NASCAR has again changed the egilibility requirements for the Budweiser Shootout, announcing Wednesday the new changes will be in effect for the 32nd annual edition of the season opening event set for Saturday, February 6, 2010 at the Daytona International Speedway.

Under the new rules, all twelve Chase contenders from last season, former Cup Series champs, former Budweiser Shootout winners as well as past Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 champions along with the reigning Raybestos Rookie of the Year are eligible to compete in the Budweiser Shootout.

“We’re always looking at ways to make this event bigger and better for our fans and we believe the new format for the Budweiser Shootout puts together an exceptionally strong lineup of our top drivers,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition. “In our discussions with the track, we thought by placing an additional emphasis on the drivers who had performed well at Daytona over the years would create an even more compelling element for the fans to get excited about at the beginning of the season.”

The rule change is a Christmas present for many drivers and hardcore race fans alike, opening the door for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, Ken Schrader, Derrike Cope, Sterling Marlin, John Andretti, Jamie McMurray,Jeff Burton, Michael Waltrip and Joey Logano to race in the 2010 Budweiser Shootout.

The Budweiser Shootout began as an exclusive event for the previous seasons pole winners and later expanded to also include past Budweiser Shootout winners and former NASCAR Cup champions.

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