The most-watched race in America, the Daytona 500, is held in February at the culmination of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.

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Photo: February’s Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway

The Dolphin Research Center in Marathon focuses on educational presentations, but dolphins still make an occasional showy leap.

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Photo: Dolphin Research Center, Marathon

Don Garlits' homemade dragster was just a hobby for under the oak tree at his house off East 122nd Avenue in Tampa , comfortably away from the family-owned garage. One wouldn't dare work on a racecar at an auto-repair facility in Florida in 1954. With those vehicles having a stigma of sorts back then, Garlits said, “customers wouldn't think you'd be working on their cars.” Plus, Garlits never really thought his hobby would amount to much more than a backyard pursuit. He was gloriously wrong. The hobbyist became “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, and the shade-tree pursuit is a part of a motor-sports-crazed nation, with niches in various corners. NASCAR's home is in North Carolina, where its teams are based and its moonshine-running roots are celebrated. Open-wheel racing is revered in the Midwest, especially Indiana, where the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway has tested the limits of man and machine for 100 years. Drag racing, Garlits' passion, traces its professional roots to Southern California. And Florida can claim it all. The most-watched race in America, the Daytona 500 , will be held later this month at the culmination of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway – the “World Center of Racing,” a self-proclaimed title, but still hard to argue. America's most popular racing series starts its season here and will end it in November at Homestead-Miami Speedway . The Izod IndyCar Series will also start its season in Florida next month at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg , an event that in eight short years has become one of the more popular city-street races in the country. The National Hot Rod Association's Full Throttle Drag Racing Series comes through Gainesville in March for the 43rd annual Gatornationals , one of the oldest and best-attended races on its schedule. Last month, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race was held at the track for the 50th year. VISIT FLORIDA sponsors the Dempsey Mazda racing team. And that's just a portion of what the Florida racing scene has to offer. From the 12 Hours of Sebring to Saturday night dirt-track racing, the calendar goes on and on in a state where the engines roar year round. The throttle-up is especially appreciated during the winter months, where the only racing-conducive weather in northern climates is for snowmobiles. “If you don't think that Florida racing, especially Speedweeks racing, is a big deal, go down to tracks like Ocala , East Bay (outside Tampa). They'll have modified races with 80 to 100 cars in the pit area,” said NASCAR driver and Zephyrhills native David Reutimann. “I've seen guys from Canada pull down here because of the weather, because of the racetracks, where they can run three weeks solid of all kinds of dirt racing. “You see people base their entire vacations around working their butts off on racecars. Florida's legendary for this time right now. Right now, 'til Daytona's over with, there's no bigger place on the planet as far as your racing career.” Reutimann would know. The 41-year-old driver comes from a family of oil-stained lifers and can remember traveling from Pasco County to Daytona as a teenager, following his father to the dirt tracks. They didn't attend the Daytona 500, but would take in the twin-125 (mile) qualifying races at the huge 2.5-mile oval as part of their Speedweeks routines. “The place was larger than life, and it continues to be even as I've raced the Daytona 500 a couple times,” said Reutimann, who now drives for Tommy Baldwin Racing. Say “The Great American Race” to any sports fan and they'll know it's the Daytona 500, running for the 54th time this year. Its winners list is the history of American motorsports, from Petty to Andretti to Foyt to Earnhardt. For more history, Garlits offers up his own museum. The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala has welcomed visitors since 1984 to a sprawling complex of buildings featuring classic cars and dragsters, including many of his own record-setting vehicles. In the next few years, Garlits hopes to consolidate the collection under one roof, making a 100,000-square-foot showcase of racing history. Having amassed such an amazing collection, Garlits could have opened his museum anywhere – including any of those other motorsports hot spots around the country already listed here. But in the end, he didn't stray too far from his roots, and that oak tree. “It's Florida, man,” Garlits said. “My rule is to keep Florida great.” When it comes to motorsports, Florida is already there. Florida Racing Hot Spots Daytona International Speedway 1-800-PITSHOP, daytonainternationalspeedway.com Opened: 1959 Major races: Grand Am Rolex 24 (January), NASCAR Daytona 500 (February), NASCAR Coke Zero 400 (July) Notable: Daily tours available, from 30 minutes to 90 minutes long; “VIP” tours available on selected dates Gainesville Raceway 352-377-0046, gainesvilleraceway.com Opened: 1969 Major race: NHRA Gatornationals (March) Notable: Road course, separate from drag strip, hosts driving schools and corporate functions Homestead-Miami Speedway (866) 409-RACE, homesteadmiamispeedway.com Opened: 1995 Major races: Grand Am Grand Prix of Miami (April), NASCAR Championship weekend (November) Notable: General public can drag-race their street cars on selected Friday nights year round. Sebring Raceway 800-626-RACE, sebringraceway.com Opened: 1950 Major race: Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring (March) Notable: The oldest permanent road racing track in North America, it evolved from a World War II air base.

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Racecar Engines Roar Year Round in Florida

Daredevils hand-feed the tarpon at Robbie’s in Islamorada. Others just toss the fish into the water, where the tarpon lunge, splash and compete for each morsel.

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Photo: Feeding the tarpon, Robbie’s Marina

Glassy sand, sparse crowds and loads of sunshine are just a few of the features of Venice Beach.

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Photo: Venice Beach

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

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Photo: Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel Lighthouse

Sometimes, dreams really do come true. I just roared over to Walt Disney World Speedway (in Orlando ) to tackle the Exotics Course in a Lamborghini — something I never thought was going to happen in my lifetime! With a professional driver by my side, I learned how to navigate the street-course style barriers and backstretch in this super-ship. I didn’t have to contend with traffic, stoplights, or worry about breaking those pesky speed limits, and when you sign up for Exotic Driving Experience , you won’t have to either. Check out the cars you can choose from: Ferrari 458 Italia Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Porsche 997 S Audi R8 Wonder what it’s like? Sneak a peek at my slideshow and video! Insider’s Tip: Stay tuned for more video taken from inside the car.

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Video: What it’s Like to Drive an Exotic Car at Walt Disney World Speedway!

Ever heard of Apalachicola ? No? I’m not surprised. Most folks haven’t. You’ll find the historic fishing port about 80 miles southwest of Tallahassee , nestled in an area aptly-dubbed the ‘Forgotten Coast. It’s the kind of place where you can hear birds calling, the kind of place where you wave to people and they wave back. It’s tiny and thick with trees. The streets are lined with Victorian houses and everyone seems to have at least one dog. And lately, it’s been swarming with glamorous models, photographers and editors. You read that right – and I’m as serious as a stingray! Apalachicola is one of the locations for Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit issue this year! The magazine hits stands today. The issue’s circulation is expected to be a whopping 60 million, so the ‘Forgotten Coast’ may not be so forgotten soon. Insider’s tip: You’ll find one of the finest beaches in the world on nearby Cape San Blas . One of my favorite things to do there is to go horseback riding on the beach. Fun fact: You can’t beat Apalachicola for seafood: more than 90% of Florida's oyster production is harvested from Apalachicola Bay!

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Apalachicola is one of the Locations for Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue!

A Paso Fino stallion, known as El Duque Young, at Young’s Paso Fino Ranch in Ocala.

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Photo: El Duque Young, a Paso Fino stallion, at Young’s Paso Fino Ranch, Ocala

Don Young and Bonnie Dean take Paso Fino horses on a trail-ride through tall pine trees near Young’s Paso Fino Ranch in Ocala.

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Photo: Paso Fino Trail Ride, Young’s Paso Fino Ranch, Ocala