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| Dale Jarrett has two Budweiser Shootout wins. Credit: Michael Romano, ASP |
"I think this race is great preparation for the Daytona 500, because the rules say you have to make a pit stop," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "It gives us a chance to make a stop in the heat of battle. You can practice all you want, but it's no match for jumping over that wall with a race on the line.
"Plus, I think it gives us a sense of how we stack up against the other top cars. The new aerodynamic rules make it a bit of an unknown how the cars will react in the draft, so this may give us some answers and teach us some things for the 125 (qualifying race) and the 500."
Earnhardt Jr., at least at this point, appears to have a preferred ride in terms of speed. Seven Chevrolets, including Bud Pole winning Rookie of the Year candidate Jimmie Johnson, qualified in the top 10.
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Jeff Gordon Credit: Michael Romano, ASP |
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However, fastest Ford qualifier Dale Jarrett has wins in the 1996 and 2000 Shootout, the latter coming with a similar aerodynamic package that is on the cars this Speedweeks. Jarrett also won two of his three Daytona 500s after winning the Shootout.
"The Shootout is a lot of fun because it's not a points race and we're just out there racing for the win," Jarrett said. "The race is only 70 laps so there really isn't time to lay back in the field and wait to make a move until the end of the race.
"We pretty much get after it from the drop of the green flag and it's an all out battle until the checkered flag waves."
Kenny Wallace will start second and defending Budweiser Shootout champion Tony Stewart starts third.
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