With sixty-five days until the 34th annual Budweiser Shootout takes the green flag on February 18th at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR announced the thirty-three eligible drivers who will make up the field for the 2012 Speedweeks opener.

Scheduled for an 8:10 p.m. start the 2012 Shootout includes the top 25 in the 2011 final point standings along with former Daytona 500, Budweiser Shootout and Coke Zero 400 winners.

"The criteria for the 2012 Budweiser Shootout ensures race fans that the best NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will battle for a coveted victory on the historic high banks," Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. "Throughout its long history, the Budweiser Shootout has produced plenty of fireworks on the track and race fans can expect another exciting star-studded night of racing as we kick off the new NASCAR season."

Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, A. J. Allmendinger, Greg Biffle, Paul Menard, Martin Truex Jr., Marcos Ambrose, Jeff Burton, Juan Pablo Montoya, Mark Martin, David Ragan, Joey Logano, Brian Vickers, Bill Elliott, Geoffrey Bodine, Derrike Cope, Michael Waltrip, Jamie McMurray, Trevor Bayne, Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader are all eligible to compete in the 75-lap million dollar race.

The starting field will be determined through a blind draw on Friday night, February 17th at the speedway.

Kurt Busch is the defending Budweiser Shootout champion.

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