p.m.
Updated Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 | 9:48 p.m.
I had planned to try and write an insightful, possibly even intelligent blog post about the recent change to allow a “wild card” team from each manufacturer to be added to the Budweiser Shootout. But that’s not going to happen.
Why? Because after trying to make sense of who is in the Shootout and who isn’t, I became as confused as Paris Hilton at a rocket scientists’ convention.
Now that each manufacturer can add a seventh team, that means that Tony Stewart, who was not eligible as a Toyota driver, is now in the Shootout as a Chevrolet driver.
It’s the same case for Bobby Labonte, who’s now in a Ford, but wouldn’t have been in the race if he still piloted a Dodge for Richard Petty. By the way, the No. 96 Ford that he’ll be driving was a Toyota last year.
And then there’s Robby Gordon. He would have been eligible as the sixth Dodge team, but he’s switching to Toyotas. Nevertheless, officials say Robby can participate if he drives a Dodge in the Shootout. I guess he has a few leftover Dodges from last season sitting around the garage.
Right about now we should be all screaming for the Shootout to revert back to its original format.
But wait, there’s more! Juan Pablo Montoya will have nothing to do with Robby Gordon’s philosophy. He would have been eligible in a Dodge, but he’s switching to Chevrolet for 2009. As of today, he isn’t interested in driving a Dodge for one race.
And just when you thought it couldn’t get more confusing, consider Toyota. Its next car in line would have been the No. 22, but that car probably won’t race this year. So the seventh Toyota would be Scott Speed’s No. 82 car, which was the No. 84 car last year. But Speed can only compete if Gordon does drive a Dodge in the Shootout.
Wow. Does it make sense to you? And I thought landing a plane in the Hudson was difficult.
…
Make sure to check out the StockcarToon on Thursday which will examine the transformation of Gillett Evernham Motorsports into Richard Petty Motorsports.
Mike you got that right, NA$CAR has taken a great "All Star" race and turned it in to a race you can get in just by being in the sport. And now winning a pole just does not mean as much as before. But they "had" to introduce the wildcard to get certain drivers in to the race. Just like they raised the chase numbers to 12 when certain drivers did not make the chase. And yer is is confusing, but Sir Brian thinks we will all go over the cliff together when he wants us to. Sad, very sad.
Keep up the great work.
David
Elgin TX
Huh?
Newman and Stewart are out but Logano is in? He hasn't even been in a Cup race yet...it used to be about the drivers but now its just about the manufacturers. I think I need a Coors Light...
Thanks,
Exposure from the Bud Shootout isn't going to help the fortunes of the sinking Detroit automakers.