The dreaded bump drafting that resulted in carnage last year, reared it's ugly head in the 2006 Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. Comprised of Bud Pole winners from 2005 and past winners of the Bud Shootout, the unique race saw it's share of bent sheetmetal.
One of the pile-ups collected Jamie McMurray, Brian Vickers, and Ryan Newman as they came 3 wide out of turn 2 and eventually involved Dale Earnhardt Jr, Scott Riggs and Kasey Kahne. Another wreck eliminated two-time Shootout winner and front row starter for the 2006 Daytona 500, Jeff Gordon. NASCAR veteran Mark Martin was hit from behind by Kyle Busch and sent spinning up the track. In the ensueing melee, Gordon ran into the back of Matt Kenseth breaking Gordon's oil cooler and knocking him out of the race.
When the dust had cleared however, Nextel Cup rookie Denny Hamlin came out on top over Earnhardt Jr and teammate Tony Stewart. The winning move came on lap 48 when Hamlin came into the pits 3rd, and his crews hard work pushed him to the front. That was the defining move as Hamlin led 16 of the last 21 laps, even holding off Earnhardt Jr in a green-white-checkered finish that extended the race for 2 laps.
RESULTS
1 15 #11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet FedEx Express PE 72 Running
2 19 #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet Budweiser PE 72 Running
3 3 #20 Tony Stewart Chevrolet The Home Depot PE 72 Running
4 8 #10 Scott Riggs Dodge Valvoline/Stanley Tools PE 72 Running
5 2 #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet Lowe's PE 72 Running
6 16 #17 Matt Kenseth Ford Kraft - Post - DeWalt PE 72 Running
7 13 #6 Mark Martin Ford AAA PE 72 Running
8 17 #26 Jamie McMurray Ford Crown Royal PE 72 Running
9 4 #01 Joe Nemechek Chevrolet U.S. Army PE 72 Running
10 9 #88 Dale Jarrett Ford UPS PE 72 Running
11 21 #55 Michael Waltrip Dodge NAPA Auto Parts PE 72 Running
12 12 #136 Bill Elliott Chevrolet Ginn Clubs & Resorts PE 72 Running
13 6 #38 Elliott Sadler Ford M&M's PE 72 Running
14 1 #21 Ken Schrader Ford U.S. Air Force PE 72 Running
15 14 #5 Kyle Busch Chevrolet Kellogg's/CARQUEST PE 72 Running
16 11 #99 Carl Edwards Ford Office Depot PE 71 Running
17 7 #12 Ryan Newman Dodge ALLTEL PE 68 Off Track
18 5 #9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Dodge Dealers/UAW PE 35 Out of Race
19 10 #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet DuPont PE 23 Out of Race
20 18 #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet Reese's Caramel Cup PE 15 Out of Race
21 20 #25 Brian Vickers Chevrolet GMAC PE 14 Out of Race
* Denotes Rookie
