The 28th Budweiser Shootout, the opening NASCAR race of 2006, will feature a record-tying field -- at least.
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The starting field for the non-points All-Star event on Feb. 11 at Daytona International Speedway most likely will be made up of 22 drivers from the Nextel Cup series, tying the mark for the biggest field set in 2002.
The question mark is Rusty Wallace, who is eligible for the race that includes the previous year's pole winners as well as former Shootout winners. But Wallace, who won the race in 1998, is now retired.
"I don't plan on doing any more racing," Wallace said after his 13th-place finish in last Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The lineup will include 2005 pole winners Tony Stewart, the reigning series champion; Ryan Newman, who led the series with eight poles; Elliott Sadler; Jeff Gordon; Carl Edwards; Matt Kenseth; Kevin Harvick; Kasey Kahne; Jimmie Johnson; Jamie McMurray; Joe Nemechek; Dale Jarrett; Brian Vickers; Michael Waltrip; Scott Riggs; Kyle Busch, and rookie Denny Hamlin.
Former race winners included in the field will be Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, Ken Schrader, Bill Elliott and Terry Labonte.
"It's a great event. It's fun and exciting," said Gordon, a two-time Shootout winner. "For those of us who are in it, I think it's a bit of an advantage to get a little bit of extra drafting practice."
Taking charge
Tim Cindric will leave his position of president of Penske Motorsports to assume overall management responsibility for the umbrella Penske Performance, Inc.
Effective immediately, the 37-year-old Cindric will move from Reading, Pa., to Mooresville, N.C., and will have responsibility for teams competing in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series, IRL IndyCar Series and the American Le Mans Series.
Cindric, an Indianapolis native, has been president of Penske Racing since 1999, with management responsibility for Marlboro Team Penske, Penske Cars, Ltd., Racing Experience, Inc., Penske Technology Group, and Penske Motorsports, Inc. Under his leadership, Marlboro Team Penske has scored two national championships and 25 victories, including three consecutive Indy 500 wins (2001-2003).
Current Penske Racing South president Don Miller will remain in that position, while John Erickson, current general manager of the NASCAR team, will become general manager of Penske Motorsports' ALMS Porsche program.
"We are pleased that Tim has agreed to lead our racing operations," Roger Penske said. "In today's competitive environment, it is critically important to have a long-term leadership plan in place. Tim's management experience and technical expertise are ideally suited to meet the challenges ahead."
