Driver opinions vary on new Bud Shootout format

FONTANA, Calif. -- How do drivers feel about the decision to change the rules governing next year's season-opening Budweiser Shootout exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway?

Well, it depends whether you're in or out.

Michael Waltrip, who finished 11th in the 2008 Shootout, would have needed to win a pole in the last 12 races to make the field in 2009 under the current rules. Instead, with the decision to include six teams from each of the four manufacturers, there's an excellent chance for two of Waltrip's team cars to make the field next February.

Good changes?

NASCAR changed how a driver gets into the Budweiser Shootout turning the focus from poles to manufacturers. Bill Kimm and Josh Pate debate if this is the right move.

• Complete story, click here
• Changes coming to Shootout

"What's important to me is what's good for the sport," Waltrip said. "I've been doing this for many, many years now and have seen [NASCAR] mess very little up. To be able to have a special event and invite all the manufacturers in on it, and each of them have equal representation and go out there and see who's the best that night, is another home run.

"As a fan, it's a great, great thing, and I'm glad that we'll be able to be a part of it."

Waltrip said from an owner's perspective, giving sponsors NAPA and Aaron's additional exposure is always a good thing.

"This is a bonus for them," Waltrip said. "That's the owner in me that wants the best for his sponsors and I'm glad we're able to potentially deliver them this special night down in Florida."

Carl Edwards, who missed the 2007 edition because he failed to win a pole the previous year, thought he secured a spot with his run last week at Bristol. It turns out that he's one of five Roush Fenway Racing drivers who will represent Ford in the 2009 Shootout.

Edwards is in favor of the new rule.

"It's probably better," Edwards said. "You have guys who run amazingly well but don't get a lot of poles. I don't get a lot of poles. Matt Kenseth doesn't get a lot of poles."

On the other hand, 2008 pole-winners Paul Menard and Joe Nemechek find themselves on the outside looking in. For Nemechek's Furniture Row Racing team, the change was a huge blow.

"It's like they want to keep giving more to the bigger teams and taking away from the little," Nemechek said. "It's just a big, big deal for this team to be in that premier race. It's just really disappointing for us as a small, independent team. We worked really hard to get that.

"I can't tell you how bad that affects our team. I know NASCAR said they were sorry for it. But man, something that's been that way for 25, 30 years, and all of the sudden you yank it out, give the teams some notice."

For Nemechek, it's one more signal that single-car teams may be on the endangered species list.

"The sport of NASCAR is changing, just like Mike Helton said," Nemechek said. "The sport's bigger than any one person, but when the people that control the sport let something like this happen, they need to be careful that they're not going to end up with six car owners in this garage.

"Believe me, I love being a part of NASCAR, it's the greatest sport ever, I make a good living doing this -- that's my opinion, they can't fault me for my opinion -- but there are a lot of people out there that think the same way. Man, it's like they just keep giving more to the big guys and taking away from the little guys."

Nemechek said someone like Boris Said, who only runs a limited schedule, no longer gets additional benefit from winning a pole.

"It makes it harder and harder for anybody else to try and come in and have a shot," Nemechek said. "I heard Boris Said say something about that. If that happened to him after he got a pole for his efforts, that would be devastating. That race is gone for good for him. Hey, it is what it is and we've got to deal with it."

But even though there is no longer a guaranteed slot in the Shootout, Menard said winning the pole is still an ego boost.

"Well, you're still the fastest guy of the weekend," Menard said. "That's always good. Every racecar driver wants to be the fastest guy, and if you do it in qualifying, that means that you are, so we'll still try to do that."