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Stewart can enter Bud Shootout

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By David Newton
ESPN.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tony Stewart is back in the Budweiser Shootout.

NASCAR on Friday announced a revision for the Feb. 7 non-points event at Daytona International Speedway to allow each manufacturer a "wild card'' entry that will increase the size of the field to 28 cars from 24.


The revision addresses a change in the Budweiser Shootout rules that was widely criticized in NASCAR circles.


Last season, it was announced that the Shootout field would consist of the top six teams from each of the four manufacturers in owners' points from the previous season. Previously, spots in the field were awarded to pole position winners from the previous season and past Shootout winners.


That change eliminated Stewart, the 2001, 2002 and 2007 Shootout champion, who moved from Joe Gibbs Racing to the No. 14 car at Stewart-Haas Racing.


The latest revision admits any owner outside of the top six in 2008, as long as the driver is a past Sprint Cup champion who attempted to qualify for all of last season's races.

That put Stewart, who inherited points from the No. 70 at what was formerly Haas CNC Racing, into the field. It did not, however, include Mark Martin, the 1999 Shootout winner. Although Martin plans to run a full season in the No. 5 at Hendrick Motorsports this season, he ran only a partial schedule at Dale Earnhardt Inc. last season.

If an owner/manufacturer does not have a past champion driver, the next highest eligible owner outside the top six in 2008 from each manufacturer becomes eligible.

That put in the No. 38 from Yates Racing, the No. 10 from Gillett Evernham Motorsports (likely AJ Allmendinger) and the No. 22 from Triad Racing Technologies, which recently purchased Bill Davis Racing.

Bobby Labonte, who will drive the No. 96 for Yates Racing this season after getting his release from what was Petty Enterprises, likely will inherit the No. 38's points that David Gilliland accumulated last season and move into the field.


The No. 22 does not have a driver or sponsor at this time, so if it is not entered, the next highest Toyota will be entered. That likely would be the No. 84 with rookie Scott Speed.

The race will consist of two segments -- 25 laps and 50 laps -- with a 10-minute pit stop in between.

Starting positions will be determined by a blind draw on Feb. 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won last year's event in his debut for Hendrick Motorsports.