The 2022 Big Budweiser Shootout started off with a Craig Lee and Matthew Dominique front row. Behind them, 17 drivers attempt their way through the field and into the laps of the Extravaganza gods, wishing to earn the coveted prize of first winner of 2022. It's a 50-lap shootout for the ages!

Big Bud Shootout Results

Rick Jackson took the lead on lap 2 and stood his ground with the field in tow for a few laps, relinquishing to Johnny Reed Foley. He and Foley endured superlative horsepower throughout the event, becoming the odds-on favorites for the lap-10 bookies. Alex Crapser, Scott Jackson and Zach Michael all sought turns at the front, only to have the #44 and #3 at the helm by the next lap.

Last year's winner Johnny Reed Foley emerged as the leader on three different occasions, first by passing pole-sitter Craig lee on the backstretch of lap 1. He would lose it one lap later to Rick Jackson, but found himself drafting to the front five different times for 17 laps of leading before the mandatory pit stop. It would be the most of anybody all night

The fervent crowd roars after the lap-40 mark as an incursion of Extravaganza superstars take their way to the pits. Everyone went for the splash-and-go strategy, except for John Tharp. Tharp went in-and-out of his pits without servicing the car, coming out as the leader with just a handful of laps to go. His fuel cell from the gods may play a role in earning his third Daytona 500 victory in four years, and may deliver him the Big Bud Shootout crown.

With six laps to go it was a four-car breakaway at the front, battling their way to the top-spot as new-found teammates Johnny Reed Foley and Tim McDonnell easily handle Tharp and Dominique. The side-by-side battling shot Zach Michael, Dave Miller and the rest of the field back to the lead draft, creating a three-lap circus for the victory.

Johnny Reed Foley led the final lap, putting his new Top-Geer horsepower to the ultimate advantage. His second-straight Shootout victory would be in jeopardy on the backstretch, as Dave Miller leaped to the inside with the draft help of Zakk Miller and Rick Jackson. They would remain side-by-side coming off of turn 4, with all of the momentum on the inside lane.

Rick Jackson would maneuver his way to second place but unfortunately ran out of time. Dave Miller crosses the line in first for the Big Budweiser Shootout victory, leading his only lap of the event at the pinnacle moment. Dave wasn't the fastest car all day, but neither was the entire Quick-Silver Mororsports brigade, leading some to question the rumour that they lowered their horsepower this season to prevent the engine failures that cost them the crown in recent seasons. Either way, congrats to Dave Miller, crew chief Sonny Sundae, and the entire Quick-Silver Motorsports crew for an excellent victory!

2022 Big Bud Shootout Video

Extravaganza record 19 pole-sitters! Mandatory pit stop and a 50 lap shootout. The league winner in victories, and the 2022 Champion will watch from the sidelines because the couldn't achieve the Friday speed needed to make the Big bud Shootout. Will Johnny Reed Foley have the same horsepower as he did with Shake N' Bake? Will the Race-2-Win and Quicksilver teams out-horsepower the show? Can Rockingham pole master Ken Joynt keep up the pace? So many questions for the 2022 Big Bud Shootout. Good luck!

Friday, February 4th, 9:00 ET

1. Tim McDonnell: 10.7
2. Tony Pizzaro: 14.3
3. Ken Pettit: 14.7
4. John Battista: 15.0
5. Scott Jackson: 15.3
6. Craig Lee: 15.7
7. Zach Michael: 15.7
8. Ryan Heuser: 16.0
9. John Tharp: 16.3
10. Johnny Reed Foley: 16.7
11. Rick Jackson: 16.7
12. Matthew Dominique: 17.3
13. Alex Crapser: 17.7
14. Dave Miller: 18.0
15. Matt Raboin: 18.7
16. Alan Nesfeder: 19.0
17. Jimmie Stevens: 19.3
18. Zakk Miller: 19.7
19. Donald Stewart: 20.0
20. Bill Werkheiser: 21.0
21. Dan Johnston: 21.7
22. Randy Dobbins: 22.0
23. William Perry: 22.0
24. Adam Crapser: 22.7
25. Ben Geer: 23.0
26. Cristian Torres: 24.3
27. Dalton Lucas: 24.3< ... Read more »

Recently we learned the whereabouts and physical condition of former Extravaganza driver Russ Charneski, who was near-fatally injured after a horrifying accident during the last lap of the 2019 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas. Charneski was immediately rushed to the hospital after flipping 20 times in 6 seconds after a Steven Spears bonzai attempt through the middle while crossing the white flag. Scott Jackson, who suffered a broken collarbone in the same accident, saw Charneski at the hospital just 30 minutes after the crash. "I knew it was bad. His face was completely red, with parts of his skull peering out of his skin. It was horrible. They were trying to get him to breathe, knowing both of his lungs were completely collapsed. It's a complete miracle he made it through that hour, let alone to still be here today." Charneski was diagnosed with severe head-trauma, a fractured skull, broken collarbone, three broken ribs, two collapsed lungs and a bruised heart the following day.

The last three years have been an enormous struggle for Russ. His situation has been unknown up until recently, where Glenn Kaufmann decided to pay a visit to his fellow New Jersey counterpart at his home in the northern part of the state. Surprisingly, he found that Russ was able to walk around and talk without much impairment. "We had a nice three-hour conversation. We talked about our small-team budgets and independent backgrounds, and how Race-2-Win was prepared to hire him after Butterworth's contract expired at the end of that season. Obviously it never came to be." Recently, Charneski has quoted the media in regards to the visit:

"I've had a total of 16 surgeries over the last three years to help repair my face, brain and chest. Thankfully, my injuries were not neck or back related, so I can still function and walk like a regular person. I am still suffering from severe headaches and seizures, though they have become less frequent over the last year. It's become very difficult to watch the races, knowing that I cannot take part in the playing. Thankfully most of my former crewmen on Action-Ice Motorsports have joined other teams and have become extremely successful. That makes me happier than the physical healing ever could."

Suddenly, Charneski has eclipsed a mere hero persona. He has become an Extravaganza icon, and has achieved more with his story than a racing career ever could. Now, we will see him at Daytona!

2022 Extravaganza Series Schedule

February 4th, 2022: Big Bud Shootout*
February 11th, 2022: Daytona Duels*
February 18th, 2022: Daytona
February 25th, 2022: Auto Club
March 4th, 2022: Homestead
March 11th, 2022: Phoenix
March 18th, 2022: Atlanta
March 25th, 2022: Texas
April 1st, 2022: Richmond
April 8th, 2022: Martinsville
April 15th, 2022: Bristol
April 22nd, 2022: Talladega
April 29th, 2022: Dover
May 6th, 2022: Darlington
May 13th, 2022: Kansas
May 20th, 2022: All-Star Race*
May 17th, 2022: Charlotte
June 3rd, 2022: Gateway
June 10th, 2022: Sonoma
June 17th, 2022: Nashville Superspeedway Duels*
June 24th, 2022: Nashville Superspeedway
July 1st, 2022: Daytona
July 8th, 2022: Chicagoland
July 15th, 2022: New Hampshire
July 22nd, 2022: Pocono
July 29th, 2022: Indianapolis
August 5th, 2022: Michigan
August 12th, 2022: Lime Rock
August 19th, 2022: Watkins Glen
August 26th, 2022: Richmond
-----------------------------------------------------
September 2nd, 2022: Darlington
September 9th, 2022: Las Vegas
September 16th, 2022: Bristol
September 23rd, 2022: Martinsville
September 30th, 2022: Talladega
October 7th, 2022: Charlotte Road
October 14th, 2022: Charlotte
October 21st, 2022: Rockingham
October 28th, 2022: Phoenix
November 4th, 2022: Homestead

*Non-Points Race (Except Nashville)

18-year old Chauncey Redmond Jr. earned an enormous big-time Bonanza ride, being signed to drive the famed #40 Pennzoil machine by Lucas Racing for the 2022 season. With that opportunity, he will mimic Bink Lucas's Extravaganza Series schedule by driving the #64 New England Patriots machine. His first attempt will be the Daytona 500, the most enormous feat in the family since his father earned the NFL 50-INT. milestone just three years ago. 

Kevin Corbat has surprisingly been named to a third team for the former Top Geer Motorsports program, leaving many to question why Ben Geer was deemed unworthy in the first place. The Auto Value branding will stick with the team as well as the #46, recruiting crew chief Larry Lack and the rest of the bunch from the newly founded Lifesaver Racing team. "We are honored to have Kevin Corbat's grilling skills added to the plethora of talent at this fine organization" said Yogi Arnoux. "With Johnny Reed Foley in the house, we will need some good game meat for race day and beyond! Hopefully he can score some top-20's as well." The owners points from Ben Geer will still go to Johnny Reed Foley, who would be a dismantled being if he were to miss the Daytona 500 in his new ride. Kevin will have to race his way in, but at least he has a decent ride for 2022!

2021 Average Finish: 32nd

2021 Best Finish: 20th (Road America and Richmond)

2021 Points Finish: 41st

Cristian Torres will finally acquire a full-time teammate in Geno Sphere for the 2022 season. He will be sponsored by Subway, a company that was swept under the rug at Team Danger Zone after the infamous "Bepis Buyout" lured them without a driver for the upcoming season. During this time, Geno Sphere had been snubbed by three-time Champion Tim McDonnell after being slated to replace Ben Geer in the #29 Budweiser car. "He's not ready for a ride of this magnitude. Signing Foley was the obvious decision" said McDonnell. In consequence, owner G.G. Sphere had cut ties with Top Geer and is rumoured to buy out the Twisted Metal Racing team. "Tim's a good guy, but the irony of him criticizing the veterans all season while not hiring a rookie is dumbfounding." says G.G.. "We've seen the talent that Geno possesses at the Bonanza short tracks all season, and hopefully it can translate to the Atlanta's and Charlotte's of big time Extravaganza." Cristian Torres's success at the crown jewel races may soar this team into the stratosphere of prosperity. Last year he was voted as the best Extravaganza driver yet to win a race. He and Geno would like to change that in 2022.

Cristian Torres Career Top-5's

Martinsville 2019: 5th

Talladega, 2019: 5th

Bristol, 2020: 3rd

Dover, 2020: 4th

Daytona, 2020: 5th

The Extravaganza Voting panel voted 35-0 against the idea of a 336 hour Daytona race in 2023. Panel member and Tundra Cup Series Champion Tommy "Two-Fingers" Davis exclaimed that the race would not cater to the benefit of the spectators, giving them "an excuse to drink until their liver fossilizes." There was also a safety concern, as bored fans may start throwing glass shards onto the racetrack. The biggest issue was whether the track could handle two weeks of high-pace racing, leaving obvious craters to fill just before stock car Speedweeks. Popular opinion states the proper decision was made.