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Earnhardt Jr. says this new Bud Shootout format isn't for him

By SceneDaily Staff

Friday, August 29, 2008

Article Rating: 4.7
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Robert Laberge / Getty Images for NASCAR

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FONTANA, Calif. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. blasted the new format for the Budweiser Shootout Friday, saying he would dread racing in the Shootout next year because of the format.
 
The Shootout will be a 75-lap race next year, up from 70 laps, with a 25-lap segment to start and 50 laps to finish. The defending winner of the race, Earnhardt Jr. doesn't understand the changes.
 
“I don’t know what the extra five laps are for,” he said Friday at Auto Club Speedway, site of Sunday’s Pepsi 500 Sprint Cup race. “What the heck? They [NASCAR] don’t get it. They messed up The Winston, the all-star race, and they’re messing up the Shootout.
 
“They ought to line us up, make us run 10 laps. They want us to run around there for 25 first and have a 25-lap segment? That’d be cool. But 10 laps to go, all or nothing - that’s what the fans want, that’s what the drivers want.
 
“The last segment being 50 laps? We’re just going to sit there for 30. I just don’t get it. They don’t get it. I don’t understand. I don’t know what the focus group is they’re talking to to get these formats.
 
“It’s frustrating because I want to like running those races. I don’t want to dread them, but right now I’m dreading running them because the formats are no fun.”
 
Earnhardt Jr. said he didn’t mind the way competitors are picked for the event, which used to be a pole-winners showcase. But since Budweiser no longer sponsors the pole award, the race changed to an event featuring the top six drivers in owners points for each manufacturer.
 
“I just hate the formats,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “It’s not exciting, it’s not fun. Fifty laps at the end, right? That’s too long. What for? This is a
Shootout.
 
“What the hell, you know? They’ve got a reason.”

Average Rating: 4.7

Comments

18 responses to "Earnhardt Jr. says this new Bud Shootout format isn't for him"
  1. 1
    Bradley Bischoff said:
    Aug 29, 2008 at 3:17 PM

    adda BOY!!!!!!

    Report as Abuse
  2. 2
    Apollo Morelos said:
    Aug 29, 2008 at 3:29 PM

    Now you're talking.

    Report as Abuse
  3. 3
    tonystewartracingfan said:
    Aug 29, 2008 at 3:32 PM

    You Go JR!!

    Report as Abuse
  4. 4
    Worm Dirt said:
    Aug 29, 2008 at 3:42 PM

    Tacos!!

    Report as Abuse
  5. 5
    Barbara Simunic said:
    Aug 29, 2008 at 4:07 PM

    Nascar are you listening??? Jrs. got it right!

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    4da88 said:
    Aug 29, 2008 at 4:30 PM

    Bring on the Kool-aid!!

    Report as Abuse
  7. 7
    Jay said:
    Aug 29, 2008 at 4:58 PM

    Too bad it won't change anything. It's the sponsor's decision because they don't support the Pole Award anymore, they don't want their title race based off of something Coors awarded

    Report as Abuse
  8. 8
    James E Seiger said:
    Aug 30, 2008 at 4:48 AM

    Thats the way start speaking your mind Jr.You are right NASCAR is making everything BORING!!!!!!!!!!!! LISTEN UP NASCAR YOUR GONNA START LOSING FANS AT THIS RATE !!!!

    Report as Abuse
  9. 9
    beth emerson said:
    Aug 30, 2008 at 7:01 AM

    I have been a long time for Jr to speak up. What a way to go about it. Now you need to put that agression on the track and go win the championship. Go Jr. We love you.

    Report as Abuse
  10. 10
    Gerald Neal said:
    Aug 30, 2008 at 1:00 PM

    Thats right,let's get back to racing while we still have a sport.

    Report as Abuse
  11. 11
    Sharon Davis said:
    Aug 30, 2008 at 1:27 PM

    I'm a Dale Jr. fan and looked forward to the Bud Shootout, because it is the first race and I knew that he was going to be in it. After he won this year I knew that he would be in it for a few more years. The way it is going to be he might not always be in it.

    Report as Abuse
  12. 12
    jim kav said:
    Aug 30, 2008 at 1:47 PM

    First race...best race....and guess I'll just work that day instead of taking it off. Better yet...I'll go riding the sled that day!

    Report as Abuse
  13. 13
    Diamond_56 said:
    Aug 30, 2008 at 2:26 PM

    Way to go Jr. Now other drivers ought to speak up too. NASCAR needs to get with the drivers and they all put their heads together to come up with the best way for the race to be fan friendly and driver friendly. I know that Nascar is a business, but it is the fan's that have kept this business IN business!!!! Listen to your drivers, Nascar.

    Report as Abuse
  14. 14
    Racing Maniac said:
    Aug 30, 2008 at 2:43 PM

    You can count on Jr. to call 'em as he sees 'em. Too bad it's falling on deaf ears (and deaf brains). Now that they've announced the format, they won't change it until at least next year. Heaps of 3's

    Report as Abuse
  15. 15
    cb michael said:
    Aug 30, 2008 at 5:33 PM

    a better format would be the chase players from the previous year or the top thre teams from each manufacturer and allow all winners of previous shootouts. if you have to change keep a little history with it. NASCAR won't listen though, no need to watch or tape anymore, each race is a rerun of the last since NASCAR won't even the horsepower for all teams. last week was great when "Mr Showoff" got his due,, go carl, jeff, jr. jeff, and the rest of you. show him he's not king, not yet!

    Report as Abuse
  16. 16
    Gladys Bedwell said:
    Aug 31, 2008 at 10:18 AM

    I agree with Jr. How can 50 laps be a shootout? The other drivers should speak up also but it won't change anything this year. The format has been decided for 2009. We can always hope they will see the error of their ways and change it for 2010. They changed the Chase format from the top 10 to the top 12 drivers after realizing important drivers such as Jr, Jeff and Tony didn't make it. If all 3 of them hadn't made the Chase this year, you could almost bet they would change it to the top 15. Anyway, my point is, if they see the fans skipping the Shootout, they will definately figure something else out to bring the fans back. Maybe fans need to let Brian France Jr. know how bored and unhappy they are since he has taken over. I actually took a nap during the Bristol race. That is not good.

    Report as Abuse
  17. 17
    del brown said:
    Sep 1, 2008 at 7:25 AM

    This particular format was probably requested by some of the auto manufacturers. Here they atr dumping millions to teams that couldn't snag a pole. Under the old format that meant there'd br quite a few of two or three makes amf almost none of the others. All those $$$$ down the Shootout drain. Now there'll be six of each - and not very many viewers.

    Report as Abuse
  18. 18
    Grover rickman said:
    Sep 1, 2008 at 12:22 PM

    The answer is easy ! DO NOT GO ! If they want your car there send Brad?

    Report as Abuse

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