Starting the year off on the right foot, Paul Menard drew "P1" during Thursday's annual Budweiser Shootout qualifying draw. Making his first start for Yates Racing, Menard will start Saturday night's exhibition race from the pole position.

"It's really cool to be entered in the Budweiser Shootout this season," Menard said prior to his pole winning draw. "In the past, I've had to watch it on TV, but this year we'll be a part of it. In year's past you had to win a pole to get into the Shootout and after winning the pole last year at Daytona, I immediately thought about being in the Shootout. Now with the new format and being with a new team, it's cool to be a part of it this year."

Richard Petty Motorsports will make it's debut Saturday night with Elliott Sadler's No. 19 Dodge starting beside Menard on the front row. RPM teammate Reed Sorenson drew the third starting spot, while Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender Scott Speed will roll off fourth in his No. 82 Red Bull Toyota. Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin will make up the rest of the top-5.

Defending Budweiser Shootout winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. drew the ninth starting spot. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon will start in the back of the pack, but don't expect them to stay there long. The three-time defending Sprint Cup Series champ drew the 21st starting spot, while Gordon pulled the 28th and final starting position.

This year's Budweiser Shootout will be a showdown between the best the manufacturers have to offer. All four manufacturers have the top-six teams from the 2008 owner points, plus one additional driver - either a past Cup Series champion or the next highest in points.

Despite making the switch to Toyota for the 2009 season, Robby Gordon will run Saturday night's 75-lap Shootout in a Dodge and will roll off 13th.

After obtaining the No. 22's owner points earlier this week, Penske Racing's Sam Hornish Jr. was one of Dodge's top-six drivers, however the team did not prepare the paperwork in time to be included in the event.

Along with the change in how teams make the show, the format of the Budweiser Shootout also changed for the 33rd edition of the race. The race was lengthened from 70 laps to 75 laps, making it a 187.5-mile event. The first segment will be a 25-lap dash, followed by a 10 minute yellow flag break in the action. Teams will hit pit road and teams will be allowed to make any changes they would normally make on a pit stop. Following the break in the action, the field will run 50 laps to the checkers and put the 2009 edition of the Budweiser Shootout in the books.

The race is scheduled for 8:10pm E.T. on Fox. Be sure to check back to HardcoreRaceFans.com for all of the latest news and results following the conclusion of the event.

2009 Budweiser Shootout lineup:

1. Paul Menard, No. 98 Yates Racing Ford
2. Elliott Sadler, No. 19 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge
3. Reed Sorenson, No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge
4. Scott Speed, No. 82 Red Bull Racing Toyota
5. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
6. Tony Stewart, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
7. Brian Vickers, No. 83 Red Bull Racing Toyota
8. Bobby Labonte, No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Ford
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10. Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
11. Carl Edwards, No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
12. Kurt Busch, No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge
13. Robby Gordon, No. 7 Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge
14. Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge
15. Jamie McMurray, No. 26 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
16. David Ragan, No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
17. Michael Waltrip, No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
18. AJ Allmendinger, No. 44 Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge
19. Joey Logano, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20. David Stremme, No. 12 Penske Racing Dodge
21. Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
22. David Reutimann, No. 00 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
23. Jeff Burton, No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
24. Casey Mears, No. 07 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
25. Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
26. Greg Biffle, No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
27. Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
28. Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet