NASCAR's traditional curtain-raiser at Daytona International Speedway will feature a new name and a new format in 2013.
Sprint officials announced during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday that fans can play a role in how the 75-lap Sprint Unlimited, the non-points race formerly called the Budweiser Shootout, looks on Feb. 16 by casting votes on the number of laps in each segment, the type of pit stop a team makes after the first segment and how many cars will be eliminated after the second segment. In addition, fans can vote on the firesuit Miss Sprint Cup will wear in Victory Lane following the segment.
The race will be held at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 16, with live coverage on FOX beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Fans can vote on the various aspects on the new mobile app, NASCAR Mobile ’13, or at NASCAR.com/SprintUnlimited. All votes cast through the Mobile ’13 app will count twice.
Voting for the race format will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 13. Voting for the pit stop, elimination and Miss Sprint Cup’s Victory Lane firesuit will close at various points in the race.
On the race format, fans can choose between segments of 40/20/15 laps, 35/30/20 laps and 30/25/20 laps. On the pit stop, fans can choose between having no pit stop, a two-tire pit stop or a four-tire pit stop. Voting on this segment closes on Feb. 16 at the green flag for the first segment. As to the number of drivers eliminated after the second segment, fans can vote on no drivers being eliminated, two drivers, four drivers or six drivers. Voting for this will end at the green flag of the second segment. Finally, fans can view and choose between three firesuits for Miss Sprint Cup, with that choice ending at the green flag for the third segment.
