All the hype and talk is over and Speedweeks 2008, highlighted by the 50th running of the Daytona 500, is now history.

And overall, things are off to a good start.

We saw competitive racing all throughout our week in Daytona with the Budweiser Shootout, the Twin 150s, the truck race and the Nationwide season opener all putting on good shows.

That was an excellent lead-in to the 500, which had a few stretches of boredom thrown in (show me a 500 mile race anywhere that doesn't), but built up to yet another exciting conclusion.

I didn't think we could get two years in a row with the 500 coming down to the wire but we sure did and I'm sure NASCAR as well as FOX were thrilled. Every race can't come down to a photo finish, just like the Super Bowl can't be won on an overtime field goal every season or the World Series decided by a walk-off homer. But the 500 has produced back-to-back nailbiters.

The pre-race show was a bit lame (Chubby Checker, Michael McDonald and Kool & The Gang just don't define one of the biggest sporting events in the world in my book) but Trisha Yearwood's National Anthem and the Thunderbirds' flyover brought chills.

As did the last lap finish and the storyline of Tony Stewart messing up to pave the way for the open wheel protege Ryan Newman to win "The Great American Race." And to se "The Captain" standing there in Daytona's "victory circle" was equally a thrill.

Kudos to Daytona to getting the season off on a strong note. One down, 35 weeks to go boys and girls.