FEATURING: MY FAVORITE & BEST looking Race Driver - Danica Patrick...

I got hooked on NASCAR racing back when DSTV started showing ESPN broadcasted sports to their viewers, which was way-back. If it was not for the late broadcasting times, which is late on a Sunday night, I would have watched every race of every season.

Danica Patrick came on the seen at about the time when I really started enjoying the NASCAR series and at that time Dale Earnhardt Jnr was my favorite driver, and he still is - favorite Male driver that is!

MOTORSPORT: NASCAR - 2011 DAYTONA 500...

http://www.nascar.com/news

Great expectations of the Great American Race

Daytona president hard at work restoring track's reputation prior to venerable 500

The Daytona 500 is less than four weeks away, but for new Daytona International Speedway president Joie Chitwood III, most of the heavy lifting is out of the way. The new $20 million track surface has drawn rave reviews in testing. Now it's down to fine-tuning the schedule, selecting pre-race entertainment and getting set to wine and dine celebrities and various VIPs on race day.

But first and foremost on Chitwood's mind -- as it has been ever since he was named to replace Robin Braig this past summer -- is restoring Daytona's reputation. After embarrassing track surface issues caused hours of delays during NASCAR's biggest race in front of its biggest television viewing audience this past February, Chitwood is fully aware that regaining the trust of the fan base is imperative.

“

When fans come to Daytona to experience the Daytona 500, they have a certain expectation. ... We have spared no expense.

”

-- JOIE CHITWOOD

1-on-1

Joie Chitwood says the new surface at Daytona should offer a good race to drivers and a thrilling show for fans.

Watch video

"When fans come to Daytona to experience the Daytona 500, they have a certain expectation," Chitwood said during a recent visit to CNN Center. "We did not live up to that expectation last year. Shame on us. Yes, we had an issue with the track, but still, that's under our control.

"We have spared no expense. We spent $20 million to repave our property, and I think that shows our commitment to our fans that we're going to fix the problem. We're not going to have another pothole. We re-built that race track from the lime rock and the four layers of asphalt. We can't let it happen again, because if we do, I'm not sure what we would say to our fans to get them to come back."