NHRA News: Kalitta leads Budweiser Shootout field packed with question marks (10/15/2004)

Kalitta leads Budweiser Shootout field packed with question marks

By Rob Geiger, NHRA.com
10/15/2004

Doug Kalitta

The revamped 20th annual Budweiser Shootout is sure add plenty of excitement to the upcoming Las Vegas race as a new wildcard format and event venue shuffle things up quite a bit from previous years. Only No. 1 qualifier Doug Kalitta knows where he'll start the activities on Saturday, Oct. 30, although he has no idea who he'll be racing.

The popular race, which pays a whopping $100,000 to the winner, added a big dose of drama to this year's event with participating teams not knowing what the elimination ladder will look like until two days before the race begins. In addition to a single wildcard final berth decided by a lottery-style drawing among eight hopefuls, qualifiers Nos. 2-7 will be randomly placed on the grid by another arbitrary selection process.

"I look at the list and I still see eight real strong cars no matter how you stack them up," Kalitta said. "So in my mind, the action's going to be just as intense as always. We're excited to be the top qualifier and we're hoping the change of venue doesn't change the good luck we've had in this event over the years. It shouldn't because Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a first-class facility.

A ride on the famous Budweiser beer
wagon is a big perk for the winner.

"It's an interesting format they've come up with. The good news for our group is that we know we won't have to open against one of our team cars. Dave [Grubnic] and Scott [Kalitta] could end up against each other if the cards fall that way, but otherwise it should be good for us. But ultimately you have to beat them all to win the Shootout."

Kalitta is a six-time qualifier for the Budweiser Shootout, which rewards the most consistent qualifiers in the Top Fuel category with a chance for big bucks once a year. Aside from being the defending event champion and this year's No. 1 qualifier, Kalitta has raced his Mac Tools rail to four final rounds in the event with two victories and two runner-up finishes.

Kalitta will open his defense against one of eight wildcard candidates who have a shot at filling the final position. In the pool is two-time series champion Larry Dixon, Scott Weis, Rhonda Hartman-Smith, John Smith, David Baca, Brady Kalivoda, Morgan Lucas, and Mike Strasburg. Of that group, only Dixon, Baca, and Smith have Budweiser Shootout experience. Dixon is a three-time Shootout winner with nine previous appearances. Baca and Smith each have one year's worth of experience.

Clay Millican, Bob Vandergriff, and Bruce Litton would have made the wildcard cut but none of them have plans to attend the fourth annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals. The late Darrell Russell finished 11th in the final count.

Also participating in this year's Shootout are Tony Schumacher, Dave Grubnic, Brandon Bernstein, Scott Kalitta, Cory McClenathan, and Doug Herbert. Listed in order of the amount of points they earned, the names of these six racers will now be thrown in hat and randomly drawn out to determine their starting position in the field.

"I guess no one is benefiting from this more than I am," said Herbert, a seven-time Shootout qualifier who ended up with the seventh greatest point total this year. "I mean, as far as the qualifying order goes, I can only move up. It sure adds a lot of suspense in that regard.

"I feel bad for Dixon. He has a top-eight car for sure, but unfortunately he slipped back with that DNQ in Chicago. I guess I shouldn't feel too bad because I could be in his shoes.

"Our goal is to win this race for Darrell. If he were with us today he'd certainly be in the field and I'd be out there with Dixon hoping for a spot. Now, we're really motivated to win it all and dedicate our victory to Darrell."

The Shootout field is always stout.
Racers Edge Photography

Drivers began earning between 85-175 points per event based on their qualifying position at last year's season-ending Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. With a class-leading six No. 1 qualifying efforts, Kalitta led the way with 3,395 Bud points. By contrast, Herbert accumulated 2,765 Bud points, 40 more than first alternate Dixon.

Kenny Bernstein, second most prolific qualifier in Budweiser Shootout history with 13 starts, will serve as Honorary Starter of the event.

Budweiser, the Official Beer of the NHRA, provided a total purse of $235,000 to this year's Shootout event. In addition to the top prize of $100,000, the runner-up will earn $15,000, each semifinalist will pocket $6,000, and the four first-round finishers will take home $5,000 apiece. Budweiser also pays each event's No. 1 qualifier a $4,000 bonus.

"I think I can speak for everyone in the sport when I say how much we all appreciate what Budweiser does for drag racing and our class," D. Kalitta said. "We've certainly taken a lot of their money over the past few years, although I think our crew guys have given it all back keeping our coolers filled with cold Buds."

As an added bonus, the winner of the 20th annual Budweiser Shootout can also claim an additional $50,000 "Double-Up" bonus from the NHRA should he or she win the ACDelco Nationals as well.

Confirmed Budweiser Shootout Participants (low qualifiers)

Doug Kalitta (6) 3,395

Tony Schumacher (3) 3,325

Dave Grubnic (5) 3,180

Brandon Bernstein (4) 3,150

Scott Kalitta (1) 3,105

Cory McClenathan (2) 2,775

Doug Herbert 2,765

Drivers in lottery for eighth position

Larry Dixon 2,725

Scott Weis 1,980

Rhonda Hartman-Smith 1,890

John Smith 1,745

David Baca 1,640

Brady Kalivoda 1,280

Morgan Lucas 735

Mike Strasburg 645

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