Next season for the non-points Shootout race that kicks off speed weeks, we are going back to picking polesitters to qualify in.

Last week NASCAR made the announcement about eligibility into the race.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - NASCAR today released the eligibility requirements for the 2013 Shootout at Daytona, an announcement that signals a return to the fan-favorite preseason events roots.

Next seasons field will consist of 2012 Coors Light Pole winners and past Shootout winners who have attempted to qualify for at least one race during the 2012 season.

Eligibility rules for next seasons annual non-points race mirror those from 1979-2008, and puts greater emphasis on each weekends NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole qualifying session.

Lucky Dog Racing used the polesitter process in the 2009 and 2010 season. The last time we used it, we made it a requirement of 7 poles to get in and each polesitter over gave bonus points. For 2013 we will use the same process. So starting at Phoenix we will begin tracking poles. I will link a spreadsheet on the Shootout page.

Also Budweiser will not be the sponsor of this race next year, they will be sponsoring the Duel race instead. We will change the name for the league race to The Lucky Dog Shootout.