Guess what? Automobile racing has lived through the worst global economic collapse since the Great Depression. And as a result, the green flag will fly on a new NASCAR season Saturday night with the running of the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.
Fortunately, the weather should be warmer by then. Tonight, the forecast is calling for a low of 25 degrees in Daytona Beach, which if you live in Michigan would be downright balmy for this time of year, but is damned cold in central Florida.
Still, better to be cold and racing than to be cold and not racing. And after a winter’s worth of doom and gloom, the Shootout comes at a good time. This year, there will be 28 entries, seven from each of the four automakers in the Sprint Cup Series.
From Chevrolet: Casey Mears, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
From Dodge: Kurt Busch, Robby Gordon, Kasey Kahne, David Stremme, Elliott Sadler, Reed Sorenson and AJ Allmendinger. Footnote: This will be Robby Gordon’s only race in a Dodge this year. After that, he switches to Toyota.
From Ford: David Ragan, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Bobby Labonte, Paul Menard and Carl Edwards.
From Toyota: David Reutimann, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Michael Waltrip, Scott Speed and Brian Vickers.
There will be two segments to the races: a 25-lapper at the start, followed by a 10-minute break and a 50-lap run to the checkers. And given that the new car seems to run well on restrictor-plate tracks, the Shootout ought to be an interesting race.
Last year, of course, Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored an emotional triumph in the Shootout, his first race with Hendrick Motorsports. Will lightning strike twice? We’ll see on Saturday night.
Thursday at Daytona is Media Day, so there will be plenty more to report on tomorrow night. See you then.
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