There are many sports in America that have thousands of fans flocking to see their favorite team in action. From football to baseball to hockey, many sports boast huge fan bases and incredible athletes. But of all the sports that our great country has to offer, none are as exhilarating, patriotic, and edge-of-your-seat as NASCAR.

Today was the first of the NASCAR races this year, and the biggest - The Daytona 500. Considered to be "The Super Bowl" of NASCAR, The Daytona 500 is by far one of the season's toughest races - and one of the most prestigious to win. After a grueling 200 laps around a track that boasts a steep bank, drivers have made their careers and broken them on this legendary track.

In fact, it was the 2001 Daytona 500 that saw probably the darkest moment in NASCAR history - the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. on the last lap of the race. However, it was Earnhardt Sr. who won The Daytona 500 in 1998 - and it was his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. who won today's Daytona 500 - six years to the day that his father made it to victory lane.

While I will confess that I have not been a life long NASCAR fan, I have become addicted to the sport over the course of the last two years. The first person to introduce me to NASCAR was Kandice. I was at her house for my Godson Cole's first birthday and she had a race on the television. As soon as I saw dozens of cars racing down a track at speeds reaching almost 200 miles an hour - I was hooked. Then, it was my good friend Crystal and her family who cemented my addiction. When you spend time in a house with a dozen die-hard NASCAR fans, you can't help but become one yourself. Every Sunday, Crystal and I would go to her family's house to watch the race, and it is so much fun to watch it with them. In fact, I called her father and grandmother tonight to congratulate them on Dale Jr.'s victory - since no two people are bigger fans of "Junior" than they are.

My favorite NASCAR moment was when I helped NASCAR film a segment with Jimmie Johnson driving a New York City taxicab. To be able to spend time with some of NASCAR's top executives was quite a thrill, especially since they made me feel so welcome. This year, I intend to go to a race that I was invited to - and truly live the NASCAR experience.

With the first race in the bag and with a new race every Sunday until the end of the Summer, there is no doubt that I will be parked in front of a television each time they drop the green flag...

...BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY!