Daytona 500 2012: Reasons for Non-Racing Fans to Tune in

Hardcore racing fans don't need an excuse (or excuses) to watch the Daytona 500. It's kind of like hardcore football fans don't need to be driven to watch the Super Bowl. We're talking about deep-seeded instincts.

It's not as easy for non-racing fans (also known as "haters") to get into the spectacle of the Daytona 500. I'll admit, as a lukewarm racing fan, I too struggle to make my way to the TV when the 500 rolls around every year.

This year's race is different. Even if you don't like or even despise NASCAR, there are a lot of reasons to tune in to watch the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

But I'll keep this simple. Here are four short, sweet and utterly convincing reasons to watch the Daytona 500.

Driver Storylines Galore

This is a whole bunch of different reasons packed into a single reason, so excuse me if I make things sound simpler than they are.

If it helps you to root for one driver in particular, you have all sorts of options. Most of them are on the list of favorites.

Everyone knows Jimmie Johnson, for example, and he's worth watching for a number of different reasons. He missed out on the Sprint Cup title for the first time in five years in 2011, so he starts 2012 looking for revenge. He'll also be looking for revenge on the Daytona 500, which has not treated him kindly in recent seasons.

Or you could tune in to watch reigning Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart. He's a threat to win every race he's in, and he won Gatorade Duel No. 1 on Thursday. He very nearly won the Budweiser Shootout this past Saturday.

Stewart missed out because Kyle Busch made a late charge to capture the checkered flag for himself. He's as loose a cannon as there is in NASCAR, but he's occasionally brilliant. You really can't afford to take your eyes off him.

You're also welcome to keep you eyes on Dale Earnhardt Jr., who hasn't won a race in something like a million starts. He has won the 500 before, though, and he's always a sympathetic favorite when the races comes around.

Beyond those guys, you could focus your sights on Gatorade Duel No. 2 and former 500 champ Matt Kenseth, or perhaps on reigning 500 champion Trevor Bayne.

Goodness knows there's no shortage of options. Just pick one, and then watch.

New Rules = More Excitement

Fans hated two-car tandem racing, so NASCAR took the initiative and arranged for some new rules ahead of the Daytona 500. 

In effect, these rules will usher in a return to pack racing. In layman's terms, it will be a return to fun racing.

Several experts weighed in on the news rules in a recent ESPN.com piece. Terry Blount says fans can get ready to see "more danger," Ed Hinton says they can expect to see a "melee of unintended consequences" and David Newton says the new rules are a "recipe for disaster."

The not-so-bright side of all this is that the new rules mean drivers are in for a more dangerous race. So when Newton uses the word "disaster," he means it. These cars aren't toys, and bad things can happen when they crash.

Nevertheless, knowing how much is on the line at the Daytona 500 means a more intriguing race for fans. This doesn't mean you have to tune in for violence. You can be content tuning in to watch a race in which drivers are taking risks left and right. At heart, that's what racing is all about.

Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick may be the worst driver out on the track on Sunday. She's inexperienced, and she's unproven. Many will argue that she doesn't belong at all. 

But win or lose, Patrick is going to be the most important driver in the Daytona 500. It's one thing that she's a woman trying to compete with men in a man's sport; it's another thing entirely that she has the perfect personality for the task. She's got a chip on her shoulder, and that makes her likable. 

Oh, by the way: This is her debut at the Daytona 500, and this is also her Sprint Cup series debut. In other words, this is a significant step up for her.

If she loses, well, she loses—nothing out of the ordinary.

If she wins, the world will be decidedly shocked.

What the Heck Else Are You Going to Watch?

Football season is over. Baseball is still a long way away. The NFL Scouting Combine barely passes for entertainment. The Bassmaster Classic is not everyone's cup of tea. And let's face it, neither is college basketball.

If you have it in mind to watch the NBA All-Star Game, don't worry; it's on several hours after the 500.

So if you're looking to spend some nice quiet time on your couch on Sunday afternoon, you might as well tune in to watch the Daytona 500. You may not be used to watching a full NASCAR race, but you may never get a better excuse than this.

Live a little.