Bud Shootout Preview

Tomorrow we will finally here the roars of engines again. Tomorrow the 2012 NASCAR season gets its unofficial start.

The 2012 version of the Shootout brings along another eligibility change, but still offers an impressive slew of drivers to kick off the season. This year's eligibility rule was switched from last season, only the top 25 from last year's driver points qualify, as well as any former Daytona or Shootout winners. Here's a list of this year's Shootout competitors: 

1. #1 Jamie McMurray

2. #2 Brad Keselowski

3. #5 Kasey Kahne

4. #9 Marcos Ambrose

5. #11 Denny Hamlin

6. #14 Tony Stewart

7. #15 Clint Bowyer

8. #16 Greg Biffle

9. #17 Matt Kenseth

10. #18 Kyle Busch

11. #20 Joey Logano

12. #22 A.J. Allmendinger

13. #24 Jeff Gordon

14. #27 Paul Menard

15. #29 Kevin Harvick

16. #31 Jeff Burton

17. #34 David Ragan

18. #39 Ryan Newman

19. #42 Juan Pablo Montoya

20. #48 Jimmie Johnson

21. #51 Kurt Busch

22. #55 Michael Waltrip

23. #56 Martin Truex Jr.

24. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

25. #99 Carl Edwards

It will also be NASCAR's first chance to view a race where the EFI (fuel injection) engines will be used and to see whether it's rule changes to help break up the infamous two car drafts will have any effect on the race.

The race will still be a 75-lap feature broken up into two segments of 50 and 25-laps. Both green and yellow flag laps will count and teams will be able to pit their cars whenever needed. 

Last year's race ended with a controversial finish as Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag, but illegally passed Ryan Newman by going under the yellow out-of-bounds line to make the pass just before the start/finish line. That gave the win to Kurt Busch who crossed the line in second. Here is a replay of last year's race:

Busch will look to defend his Shootout title from last year, but will have to do so in lesser equipment with his new Phoenix Racing team and while he did post impressive speeds at January Daytona testing, he will be without a drafting partner in Regan Smith.

Though this race (and all restrictor plate races in general) are essentially crapshoots, it's not too hard to see who typically runs well at Daytona. Look for all of the Hendrick cars to be strong with two time Shootout winner Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne teaming up in one pair and '05 winner Jimmie Johnson and two time winner Dale Jr. the other. Kevin Harvick has been the dominator of restrictor plate tracks the last two seasons and won this event back-to-back in '09 and '10, so look for him to be a strong contender as well. 

Tune in tomorrow at 8p.m. Eastern to FOX to catch the race. Thank God there's less than 24 hours until we hear that lovely sound of the engines firing up and the drivers saying, "I'm going fast again!". Thank you, Ricky Bobby.

Good day and get revved up!

*All statistical info from Jayski.com