"AMP"-ing up for the big day

Welcome to race day, and this version is brought to you by Monster energy drink and stale CLIF bars. It's just the way I roll...

Claustrophobia strikes deep here at Daytona, where it's almost impossible to move around, -- even as much as 6 hours before the race. Funny thing, though, as you walk along the expansive fan zones here both inside and outside of the track in what looks like a marketing campaign on the verge of going awry. See a lot -- and I mean A LOT -- of AMP energy shirts and hats. But here's the catch: you don't see many of the fans, bleary-eyed from a night of heavy pre-race frolicking, actually drinking the AMP in an effort to energize.

Lots of other soda pops and coffee, but AMP is still relatively low on the morning wake-up call podium.

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I partook of one of the great traditions here at the speedway, one I didn't even know existed.
Once allowed out on the track, fans grab up their Sharpie markers -- otherwise reserved for driver autographs -- and sign their names, leave messages of encouragement and write notes for their favorite drivers. And they do that writing right on the checkerboard start-finish line.

What an amazing way to get fans involved in the Daytona 500, and what does it cost the track to do it? Absolutely nothing, save for a security guard or two that they've already got employed elsewhere on the grounds, anyway.

Let's just say Coop and Manny are along for the ride today...

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You certainly don't need me to leave an "expert" prediction for you to day, but it's hard to resist the temptation.

Here's what I think -- I think it's either of the Busch brothers today or Jimmie Johnson. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s been good this week, but to the point of it being a detriment to his chances. When you're that dominant, teams are typically reluctant to push you to the front of the field, knowing full well that if they do they're not going to be able to pass you.

Saw it on a few occasions in Saturday's Nationwide Series event here, where Junior was left to fend for himself in the late going, despite having a car that got great runs on the high side of the speedway.

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And finally, in the interest of starting a tradition, aren't you Brad Wapner?