As the 2011 season nears, the NASCAR fans and teams are gearing up for a new exciting season. The new season is already off to an exciting start. Even though its our sports preseason and there is under two months till the Daytona 500, teams are in full swing and making changes. With a good outcome of the tire testing on the new race surface at DIS, teams are really looking forward to Speedweeks 2011.

One of the teams making changes is Hendrick Motorsports. Rick Hendrick has made a couple of big changes with his crew chiefs. Hendrick has moved Steve Latarte from Jeff Gordon's crew chief to Dale Earnhardt Jr's. Which moved Lance McGrew to become Mark Martin's new crew chief, and Alan Gustafson was moved to take the reigns at the 24 team. Along with the crew chief swaps, Hendrick Motorsports switched up the housing. Jeff Gordon's 24 car and team was moved to the 5 shop pairing the two teams together. Dale Jr and the 88 team was moved into the defending champion, Jimmy Johnson and the 48 team's shop.

Red Bull Racing is starting to look up in the 2011 season with Kasey Kahne joining the team taking over Scott Speed’s spot. Brian Vickers is going to be making his return to the driver seat of the 83 car after being side lined by health issues last season. Brian looks like he is ready to go in the 2011. Only other change in the Red Bull camp is we will not see the number 82 car on the track this year. Kasey Kahne will be driving the number 4 machine.

NASCAR is also making a change. NASCAR has opted to test the same fueling system that the CWTS uses. They are allowing the Cup teams to use self venting fuel cans. Teams are allowed to test this out at DIS during Speedweeks. With this move, in Nascar's eyes will make things on pit road safer. It will eliminate the catch can man from going over the wall. So that will bring the number of men over the wall down to six guys from seven.

With a new surface on the track in Daytona that is smoother and has more grip, everyone should expect a fast, exciting race. 

Don't be surprised that the cars hit an average speed over 200 mph. A lot of the drivers are saying that the races at DIS during Speedweeks are going to be extremely fast and exciting. During an interview after the tire test at the track, Dale Jr. and fellow drivers were interviewed and all stated that the track is very smooth and is going to be very fast. Dale Jr. added that Daytona reminds him of Talladega after it was resurfaced back in 2006.

Well I don't know about all of you readers, but I'm excited about 2011. With Daytona only weeks away, we are all in for a real treat. In the words of D.W., "Lets Go Racin' Boys, DAYTONA Style."