Bud Shootout moves to prime time in 2003

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- The Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway will be run under the lights during Speedweeks 2003, marking the first time in the race's 25-year history it will be run in primetime.

The Shootout is traditionally scheduled for the Sunday prior to the Daytona 500; but next year the star-studded event will be run on Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. live on FOX, eight days before the 44th annual Daytona 500

ALSO  •  2002 Budweiser Shootout  •  2002 Best Starts  •  Daytona track page

"Nighttime racing is a big hit for both competitors and fans and we're pleased to add more night racing at Daytona International Speedway," said DIS president Robin Braig. "The allure of night racing will certainly bring a bigger audience to the Budweiser Shootout. It will be a fantastic race."

Friday's news continues a recent trend of moving races to primetime television. The UAW-GM Quality 500, traditionally run in daylight at Lowe's Motor Speedway, will also move to a nighttime slot in October 2003. Rumors have also surfaced that the Southern 500 at Darlington may shift to a nighttime start.

"I'm actually, from a driver's standpoint, really excited that the race has been moved to the evening hours," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the Budweiser Chevrolet. "It's a lot of fun to race under the lights at Daytona. Aside from the pure enjoyment standpoint of it, it's a win situation to move it.

"It'll have a bigger spotlight, due to the fact that it'll be on Saturday night. I think it'll bring a little more prestige, a little more notoriety to the event that it's seemingly kind of lacked in the past. I'm really excited about it and think it solidifies just how important the event is."

The Budweiser Shootout is a non-points event that pits all 2002 Bud Pole winners, along with past winners of the Budweiser Shootout, against one another in a 70-lap All-Star race.

Eighteen drivers are currently eligible for the 2003 edition: Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Bill Elliott, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman, Ward Burton, Matt Kenseth, Ricky Craven, Ricky Rudd, Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin, Geoffrey Bodine, Ken Schrader, Todd Bodine, Terry Labonte and last year's winner, Tony Stewart.

Glen Johnston, director of communications for Daytona, said Bud Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500 will be run on Feb. 9, the day after the Budweiser Shootout.