Rolex 24 at Daytona (GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series) — Jan. 26 and 27, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 26.

Lucas Oil 200 (ARCA Racing Series) — 4:30 p.m. ET Feb. 16

Daytona Shootout (Sprint Cup Series) — 8 p.m. ET Feb. 16

Daytona 500 pole qualifying (Sprint Cup) — 1 p.m. ET Feb. 17

Budweiser Duel at Daytona (Sprint Cup) — 2 p.m. ET Feb. 21

NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Camping World Truck Series) — 7:30 p.m. ET Feb. 22

DRIVE4COPD 300 (Nationwide Series) — 1 p.m. ET Feb. 23

Daytona 500 (Sprint Cup) — 1 p.m. ET Feb. 24

For additional information on the Daytona events, visit the track’s website at daytonainternationalspeedway.com.

You may have noticed above that the duel races to set the Daytona 500 race field will be sponsored by Budweiser in 2013, replacing Gatorade as title sponsor. The beer company formerly sponsored the Shootout exhibition event. Its sponsorship has been moved from the Shootout to the duel races since NASCAR decided to revert back to a previous Shootout format that makes the race an event for race pole winners. Rival beer company Coors now sponsors the weekly pole award.

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Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR

On Wednesday, NASCAR announced the lineup of  eligible competitors for the 34th Budweiser Shootout, which kicks off SpeedWeeks at Daytona International Speedway in February.

The event launches Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 18 with a start time set for 8:10 p.m. FOX and MRN will broadcast live nationally.

The criteria to make the shootout is based upon the following qualifications, with eligibility based on a driver having been active in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series during the 2011 season.

·               The highest ranked 25 competitors in 2011 NSCS driver points
·               Previous winners at Daytona, including the Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola, and Shootout events

“By taking the top 25 competitors in last year’s driver points and combining that with former race winners at Daytona, you have all the ingredients for an extremely deep and talented field of drivers for the 2012 Shootout,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “When you take a look at the roster of drivers that this entails, I have to believe this is one of the most competitive fields that have ever been assembled for this event.”

The Budweiser Shootout distance is 75 laps and consists of two segments(25 and 50 laps). Of note, caution laps will count. Between the segments there will be a 10 minute pit stop allowing the eligible teams to pit for tires, add fuel, and make normal chassis adjustments.

Changing of springs, shock absorbers or rear-ends will not be permitted.

Starting positions will again be determined by a blind-draw at the annual Shootout Draw Party on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. on the SPEED stage.

Kurt Busch is the defending winner of the Budweiser Shooutout.

Drivers eligible for the 2012 Shootout include:

2011 Top 25 Driver Points