Gatorade Duel 2012: Small Races Are Brilliant Way to Hype Daytona 500

While the Gatorade Duel 150's have many purposes, none stand out more than the genuine drama created between racers.

Racers are out there competing with each other, trying to qualify in a better position. This is not just an exhibition to get the fans used to some of the new names or new teams. 

No, this is real qualifying, and for the biggest race of the year. It is a wonderful way to get fans ready for the big race, as if they needed an excuse to be excited for this one. 

Over the course of the season, certain rivalries form between racers that are carried off from week to week. It's just naturally going to happen when the sport in question is one that involves crashes and bumping into each other. 

The one problem with the Daytona 500 being at the beginning of the season is that none of the rivalries are fresh. Even the most bitter of feuds has had a few months to simmer, so there isn't a lot to really look for when the race starts. 

That changes with these 150-mile races. 

We not only get to see the racers qualify, but they do so directly against other competitors. So, crashes happen, bumps occur, rivalries are created, or reborn in some cases. 

Effectively, we get the best of all worlds with these races. 

They don't feature everyone racing against everyone, so we still get the charm during the actual race on Sunday that comes with the beginning of a new season. Of course, this is the Daytona 500, so we get the hype and big-race feel that comes with the sport's grandest stage. 

Those two set a brilliant stage to begin with. But throw that on top of the fact that we get to see some of these racers battling each other just days before and the rivalries that come with that, and this is pretty close to perfection.

For racing fans, the Daytona 500 is spectacular to begin with. Asking for a perfect week leading up to it is greedy, but NASCAR has given it to us anyway. 

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