Feb 12
20
Trevor Bayne, whose No. 21 Ford didn’t have enough owner points
to guarantee a starting position in the season-opening Daytona 500
despite winning the race last year, locked up one of the 43 spots
during pole qualifying Sunday. Bayne posted the fastest lap
(193.615 mph) among 14 drivers trying to get into The Great
American Race, securing a spot along with Tony Raines and David
Stremme.
Bayne did it on his 21st birthday, too.
“It’s a lot of relief,” Bayne said. “We’re in the show for good
now. We don’t have to worry about that or lose some sleep at
night.”
CHANGES MADE IN BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT • About 12
hours after the closest finish in Budweiser Shootout history,
NASCAR tweaked eligibility requirements for the exhibition
event.
The sanctioning body said next year’s field will include 2012
pole winners in the Sprint Cup Series and past Shootout winners who
attempt to qualify for at least one race this season. The new rules
mirror those used between 1979 and 2008.
The new rules make 12 drivers already eligible for the 2013
Shootout.
Kyle Busch earned his spot by winning Saturday’s night race, and
Carl Edwards joined him Sunday by claiming the pole for next week’s
Daytona 500.
Other former Shootout winners locked in are Kurt Busch, Dale
Earnhardt Jr., Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin
Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin and Tony
Stewart.
BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX TICKETS GO ON SALE DESPITE
PROTESTS • Bahrain Grand Prix officials began selling
tickets for April’s Formula One race in the Gulf kingdom, the
latest sign the government is determined to hold the race despite
continuing protests. At least 40 people have died in Shiite-led
demonstrations that have targeted the Sunni rulers.
Bahrain’s season-opening race last year was canceled because of
the unrest. This year’s race is scheduled for April 22, and F1′s
governing body insists the event will proceed.
BROWN WINS TOP FUEL AT NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS •
Antron Brown won the Top Fuel division in the NHRA Arizona
Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz.
Robert Hight topped the Funny Car field and Jason Line won the Pro
Stock competition in the second of 23 races in the NHRA Full
Throttle Drag Racing season.
Brown leads the Top Fuel standings. Mike Neff leads in Funny Car
and Greg Anderson leads in Pro Stock.
Associated Press
Articles are gathered and rebroadcast from public feeds: source: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/motor-sports/bayne-will-defend-daytona-title/article_9287d13d-d246-5d9f-88da-28d84bd5b85c.html
