The 2012 Budweiser Shootout was the first exhibition stock car race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

It was Busch's first victory in the event; Stewart-Haas Racing driver Tony Stewart finished second with Richard Petty Motorsports racer Marcos Ambrose third.

Pole position driver Martin Truex Jr. was immediately passed by Jeff Gordon before the first turn, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. led at the end of the first lap.

Five cautions were issued during the race, which saw twenty-six lead changes by thirteen different drivers and attracted 7.46 million television viewers.

The 2012 Budweiser Shootout was the first of two exhibition stock car races of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,[2][3] and the 34th annual edition of the event.

The race, designed to promote Busch Beer, invites the fastest NASCAR drivers from the previous season to compete.

The size of the restrictor plate was reduced by 1⁄64 inch (0.4 mm) and the cars were required to run with softer springs and a smaller rear spoiler.

These changes were intended to reduce the effectiveness of two-car style drafting and to make the cars more challenging to turn.

Marcos Ambrose was fifth-fastest, and Hamlin, Michael Waltrip, Joey Logano, Kenseth, and Carl Edwards rounded out the top ten positions.

Stewart, who drew fifteenth, was followed by Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Kahne, and Waltrip for the first 20 spots.

Ambrose, Kevin Harvick, Kenseth, Paul Menard, and Montoya drew the last five positions in the race.

"[2] The race began at 8:10 pm Eastern Standard Time, and was broadcast live on television in the United States by Fox,[1] and by TSN2 in Canada.

[19] Commentary was provided by Mike Joy, with analysis given by retired driver Darrell Waltrip and former crew chief Larry McReynolds.

During the pace laps, Keselowski, Allmendinger, and Kyle and Kurt Busch had to move to the rear of the grid because they had switched to their backup cars.

[21] Three laps later a multiple-car collision between turns one and two, involving Waltrip, Menard, Kahne, Burton, Ragan, Kenseth, and Montoya, triggered the first caution of the race and the pace car.

[21] Three laps later,[22] Bowyer spun sideways into the infield grass in the first turn after he was hit by teammate Truex leaving the tri-oval;[21][22][23] a third caution was issued,[3] during which most of the leaders, including Biffle, made pit stops for fuel and tires.

By the 47th lap, Harvick had moved into the lead position; Kyle Busch collided with the wall, escaping with minor damage to the front of his car.

[3][21] The fourth caution was issued on lap 55 when Ambrose made contact with the left-rear of Logano's car, causing a multiple-car collision involving Earnhardt, Harvick, Kenseth, and Truex.

[21] Biffle led at the lap 62 restart,[23] before Gordon reclaimed the lead, with Johnson moving into second place.

"[29] Ambrose, who finished third in the race, explained, "It's definitely a lot more fun, more entertaining for the fans, and more in control for the drivers.

"[27] Nevertheless, Menard thought that the pack style of racing would be a good combination for the Daytona 500 and believed it would be "chaotic" and "exciting".