Christmas, Easter, birthdays, anniversaries, even Valentine's Day fail to compete with today! Today is the day that NASCAR fans have been waiting for since the week before Thanksgiving last year:the Daytona 500.

It seems like forever ago we last heard the words, "Gentlemen, start your engines!"

Many things have changed since we last saw our favorite drivers in Miami.  Sure they've been on the track this week with the Duals, the Nationwide, Truck, and Bud Shoot Out Races. 

BUT it's been since Miami that we've seen all 43 drivers in the field at one time. Many things have changed. 

There are new drivers, new teams, new uniforms to get used to.  Also we've got to get used to not seeing some familiar faces in the field like Kyle Petty.

There are many storylines to follow today. There is an 18-year-old in the race who last season was dubbed "the best thing since sliced bread" So will "Sliced Bread" prove to be the best thing since sliced bread or nothing more than a moldy loaf that someone forgot to put away?  

Will tires be an issue during the race today?   Will someone try to pass below the double yellow lines?  Will there be a "big one"?  Will an HMS driver win today?

Who will be drafting partners? Who will try pit strategy to get out first? Who will have better gas mileage? 

Will Tony Stewart be hoisting the trophy and go for two wins in a weekend?  Will a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Toyota win today?  Where will my driver finish today? 

All of those plus other questions we might have will all be answered in a few short hours my friends! 

Photo from Getty Images.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?