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Ken Schrader pulled the lever Thursday and the number “1” came up, meaning he’ll start from the pole position in the first race of the 2001 Winston Cup season. The big question is whether the pole position means anything in the revamped Budweiser Shootout, to be run Sunday.
A number of changes have been made to the non-points race this year. Most notably it will last 70 laps instead of 25. That means a pit stop will come into play and starting in front won’t bring as big an advantage. Sunday’s 175-mile race more closely mimics Thursday’s twin 125-mile qualifying races for the Feb. 18 Daytona 500.
Sunday’s field has 18 drivers: 13 who won a pole last year, four past winners of the event and random choice Ted Musgrave.
