NASCAR makes changes in Budweiser Shootout

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 27 (UPI) -- NASCAR officials say major changes will be made in the 2009 Budweiser Shootout with the field no longer be based on the previous year's pole winners.

The preseason, non-points race at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway will include the top six teams from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota, based on the final 2008 car owner points and its distance will increase from 70 to 75 laps on the 2.5-mile tri-oval track.

"Whether it's the (Race for the) Chase, the All-Star Race or the Bud Shootout, there's always going to be one of your top players left out of the lineup," Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said on NASCAR's Web site about the possibility of not having several stars like Ryan Newman and Joe Nemechek. "That could be growing pains, but we certainly realize that even in the format that we have for the Bud Shootout."

Starting positions will be determined by a blind draw.

The race is scheduled for Feb. 7.