Budweiser Shootout Returns to Daytona in 2009

The Budweiser Shootout, NASCAR's season-opening event, will return in 2009 as part of Budweiser's multi-year sponsorship renewal with Daytona International Speedway. "For more than 30 years, race fans have circled the Budweiser Shootout on their calendars in the way baseball fans look toward Opening Day," said Tony Ponturo, vice president of Global Media and Sports Marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "February is the start of our important spring selling season, and big events such as the Budweiser Shootout and Daytona 500, plus the Super Bowl, NHL and NBA All-Star weekends, provide a powerful combination to excite consumers and energize our wholesaler family."

"We're pleased and excited to welcome back Anheuser-Busch's sponsorship of the season-opening Budweiser Shootout," said Speedway President Robin Braig. "Together, Anheuser-Busch and Daytona International Speedway look forward to providing our fans with a memorable event to start the 2009 NASCAR season at 'The World Center of Racing.'"

The multi-year agreement for the Budweiser Shootout includes exclusive alcohol and non-alcohol malt beverage sponsorship of the race weekend, four new interior track wall signs, and sponsorship of the annual Budweiser Shootout Draw Party televised by Speed Channel and the popular post-race infield concert. The 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona is scheduled for Feb. 7. The "Great American Lager" will continue to sponsor the "Great American Race" as the Official Beer of Daytona International Speedway, the Daytona 500 and the track's numerous annual events. Budweiser, sponsor of Kasey Kahne and the #9 Budweiser Dodge, retains significant at-track presence through the Budweiser Bistro concession area in the Sprint FANZONE, a major presence on the infield scoring tower, use of the Speedway's logo and Daytona 500 logo, Sprint FANZONE and on-track visits by the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales, and will continue to offer its "Green Team" recycling programs to help keep Daytona International Speedway clean. Anheuser-Busch is also the exclusive beer and malt beverage advertiser of the Daytona 500 national broadcast on FOX.