Bud Shootout eligibility revised for 2013

Daytona Beach, FL Sports Network) – NASCAR's eligibility requirements for the 2013 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway is returning to its roots.

The sanctioning body announced on Sunday -- prior to qualifying for the February 26 Daytona 500 -- the field for next year's preseason, non-points race will consist of pole winners in the Sprint Cup Series this season as well as previous winners of the Budweiser Shootout. The eligibility format will be the same one used from 1979 through 2008.

"Fans have expressed their desire to see this event return to its original eligibility rules," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's 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."

Carl Edwards won the pole for the Daytona 500 and therefore earned a spot in next year's Budweiser Shootout. Last night, Kyle Busch locked up a position in the field with his thrilling victory in the Shootout. Busch bounced back from two near wrecks and then made a last-lap pass on reigning series champion Tony Stewart. He beat Stewart to the finish line by 0.013 seconds, making it the closest margin in the history of that event.

Eighteen different drivers won a pole in NASCAR's premier series last season.