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The mangled sheet metal and car parts were strewn throughout the Daytona International Speedway garage like the set of a disaster movie. And many of the men who drove the machines ? even the ones who escaped unscathed ? did not look particularly happy.
"I just feel bad, because I can't do anything to make the car faster for the guys," Ryan Newman said, making the same walk moments later. "You're just at the mercy of the situation. It's not good."
"I don't know what to say," Jeff Burton said. "Plate racing is a huge challenge. One of the great things about the tandem (racing) was it separated the pack; one of the bad things about the tandem is I guess people thought it was boring."
And so we've arrived at this: The 2012 Bud Shootout turned into a Saturday night Demolition Derby, finishing with only 10 cars on the lead lap and half the field in the garage.
But that might not be a bad thing. Depending on your perspective, the race was either a disgrace to NASCAR or one of the most entertaining Shootouts in years.
The fans had told NASCAR they hated the two-car tandem drafts, which had become a phenomenon and dominated Daytona Speedweeks in 2011, so officials reacted by making changes to limit the drafting.
But eliminating the two-car drafts also turned out to be a case of "Be careful what you wish for." The return of the big packs meant a comeback for the "Big One" ? the massive multi-car pileups that have made Daytona and its sister track Talladega famous.
A trio of nasty crashes wiped out most of the contenders and left the race up to Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch to decide. Busch, who had made jaw-dropping saves to keep his car intact and avoid wrecks, beat Stewart to the finish line in the closest-ever Bud Shootout result.
"I had more fun as a driver tonight than what we've had in the past," Stewart said. "... This is a lot more fun than the two-car stuff."
"It's all in the drivers' hands, how boring or how exciting we want to make the race," Busch said. "I think tonight's was pretty exciting."
"I like this kind of racing better," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said after crashing out of the race. "At least I know what to expect. I feel like I have a better chance with this style than I did last year, for damn sure."
Even Jeff Gordon, who went flipping across the track and barrel-rolled for the first time in his racing career, said he approved of the pack racing.
It all comes down to personal preference. Just as with NASCAR fans, the drivers aren't close to a consensus on the preferred form of restrictor-plate racing.
"I think that's what the fans want to see, you know?" Biffle said. "And we were only three-wide tonight. Wait until the 500. We're going to be four-wide."
Points pack racing Want points pack racing be different than say a shootout? Big picture racing will take over when points are on the line and maybe there will be a little less action and a little more conversation, stealing a line from the Elvis, well switched it up some. Last night was about going for a win no matter what. The 500 want be crash free, but the take away from the shootout should no pushing in the corners, which is what it used to be anyway. If your gonna push be dead center and know when to stop. There is a brake pedal.
NASCAR Daytona International Speedway Weather Forecast: Rain Could Be A Problem Today 7:00a 2012 Bud Shootout: NASCAR Drivers Divided On Opinion Of Pack Racing 2 12:56a VIDEO: Kyle Busch Edges Tony Stewart To Win 2012 Bud Shootout Feb 18 Bud Shootout 2012: Results From Kyle Busch Victory In NASCAR Daytona Race Feb 18 Brian Floyd: VIDEO: Jeff Gordon Crashes, Kyle Busch Makes Another Save 1 Feb 18 2012 Bud Shootout: Second 'Big One' Wipes Out Six More Contenders At Daytona Feb 18 Brian Floyd: ANIMATED: Kyle Busch With A Ridiculous Save 1 Feb 18 2012 Bud Shootout: Martin Truex Jr. Spins Teammate Clint Bowyer With 44 Laps Remaining Feb 18 2012 Bud Shootout: 'Big One' On Lap 8 Damages Multiple Cars Feb 18 2012 Bud Shootout Underway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Takes Early Lead Feb 18 Bud Shootout 2012: Lineup (Revised) Feb 18 NASCAR's Bud Shootout 2012: Start Time, Lineup, TV/Radio Schedule And More Feb 18 NASCAR Daytona International Speedway Weather Forecast:
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Daytona 500 2012 Qualifying Lineup/Order: Your Handy Cheat Sheet 9:48a Daytona 500 2012 Qualifying: Start Time, TV Schedule And More 8:36a NASCAR Daytona International Speedway Weather Forecast: Rain Could Be A Problem Today 7:00a 2012 Bud Shootout: NASCAR Drivers Divided On Opinion Of Pack Racing 2 12:56a Bud Shootout 2012: Results From Kyle Busch Victory In NASCAR Daytona Race Feb 18 Brian Floyd: VIDEO: Jeff Gordon Crashes, Kyle Busch Makes Another Save 1 Feb 18 NASCAR: Why We Allowed Danica Patrick Daytona 500 Points Deal 1 Feb 18 Daytona 500 2012 Qualifying Preview: Who Will Win NASCAR's Most Prestigious Pole? Feb 18 Daytona 500 2012: Defending Champ Trevor Bayne Enters Season With Uncertainty Feb 18 Daytona 500 2012: Key Dates And Schedule For Speedweeks Feb 18 Bud Shootout 2012: Lineup (Revised) Feb 18 Daytona 500 2012: Elliott Sadler Seeks Dream NASCAR Victory Feb 18 NASCAR's Bud Shootout 2012: Start Time, Lineup, TV/Radio Schedule And More Feb 18 Daytona International Speedway: A History Of Triumph And Tragedy Feb 18 NASCAR Daytona International Speedway Weather Forecast: Chance of Rain But Shootout Looks Dry Feb 18 Daytona 500 2012: Jimmie Johnson Reacts To Unapproved Modifications On No. 48 Car Feb 17 2012 Budweiser Shootout At Daytona Starting Lineup Feb 17 Bud Shootout Practice Marred By Multi-Car Wreck At Daytona International Speedway Feb 17 Daytona 500: How Will 2012 Race Look? We'll Start To Get Answers Tonight Feb 17 At Daytona, NASCAR Confiscates Parts From Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Car Feb 17 2012 Daytona 500 National Anthem Singer: Train's Pat Monahan Feb 17 Daytona 500 2012: Kasey Kahne Excited To Begin His First Season with Hendrick Motorsports Feb 17 Daytona 500 2012 Entry List Released By NASCAR Feb 17 NASCAR Daytona International Speedway Weather Forecast: Rain Possible Friday Feb 17 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Still Enjoys Daytona 500, But Frustrated Over Lack Of Control Feb 16 At Daytona, Ryan Newman Still 'Baffled' As To How Tony Stewart Won NASCAR Championship Feb 16 Daytona 500 2012: Carl Edwards Seeking Redemption After NASCAR Chase Disappointment Feb 16 Danica Patrick To NASCAR Media: Don't Call Me 'Sexy' 1 Feb 16 Daytona 500 2012: Jimmie Johnson Named Preseason Favorite, Ready To Win Sixth NASCAR Championship Feb 16 Daytona 500 2012: Mark Martin Not Bothered By Lack Of Victory In NASCAR's Biggest Race Feb 16 NASCAR Daytona 500 Media Day Marks Conclusion Of Silly Season Feb 16 Daytona 500 2012: Michael Waltrip Gets A Ride For The 'Great American Race' 1 Feb 13 NASCAR At Daytona: 2012 Budweiser Shootout Entry List Released Feb 13 Lenny Kravitz To Perform 2012 Daytona 500 Pre-Race Concert 1 Feb 9 2012 Daytona 500 Grand Marshals: Glee's Jane Lynch and SI Swimsuit Model Kate Upton Feb 9 WWE Wrestler John Cena Named 2012 Daytona 500 Honorary Starter 2 Feb 7 Jeff Gluck: WTF? Danica Patrick's Daytona 500 Deal Explained 9 Jan 31 Thoughts On Danica Patrick's Free Pass Into 2012 Daytona 500 7 Jan 31 Jeff Gluck: 2012 Daytona 500 Start Time, NASCAR Speedweeks Event Start Times Announced Jan 20 Jeff Gluck: 2012 Daytona 500 Flyover To Be Performed By U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Jan 12 Why NASCAR's Preseason Daytona 500 Test Is So Important Jan 12 Joey Logano At 2012 Daytona 500 Preseason Testing: 'I Definitely Feel Like It's My Team Now' Jan 11 Jeff Gluck: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
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