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2003 Season
2003 Bud Shootout
| Race Information |
| Event: Budweiser Shootout |
| Date: February 8, 2003 |
Track: Daytona Int'l Speedway |
| Qualified: 19th (randomly determined in a drawing) |
Finished: 1st |
| Status: Running |
Laps Completed:
70 of 70 |
| Points
Pos. Before/After Race:
--/-- |
Points
Earned: -- (w/ -- bonus) |
| Money
Earned: $205,000 |
Summary and Related News |
Dale Jr. wins the Budweiser
Shootout_2/9/03
Budweiser Team, Earnhardt Jr. Grab Budweiser Shootout
Victory
The 25th annual running of the Budweiser Shootout will go into the NASCAR history books as
the first Shootout to be run under the lights in prime time and the first to see a
Budweiser-sponsored car to pull into Victory Lane. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 8
Budweiser team won the wild race after 70-laps of rough-and-tumble short-track style
racing at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. Dale Jr. started last in the 19-car
all-star field, but took only 16 laps to grab the lead for the first time. After a lap-20
mandatory yellow flag, Dale Jr. bounced in and out of the lead, finally taking the top
position to stay on lap 66 (of 70). Jeff Gordon finished second and Matt Kenseth finished
third. This is the second all-star victory of Dale Jr’s Winston Cup career (he won
The Winston in 2000). The team set a new event record for the deepest starting position
for a winning team and takes home the winner’s purse of $205,000. This is Dale
Jr’s third win at Daytona, following previous victories in the Pepsi 400 (July, 2001)
and last season’s Busch Series 300 in February.
The Key Moments: Dale Jr. and the Bud team started 19th in the all-star
field (the starting line-up was determined in a random draw Thursday afternoon), but it
took the red Bud car only 16 laps before taking the lead for the first time. Dale Jr. led
four times for 13 laps. He has now led at least nine laps in each of his three career
starts in the Budweiser Shootout. He finished second last year in the race, which marks
the first event of the 2003 Winston Cup season. The racing was furious all evening, as
cars barreled around the superspeedway two- and three-wide for much of the seventy lap
event. The Budweiser team pitted for fuel and two tires on lap 51, sending Dale Jr. back
on the track in sixth position behind cars that chose only to take fuel during their stop.
The final 19 laps saw Dale Jr. move as far back as seventh, up to third, then back fourth
place with five laps to go. From there, it was series of daring moves in traffic that sent
Dale Jr. into the lead for the final time on lap 66.
Dale Jr’s Quotes: “That was some really hard drivin’ the
last few laps. I owe a lot to the team and to my spotter (Ty Norris) because it was wild
all night. I mean, they were goin’ three-wide from the first lap. At first, I just
kind of held back because when it’s three-wide in front of you, it’s like a
wall. You just can’t get through there. But, I finally decided I’d get in there
and mix it up with ‘em.
“When you come out of the pits with 19 laps to go, you just throw everything out and
just try your best to get to the front. There are things that happen out there that only
the drivers understand. It’s something we can’t describe and it’s something
that no one else can understand, no matter how much you study the races. We all just know
when to bump and when to push… sometimes you know when and how to do it, but I
can’t explain it. There’s just a time when it’s tasteful and times when
it’s not tasteful.
“It’s so cool to win the Budweiser Shootout. They’ve been a great sponsor
for me and for Dale Earnhardt Inc. They have been with me all the way and to win their
event makes me really happy. It wasn’t easy at all. This is my first (Winston Cup)
win in February, and it’s something I really wanted to do, especially for Teresa
(Earnhardt, team owner) and the Eurys. I think we’re a real contender to win the
Daytona 500 (next Sunday) and were a team that can make a serious run for the
championship.
“There was a lotta beatin’ and bangin’ from the start. We were all bouncing
around and slamming into each other and I guess we were fast enough to hold ‘em off
at the end. Our car surprised the hell outta me. I mean, I know that Tony (Eury, crew
chief) and Tony Jr (Eury, car chief) build a great car, but with the new (Chevrolet Monte
Carlo) body style this year, I was nervous and skeptical that we wouldn’t be as good
as we were last year. We have a great team and talented fab (fabrication) shop.
They’re great at what they do, and we just seemed to pick up just where we left off
last year.
“I’m not comfortable being the favorite. I like bein’ the surprise, ya
know. Sneak up on people. I guess it’s been that way all my life. Being the favorite
(for the Shootout and the Daytona 500) is not a good feeling for me. I feel like I
don’t wanna do anything to jinx myself, ya know? Before the race, I was out there by
the car and I was really excited. I had cabin fever because it’s a new season and I
was ready to go. Then, somebody came up and said ‘you’re the favorite, I’m
betting on you.’ That’s a lotta pressure on me! I think we have the team that
builds and prepares the best cars, so I SHOULD win, and if I don’t then it’s me
not doing my job. I think our car should be the favorite, but not the driver.”
Best Radio Conversations
As the race began, Dale Jr. spent the first couple of laps at the back of the pack. He
made sure that the team didn’t worry too much about his position.
Dale Jr.: “Y’all just be patient. We got a good car here but I
can’t go anywhere when they’re three-wide right in front of me…”
Tony Eury Jr. (car chief): “10-4… we know what you’re
dealin’ with…”
As he took the lead for the first time, Dale Jr. tried to maneuver to help his
long-time friend Matt Kenseth.
Dale Jr: “I’m just tryin’ to help Matt here. I’m
trying to get him clear (in front) of the 97 (the car of Kurt Busch).”
Ty Norris (spotter): “I know Matt’s your buddy, but that 97 car
has all the horses behind him helping him out. He’s gotta run.”
Dale Jr: “I’m alright. The top (groove) is better...”
As Dale Jr. took the lead for the final time after a series of moves that had the
entire Bud pit holding their collective breath, spotter Ty Norris cheered on his
driver…
Norris: “That’s mastery! You can do this…C’mon!”
Today’s Stats
Started: 19th
Finished: 1st
Points Position: The Budweiser Shootout is a non-points all-star race
Money Won: $205,000
Laps Led: 4 times for 13 laps
Best Pit Stop: Lap 51/ Stop #2 of 2 / 2 tires, Fuel / 8.6 seconds
Dale Jr. is not the only cool thing about Budweiser Beer. Don’t forget the rockin'
new look of the King of Beers internet site at: www.Budweiser.com Hear music, see videos,
play games… it’s all at Budweiser.com… -Budweiser |
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