Now that the Lombardi Trophy has been lifted and the Super Bowl parties have all fizzled out, it's time to get ready for some NASCAR racing. The off-season is over and by the end of the week there will be cars on the high banks of Daytona, a beautiful sight to any Hardcore Race Fan throughout the nation.

While the two months without racing have been a nice break in the action, it's that time of year again when the start of the season is within reach and the excitement is mounting. Teams are putting the final touches on all of their off-season work, while crews, fans and media alike are gearing up for the long season that lay ahead.

There are so many unknowns heading into the 2009 season, no one can be quite sure just what to expect. Teams have merged to create entirely new organizations, others have given into the circumstances and limited their schedules and others look stronger than ever.

With no testing since the beginning of January, many of these new bonds have gone untested - no pun intended. For the first time in a long time, Daytona will be a true test of character and preparation. Instead of spending weeks at the track tuning and adjusting and working on relationships, each team will show up with what they have and hit the track learning. Competition is guaranteed to be fierce and - like any year - there are bound to be surprises.

So put the Super Bowl behind you and gear up for the Super Bowl of NASCAR and the start of the 2009 season. Be sure to make HardcoreRaceFans.com your number one source for NASCAR news throughout the entire 2009 season. We'll see you at the track!