Shootout eligibility returns to its roots for 2013

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR today released the eligibility requirements for the 2013 Shootout at Daytona, an announcement that signals a return to the fan-favorite preseason event’s roots. 

Next season’s field will consist of 2012 pole winners and past Shootout winners who have attempted to qualify for at least one race during the 2012 season. Hendrick Motosports drivers combined to earn four pole positions during the 2011 season, sweeping the top spot at each superspeedway event.

Eligibility rules for next season’s annual non-points race mirror those from 1979-2008, and puts greater emphasis on each weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole qualifying session.

“Fans have expressed their desire to see this event return to its original eligibility rules,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “We listened and decided it would be best to return to the eligibility rules of years past adding further meaning to pole qualifying for each NASCAR Sprint Cup race.”