Sprint Unlimited 101: A look at the format for Saturday's Cup race

<p>The Sprint Unlimited At Daytona has been a work in progress since 1998. The race was introduced to the Daytona International Speedway Speedweeks schedule in 1979 as the Busch Clash.</p><p>Buddy Baker won the inaugural race, which was a 20-lap sprint over Daytona's 2.5-mile tri-oval. </p><p>The race maintained the same name and general format through 1997. In 1998, the non-points race was rebranded the Bud Shootout and lengthened to 25 laps, then rechristened the Budweiser Shootout in 2001 and lengthened to 70 laps.</p><p>In its current form, the 2013 Sprint Unlimited will have three race segments, adding up to 75 laps. </p><p>For the majority of years, the Clash/Shootout field was comprised of pole winners from the previous season. That changed in 2009 when Budweiser left as NASCAR's qualifying sponsor.</p><p>Instead of pole winners, the field was the top six cars from each manufacturer based on 2008 points.</p><p>The eligibility criterion was changed back to pole winners and former Clash/Shootout winners when Sprint gained title sponsorship this season. </p><p>Race fans will play a critical role in Saturday's race. They have set the length of the race segments at 30, 25 and 20 laps. Before the race, they will determine the starting order length of race segments.</p><p>As the race progresses, fans will decide if there will be a pit stop and if there is a pit stop, what will be done to the cars. Before the last segment, fans will vote whether to eliminate cars from the field or keep all the drivers on the track.</p><p>Here's more on Saturday's race:</p><p><b>WHERE:</b> Daytona International Speedway </p><p><b>GREEN FLAG:</b> 8:10 p.m. Saturday</p><p><b>TV:</b> 8 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 35 (Fox) </p><p><b>RADIO:</b> MRN (WNDB 1150 AM), Sirius Satellite Radio </p><p><b>DISTANCE:</b> 75 laps, 187.5 miles </p><p><b>FORMAT:</b> Three segments — determined by a fan vote that ended midnight Wednesday — of 30 laps, 25 laps and 20 laps, respectively</p><p><b>2012 WINNER:</b> Kyle Busch</p><p><b>WHO'S IN THE RACE:</b> The 19 drivers who won Sprint Cup poles last season and former race winners (denoted by asterisk) :</p><p>Aric Almirola, No. 43 Ford</p><p>Marcos Ambrose, No. 9 Ford</p><p>Greg Biffle, No. 16 Ford</p><p>Kurt Busch*, No. 78 Chevy</p><p>Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota</p><p>Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevy</p><p>Carl Edwards, No. 99 Ford</p><p>Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevy</p><p>Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota</p><p>Kevin Harvick*, No. 29 Chevy</p><p>Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevy</p><p>Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Chevy</p><p>Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Toyota</p><p>Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford</p><p>Mark Martin, No. 55 Toyota</p><p>Juan Montoya, No. 42 Chevy</p><p>Terry Labonte*, No. 32 Ford</p><p>Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevy</p><p>Martin Truex Jr., No. 56 Toyota</p><p><b>LINEUP:</b> Determined by fans in attendance Saturday among three choices — career wins (most to least), 2012 Sprint Cup points standings or order in which drivers won their first pole last season.</p><p><b>OTHER VOTES:</b> Fans will also decide if there will be a pit stop after the first segment; if that pit stop will be for two or four tires; and how many cars will be eliminated after the second segment — zero, two, four or six. Fans have until the green flag of the first segment to vote on the first two items and until the green flag of the second segment to vote on the third item.</p><p><b>HOW TO VOTE:</b> At NASCAR.com/SprintUnlimited or via the NASCAR Mobile '13 app on a wireless device. Sprint customer votes count twice.</p>