Gentlemen, start your season. The struggling economy forced a few race teams to trim cars or merge, but the starting field is still 43-drivers strong for the 51st Great American Race in Daytona Beach. After Florida governor Charlie Crist gives the starting command, look for usual suspects like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and three-time series champ Jimmie Johnson near the front. Sentimental fans may prefer to follow veterans Mark Martin (now in the No. 5 car) and Tony Stewart (now in No. 14) as they debut new rides while chasing their long-sought first trip to NASCAR's ultimate Victory Lane.
Premise: After 1960 Daytona 500 winner Junior Johnson gives the starting command from high atop the new starter's tower, NASCAR hopes to maintain the nostalgic theme with some throwback racing in the 52nd Great American Race. Bump drafting is legal (and encouraged) and restrictor plates are a fraction less restricting as Sprint Cup looks to inject some more lively action into its suddenly sagging sport. A great start is landing the popular Dale Earnhardt Jr. and 51-year-old fan fave Mark Martin in the front row, looking to hold off 41 other cars, including four-time defending series champ Jimmie Johnson's relentless No. 48 Chevy. Watch the Daytona 2011
