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NASCAR Bud Shootout at Daytona to Start Season

7 August 1997

        BUD SHOOTOUT AT DAYTONA TO START NASCAR SEASON WITH A BANG


NEW YORK, NY - The 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup schedule will start with a bang as 
the Bud Shootout at Daytona begins the year at the "World Center of Racing," 
on Feb. 8.

The fastest guns in NASCAR will compete in the Bud Shootout At Daytona, an 
enhancement of the popular Busch Clash, which has served as the 
season-opening non-points race since 1979. The event will feature a total of 
125 miles of green-flag racing with a new format and a new attitude.

The 25-lap Bud Shootout At Daytona will be contested following a preliminary 
25-lap race which will match winning drivers from the previous season's Bud 
Second-Round Qualifying. The winner of the preliminary race will advance to 
the second segment--the Bud Shootout At Daytona.

The Bud Shootout At Daytona will see each of the Bud Pole Qualifying Award 
winners from the previous year duel for 25 laps in a high-stakes event which 
promises to be one of the most exciting of the entire NASCAR Winston Cup 
season. The "high stakes" are in the form of $100,000 for the winner.

The Bud Shootout At Daytona will again be a marquee event of Speedweeks, a 
two-week, world-famous festival of racing at Daytona culminating with "The 
Great American Race," the Daytona 500.

Through today, those qualified for the Bud Shootout At Daytona are John 
Andretti, Jeff Gordon, Robby Gordon, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Bobby 
Labonte, Mark Martin, Joe Nemechek, Ken Schrader, Mike Skinner, Kenny 
Wallace and Rusty Wallace.

The drivers qualified for the preliminary race are Dale Earnhardt, Bill 
Elliott, Jeff Green, Chad Little, Sterling Marlin, Rick Mast, Greg Sacks, 
Lake Speed, Jimmy Spencer, Dick Trickle and Darrell Waltrip.

"The enhancement made to this already great event will only add to the 
excitement of Speedweeks at Daytona," said John Graham, president of Daytona 
International Speedway.

"We have more than doubled the amount of racing that NASCAR fans will witness 
the Sunday before the Daytona 500, featuring an even greater number of the 
fastest and greatest drivers in the world."

The two-segment 20-lap Busch Clash (50 miles total) included on its list of 
champions many of NASCAR's all-time greats including Buddy Baker, Dale 
Earnhardt, Bill Elliott, Dale Jarrett and Jeff Gordon.

Beginning with the Bud At The Glen at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, 
there are 13 races remaining in the 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup season, providing 
drivers with additional opportunities to qualify for the 1998 Bud Shootout At 
Daytona.

The Bud Shootout At Daytona will be coupled with the Daytona ARCA 200 which 
will run at the conclusion of the Bud Shootout At Daytona. For tickets to the 
inaugural event call the Speedway ticket office at 904-253-7223.

By Daytona International Speedway Public Relations