Dale Jarrett and the #44 UPS Racing Team is one of only 23 teams that is eligible for the Budweiser Shootout this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. The 23-car starting field is the largest in the history of the event 30-year old event. For Jarrett, it marks his final start in an event he has won three times.
"This has always been a special race and one that I think everyone looks forward to being a part of," Jarrett said. "I've been fortunate to win it three times. It's just an exciting event, under the lights where everyone is going for broke. There are no points, only the trophy and we just really look forward to it."
The Budweiser Shootout is scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. EST start this Saturday. FOX is providing live television coverage of the event with their pre-race show that starts at 8 p.m. EST.
Jarrett Discusses Racing in the Budweiser Shootout and Daytona 500 Qualifying
How special is it to be competing in the 30th edition of the Budweiser Shootout?
"I can hardly believe it's been 30 years. It's just a fun race. I can remember watching it for so many years, dreaming about the day that I might be able to be a part of it and after winning the pole for the '95 Daytona 500 it gave me my first chance in 1996 to be a part of it. Low and behold we were good enough to go out and win the race. So, in my first opportunity of running it I won it. I guess we've won it two times since then. Again, it's just a fun race for the fans and as a driver, it's at a great venue and it's got a great name involved with it and all that matters is winning it. I'm really looking forward to running in it one last time."
How do you feel about qualifying for the Daytona 500 this Sunday?
"It's definitely a different kind of qualifying for the Daytona 500 but it is appropriate given that this is our biggest race. We had a pretty good test down in Daytona a few weeks ago and it certainly was a big improvement from where we were a year ago getting ready for Speed Weeks. We were pretty pleased with what we saw from these cars during single-car runs. Obviously, it would be nice to finish the qualifying session as one of the top two cars because you can rest easy and just worry about the Daytona 500 itself and doing the things we need to do to get ready to race. I don't know if we'll have that much car but you never know. I'm just looking forward to getting to Daytona and getting things started. It will be my last qualifying session for the Daytona 500 and I'm looking forward to making the most out of these last five races."
UPS Racing Team Notes of Interest
- Dale Jarrett is a three-time winner of the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, winning the event in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
- Twice during his career, Jarrett has followed a win in the Budweiser Shootout with a win in the Daytona 500 the following week.
- Jarrett is one of five drivers to win the Budweiser Shootout in their first attempt.
- Jarrett has won the pole for the Daytona 500 three times during his career, winning poles in 1995, 2000 and 2005.
- Jarrett won the Daytona 500 in 2000 after winning the pole for the race.
