DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet will start from the 18th position in Saturday's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.

Starting positions for the non-points event, which will kick off the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, were decided by having the 18 pole winners from 2007 and five previous Shootout champions draw numbers on Thursday night.

Kurt Busch drew the pole position, marking the second time he'll start the event from the inside of the front row. Busch also drew the prime starting position for the 2002 event.

The race is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. EST Saturday. Teams went through technical inspection Thursday, with first practice for the event scheduled for late Friday afternoon.

The format for the race is two segments. The drivers will complete a 20-lap segment, which will be followed by an intermission, during which teams can make any adjustments to the car that are allowed during a normal pit stop. In the second segment, scheduled for 50 laps, all of the drivers will have to visit pit road at some point because the cars cannot go 50 laps on a single fuel run.

Rules state the race, which features a total purse of $1,153, 518, must end under green flag conditions.

FOX will provide live television coverage of the event beginning with its pre-race show at 8 p.m. EST.

30TH ANNUAL BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT

Saturday, February 9, 2008, 8:30 p.m. EST

Starting Lineup

1. Kurt Busch

2. Mark Martin

3. Michael Waltrip

4. Jamie McMurray

5. David Gilliland

6. Reed Sorenson

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

8. Kasey Kahne

9. Martin Truex Jr.

10. Tony Stewart

11. J.J. Yeley

12. Denny Hamlin

13. Ken Schrader

14. Bill Elliott

15. Dale Jarrett

16. Casey Mears

17. Greg Biffle

18. Jimmie Johnson

19. Dave Blaney

20. Carl Edwards

21. Clint Bowyer

22. Jeff Gordon

23. Ryan Newman