I spent my Sunday afternoon in a living room devoid of cable TV, so my viewing options were limited. There was golf, a movie about a basketball-playing dog and a National Hockey League matchup between Dallas and Detroit.

Usually, the NHL would be a no-brainer. As one of about 17 Americans living outside an NHL market that actually watches the games on television, I especially enjoy the games in HD.

Unfortunately, the over-the-air reception of Channel 4 was less than stellar. I ended up stumbling upon the Daytona 500. Figuring it would be a good way to actually focus on my work and not the television, I left the race on.

I've never really been a fan of stock-car racing. I couldn't understand what was so darn exciting about a bunch of good old boys driving at 150 miles an hour and turning left. For years, my NASCAR-watching friends have told me that I didn't know what I was talking about. They said I was missing the strategy, the sheer endurance of the drivers and a host of other things that have helped make NASCAR so insanely popular.

I spent part of my radio career running the commercial breaks during race broadcasts; the only thing I could pick up was the excitement in a reporter's voice when he broke into the banter with news of an accident. 

I wasn't buying it. And after watching a majority of the 50th Daytona, I still don't. It's still a bunch of guys driving fast and turning left. I know Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon fans didn't like Dale Earnhardt, Jr., but now they're all on the same team. I also know that Matt Kenseth is from Wisconsin and Tony Stewart is a hot-head with a car owned by former NFL coach Joe Gibbs.

Being a fair guy, I'm going to give it a try. I am going to watch as many races this season as time allows and I'm going to keep an open mind. I will soon begin the process of selecting a favorite driver and a top enemy. I am going to see if I can catch on to the things that make the sport successful and popular and come the season-ending "Chase for the Championship," I'm either going to return to my pre-existing level of disinterest or NASCAR will have made a convert out of me.

At the very least, I'll actually have an excuse to drink beer on my couch during the weekend, and that's good enough for me.

So, what should I watch for? Which drivers and teams do you root for and why? Use the Talkback feature below to share your input, but please ... let's leave the feudin' and bashin' out.