When we first heard about 'Fast Track to Fame,' the Speed Channel's new search for undiscovered talent, we thought Sunday drivers might get a chance to compete at the Brickyard.

But Fast Track isn't for NASCAR wannabes. According to Broadcasting & Cable, this Asphalt 'Idol' will apparently search for the best singers, dancers, comedians and other undiscovered talents living in various NASCAR towns.

'Fast Track' -- which will debut Mar. 1at 9PM ET -- is the brainchild of Michael Waltrip, one half of the superstar racing Waltrip brothers (his older sibling, Darrell, voiced Darrell Cartrip in Pixar's Oscar-nominated movie 'Cars').

Have you been sitting there on your couch thinking, "Good grief, it's January 7th already, when is NASCAR going to start?" Well, if you have, you need to find a couple more hobbies, but the good news is that the Speed channel is kicking off its NASCAR season this week with NASCAR Preseason Thunder. The season just gets longer and longer.

They will be covering Nextel Cup testing at Daytona. You can get a schedule of the shows on the Speed website. The actual race isn't until February 18th, but Speed knows where their bread is buttered. NASCAR is to them like the football team is to Notre Dame. It pays for everything else.

My early season predictions are for Jimmy Johnson and Tony Stewart to come out strong. Denny Hamlin will prove that last season wasn't a fluke. Kurt Busch will be back in the hunt now that the #2 team has had a season to gel. The #24 team will remain inconsistent, possibly leading Jeff Gordon to fire his crew chief. Robbie Gordon will crash some people, but it won't be his fault. And Michael Waltrip will continue to get all kinds of camera time despite never even getting a whiff of being competitive.