Sunday morning – Daytona 500 Race Day! Clicking into NASCAR.com first thing to check on updates for today and what do we see…? A big sidebar advertisement for Nationwide Insurance with Danica Patrick standing there…  Ironic…? Good timing…? After all, she has gone nose deep into concrete twice in three days and steps back into a new car. That would seem to be a good selling point for auto insurance… Right…?

But this race, this season… It’s not all about Danica Patrick. Every garage, team and driver has a story that brought them here and they all want the same thing. There are also the stories of those who are shut out of the barn for the big dance. Take Michael Waltrip, for example… Re-entering the field during Gatorade Dual Day, he attempted to leave the inner skirt of the track and get on the banking but the sudden angle change was too much at speed and the car jolted up the track and into the wall. That put him at #44 and one spot off the grid after pre-season wrangling to have a ride to qualify with. Yes, MWR still has cars on the track for the 500, but Michael isn’t in any of them.

And that is the short of just one story from Daytona. There are many others.

Think of Trevor Bayne and the Wood Brothers in the #21 Motorcraft Ford… A dream win from a rookie in the seat of the oldest continuous team in NASCAR one year ago. There will be a lot of eyes and a lot of lenses on the 21 for this race. Bayne has to not let the attention or pressure to perform get to him. Realistically, a repeat win is about as likely as winning the lottery using the numbers of the top 5 finishers. However, Bayne did very well in the Nationwide opener rolling across the checkers in 3rd place so there is talent at the wheel in this young man.

Tony Stewart. He won one of the Duals and is carrying the weight of last season’s championship into Daytona. He starts in the 3rd position for the 500 and if anyone can ride pressure and attention on the edge it is Stewart in the #14 Office Depot Chevy.

Carl Edwards. Finished the 2011 season a nose splitter behind Stewart and has the pole for the 500. He is not going to be happy finishing in any spot beyond what he starts. Edwards wanted it last year and it is likely the off-season has made him more determined.

Harvick… Focusing on the Sprint Cup and foregoing his Nationwide operation.

Gordon… He was the Golden Boy and teammate Johnson came along with a string of championships. Gordon wants another Cup.

Johnson… Yes, of course.

Earnhardt, Jr… What must be going through his mind? Season after season carrying the weight of that name and the knowledge that he may very well be the most popular driver out there but where are the results…? He can sell jeans and energy drinks all day long but he needs to be in front at the checkers and he knows it. He knows how he is perceived by fans and others in the garage. He is respected. He has a good reputation. He can go fast. Somehow, he hasn’t managed to put that all together as his father did. There is pressure on Dale Jr., and he wears it well. Can that pressure also push the #88 to the front for a winning season? He has won at Daytona before…

Kurt Busch… A blow-up, an apology, a lost and found ride for 2012… Kurt has something to prove. His brother Kyle has been in the spotlight with wins and attitude but Kurt let all his frustration loose on an ESPN reporter just doing his job. It cost him. Now he has to go out there with his pride tucked away in the bottom drawer of the tool chest and make some positive headway.

There are 43 cars starting the Daytona 500. There are 43 drivers with stories. 43 teams trying to earn race-cred for themselves and their sponsors… The Daytona 500 is the “big dance” but it is just one race in the season. Just as Danica Patrick is just one of forty-three…

Let’s go Racing!