NASCAR Media Day, Daytona 500 Qualifying Provide Countdown To Traditional Season Opener

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2010) – “Great Racing … Great Stories” – the theme of NASCAR’s recent media-tour announcements – gets rolling this week.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series officially returns to the track on Saturday night, with annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, NASCAR’s traditional “non-points” season-opening event which this year opens a new decade for America’s No.1 form of motorsports.
It offers teams an initial opportunity in the new year to operate under race conditions, and aside from a hefty trophy, a Budweiser Shootout win gives the victor valuable momentum heading into Daytona 500 preparations.
This year, expect to see even more stars. In December, NASCAR announced changes to the event’s lineup format that emphasizes top performers from the previous season, plus drivers who have excelled on the high banks at Daytona.
Leading into the Budweiser Shootout are several events that collectively provide considerable build-up.
First, there’s NASCAR’s 11th Annual Media Day – the annual gateway to information gathering. Nearly 100 drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be available for interviews during one of Thursday’s two sessions – 8 a.m. until noon and noon until 3 p.m. Approximately 350 media members are scheduled to attend, with live broadcasts on NASCAR.COM, ESPN and SPEED.
The location is the Daytona Club tent outside the track’s main grandstands. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. until noon. Visit www.nascarmedia.com for interview schedules and more Media Day information.