'Gentlemen start your engines'

The greatest spectacle in sports entertainment is finally here. No it isn’t Wrestlemania, even though that event runs a close second.

It is the Daytona 500 and Sunday will mark it’s 50th running.

Aside from the Super Bowl it will be the hottest sports event on television this year. Don’t believe me then listen up.

First and foremost I am a NASCAR fan. However, I do not watch every race, I do not follow the sport vigorously and I do not know where the next race will be, nor the full line-up of every team.

I do know that I am a Jeff Gordon fan and have been since I was like 10 years old. I do know who placed where after each race and I do know the lingo and the happenings from the sport as I check in on NASCAR about twice a week. (Usually before and after a race.)

However, with all of that said I can say this, I will watch the Daytona 500. Not religiously, but I can guarantee that I will tune in for the first 50 and last 50 laps if nothing else.

This seems to be the sentiment of just about every sports fan. Sure the diehards will watch every lap, but even those like me who simply like the sport and just sort of follow it, we will be watching at some point and that is what separates Daytona from other events such as the World Series.

If I don’t like a team in the World Series I typically don’t tune in. But, Daytona is a once a year event, like the Super Bowl that you have to watch a little bit of just to keep up with the conversation at the water cooler.

You don’t even have to like NASCAR to check in for just a minute. I mean common you have to be a little bit curious to see how Dale Jr. is going to do in his new ride, or to see if Tony Stewart is going to put Kurt Busch in the wall.

I personally would like to see both men knock each others butts out of the race within the first few laps so I don’t have to hear any more about them.

Bottom line even if you don’t watch the Daytona 500 who will end up knowing who wins. You can’t say that about any other race during the year and you can’t say that about any other regular season game from any of the major sports.

NASCAR is now the second fastest growing sport behind competitive fishing, but really who wants to watch that.

I guess the same thing was once said about cars racing in a circle in Florida.