Sprint Unlimited

Sprint Unlimited
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Venue Daytona International Speedway
Location Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
Corporate sponsor Sprint Corporation
First race 1979
Distance 187.5 miles (301.752 km)
Laps 75
Previous names Busch Clash (1979–1997)
Bud Shootout (1998–2000)
Budweiser Shootout (2001–2012)
Sprint Unlimited (2013-present)
Most wins (driver) Dale Earnhardt (6)
Most wins (team) Richard Childress Racing Joe Gibbs Racing (8)
Most wins (manufacturer) Chevrolet (20)
Circuit information
Surface Asphalt
Length 2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Turns 4

The Sprint Unlimited is an annual invitation-only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series exhibition event held at Daytona International Speedway in February, the weekend before the Daytona 500. It is the first competitive event of the season and serves as a kickoff event for the NASCAR portion of Speedweeks.

The event was originally known as the Busch Clash, and consisted of a 20-lap/50-mile, "all-out sprint" for the previous season's pole position winners (considered the de facto "fastest drivers on the circuit"). In its current format, it is made up of three segments, culminating in a 20-lap sprint to the finish. Like the All-Star Race held at Charlotte, the race awards no championship points but instead offers a large cash purse – circumstances which are supposed to encourage an all-out driving style not seen in regular-season races.

As of 2015, the field consists of the 25 drivers who were a part of the Chase the previous season, as well as pole winners from the previous season, former Daytona 500 pole winners, former Sprint Unlimited winners, and the Chase contenders. The starting lineup is determined by random draw, not by time trials as all other races are determined.

The defending winner of the Unlimited is Denny Hamlin after winning in 2016.

Background and history

The event was first known as the Busch Clash and was the brain child of Monty Roberts. Roberts was the brand manager of the newly formed Busch Beer (which had formerly been Busch Bavarian Beer). And the race was seen as a way to promote the new brand. Roberts had been successful introducing Mercury into racing while working at Ford, and had also been a part of Ontario Motor Speedway. His experiences led him to believe that racing fans were loyal brand followers. The initial format was set up as a 50-mile sprint race, with no pit stops, with a field consisting of the previous season's pole position winners. Inviting the fastest drivers from the previous season, headlined the event as the "fastest race" of the season. The race established an incentive for drivers to earn pole positions during the NASCAR season, which up to that time, still offered relatively tiny cash prizes. Likewise, at no time have pole winners earned bonus championship points.

The event was also seen as a way to expand the Speedweeks activities leading up to the Daytona 500. Previously, the weekend before the Daytona 500 featured only minor support events, and the Winston Cup competitors ordinarily would not have taken to the track until Wednesday. The Busch Clash allowed the Winston Cup regulars to kick off the week live on CBS.

The 1987 race, won by Bill Elliott was completed at an average speed of 197.802 mph. It stands as the fastest sanctioned race in the history of NASCAR (though it was not an official points-paying event).

The 2013 race (renamed the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona) introduced a new format incorporating the results of fan voting into certain aspects of the race.[1][2]

Race format

1979–1990

The race consisted of a single twenty-lap (50-mile) green flag sprint with no pit stops required. Caution flag laps would not count.

1991–1997

The race was broken into two ten-lap, green flag segments. The field was then inverted for the second ten-lap segment. Prize money was awarded for both segments for all positions. The race was broken up into two segments mainly because it had been lacking competitiveness since restrictor plates were introduced in 1988. The inversion rule added some needed excitement to the event, but its popularity continued to wane.

1998–2000

The event was renamed the Bud Shootout, and consisted of two 25-lap (62.5-mile) races, the Bud Shootout Qualifier at 11 am, and the Bud Shootout itself at 12 pm. One two-tire pit stop was required for each race. The winner of the qualifier advanced to the main event.

2001–2002

The event was renamed the Budweiser Shootout and expanded to a new distance, 70 laps (175 miles). Caution laps would be counted, but the finish had to be under green, with the Truck Series green-white-checker rule used if necessary. A minimum of one two-tire green flag pit stop was required. The Bud Shootout Qualifier was discontinued because second round qualifying for Cup races had been eliminated.

2003–2008

The race was broken up into two segments: a 20-lap segment, followed by a ten-minute intermission, concluding with a 50-lap second segment. While a pit stop was no longer required by rule, a reduction in fuel cell size (from 22 gallons to 13.5 gallons) made a fuel stop necessary. (In 2007, fuel cells were expanded to 18.5 gallons.) Many drivers also changed two tires during their fuel stop, as the time required to fuel the car allowed for a two-tire change without additional delay.

2009–2012

The first segment was expanded to 25 laps, followed by the 50-lap second segment. The total race distance was 75 laps (187.5 miles).

2013–2015

The race was divided into three segments (30 laps, 25 laps, 20-laps), with online fan voting deciding certain aspects of the race specifics (lengths of the segments, requirements for mandatory pit stops, number of drivers eliminated, etc.)[1] The total race distance was 75 laps (187.5 miles). For 2013, the vote resulted in a mandatory four-tire pit stop, and no cars were eliminated. For 2014, voting set the starting lineup per final practice speeds and required mandatory pit stops after the second segment.

Race eligibility

Race history

Race notes

Past winners

Year Date Driver Team Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Report
Laps Miles (km)
1979 February 11 Buddy Baker Ranier-Lundy Oldsmobile 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:26 194.384 Report
1980 February 10 Dale Earnhardt Osterlund Racing Oldsmobile 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:39 191.693 Report
1981 February 8 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Buick 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:52 189.076 Report
1982 February 7 Bobby Allison DiGard Motorsports Buick 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:39 191.693 Report
1983 February 14* Neil Bonnett RahMoc Enterprises Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:35 192.513 Report
1984 February 9* Neil Bonnett Junior Johnson & Associates Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:33 195.926 Report
1985 February 10 Terry Labonte Hagan Racing Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:19 195.865 Report
1986 February 8 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:19 195.865 Report
1987 February 8 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:10 197.802 Report
1988 February 7 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:40 191.489 Report
1989 February 12 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:33 192.926 Report
1990 February 11 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:36 192.308 Report
1991* February 10 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:50 189.474 Report
1992* February 8 Geoff Bodine Bud Moore Engineering Ford 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:52 189.076 Report
1993* February 7 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:16:03 186.916 Report
1994* February 13 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:53 188.877 Report
1995* February 12 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:15:55 188.482 Report
1996* February 11 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 20 50 (80.467) 0:16:13 184.995 Report
1997* February 9 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 20 50 (80.467) 0:16:11 185.376 Report
1998 February 8 Rusty Wallace Penske Racing Ford 25 62.5 (100.584) 0:20:57 178.998 Report
1999 February 7 Mark Martin Roush Racing Ford 25 62.5 (100.584) 0:20:38 181.745 Report
2000 February 13 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 25 62.5 (100.584) 0:20:34 182.334 Report
2001 February 11 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 70 175 (281.635) 0:58:00 181.036 Report
2002 February 10 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac 70 175 (281.635) 0:57:55 181.295 Report
2003 February 8 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 70 175 (281.635) 0:58:04 180.827 Report
2004 February 7 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 70 175 (281.635) 1:09:37 150.826 Report
2005 February 12 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 70 175 (281.635) 0:57:53 181.399 Report
2006 February 12* Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 72* 180 (289.681) 1:10:18 153.627 Report
2007 February 10 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet 70 175 (281.635) 1:03:12 166.195 Report
2008 February 9 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 70 175 (281.635) 1:14:36 140.751 Report
2009 February 7 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 78* 195 (313.822) 1:31:57 127.243 Report
2010 February 6 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 76* 190 (305.775) 1:18:48 144.742 Report
2011 February 12 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge 75 187.5 (301.752) 1:13:15 153.584 Report
2012 February 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 82* 205 (329.915) 1:39:07 124.096 Report
2013 February 16 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 75 187.5 (301.752) 1:03:22 177.538 Report
2014 February 15 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 75 187.5 (301.752) 1:18:35 143.16 Report
2015 February 14 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 75 187.5 (301.752) 1:22:59 135.569 Report
2016 February 13 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 79* 197.5 (317.845) 1:32:16 128.432 Report

Segment winners

Bud Shootout Qualifier

Year Date Driver Team Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
1998 February 8 Jimmy Spencer Smokin' Joe's Racing Ford 25 62.5 (100.584) 0:20:50 180
1999 February 7 Mike Skinner Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 25 62.5 (100.584) 0:20:56 179.14
2000 February 13 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 25 62.5 (100.584) 0:20:43 181.014

Multiple winners (drivers)

# Wins Driver Years Won
6 Dale Earnhardt 1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995
3 Dale Jarrett 1996, 2000, 2004
Tony Stewart 2001, 2002, 2007
Kevin Harvick 2009, 2010, 2013
Denny Hamlin 2006, 2014, 2016
2 Neil Bonnett 1983, 1984
Ken Schrader 1989, 1990
Jeff Gordon 1994, 1997
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 2003, 2008

Multiple winners (teams)

# Wins Team Years Won
8 Richard Childress Racing 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2009, 2010, 2013
Joe Gibbs Racing 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016
6 Hendrick Motorsports 1989, 1990, 1994, 1997, 2005, 2008
3 Robert Yates Racing 1996, 2000, 2004
2 Junior Johnson & Associates 1981, 1984
Penske Racing 1998, 2011

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

# Wins Manufacturer Years Won
20 Chevrolet 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013
7 Ford 1987, 1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004
4 Toyota 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016
2 Oldsmobile 1979, 1980
Buick 1981, 1982
Pontiac 2001, 2002

Television broadcasters

Year Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
1979 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs
1980 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs
1981 CBS Ken Squier David Hobbs
1982 CBS Ken Squier Richard Petty & A.J. Foyt
1983 CBS Ken Squier Richard Petty & A.J. Foyt
1984 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett
1985 CBS Ken Squier Chris Economaki
1986 CBS Ken Squier Chris Economaki
1987 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett
1988 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett
1989 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett
1990 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett
1991 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett
1992 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett & Neil Bonnett
1993 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett & Neil Bonnett
1994 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett & Darrell Waltrip
1995 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett & Darrell Waltrip
1996 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett & Kenny Wallace
1997 CBS Ken Squier Ned Jarrett & Darrell Waltrip
1998 CBS Mike Joy Ned Jarrett & Buddy Baker
1999 CBS Mike Joy Ned Jarrett & Darrell Waltrip
2000 CBS Mike Joy Ned Jarrett & Buddy Baker
2001 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2002 TNT Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons & Wally Dallenbach
2003 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2004 TNT Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons & Wally Dallenbach
2005 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2006 TNT Bill Weber Benny Parsons & Wally Dallenbach
2007 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2008 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2009 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2010 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2011 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2012 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2013 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2014 Fox Sports 1 Mike Joy Michael Waltrip* & Larry McReynolds
2015 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Larry McReynolds
2016 Fox Mike Joy Darrell Waltrip & Jeff Gordon

Bud Shootout Qualifying Race

Year Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
1998 ESPN Bob Jenkins Benny Parsons & Kyle Petty
1999 ESPN Bob Jenkins Benny Parsons & Kyle Petty
2000 ESPN Bob Jenkins Benny Parsons & Ray Evernham

References

  1. 1 2 "NASCAR Sprint Cup Season Will Begin with Unlimited Surprises". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  2. "Budweiser Ratchets up Daytona Commitment". NASCAR. February 24, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  3. "Shootout eligibility returns to its roots for 2013". Official release. NASCAR. February 19, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  4. "Expanded Sprint Unlimited field to feature Chase drivers". Official release. NASCAR. December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  5. "Kyle Busch wins Budweiser Shootout". ESPN. February 19, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
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