Welcome to 2012. It’s time to ring out the old and ring in the new, because this year's worldwide races will surely leave 2011's in the dust. These are the top 10 races, plus 10 extras, you must be sure not to miss in the new year.

They don’t call it The Great American Race for nothing. NASCAR kicks off its season with its crown jewel event, and the Daytona 500 has the makings of another can’t-miss spectacle. NASCAR's offseason changes, coupled with the ever-looming chance of “The Big One,” mean anything and everything can happen. Will we see another surprising winner like Trevor Bayne last year, or will a veteran like Dale Earnhardt Jr. or defending series champion Tony Stewart celebrate in Victory Lane? You’ll find out when you watch.
You’ll also like: Talladega (May 6 live on FOX)

Glitz, glamour, prestige — oh, and there’s a pretty good race to watch, too. The Monaco Grand Prix holds a prized spot on the motorsports calendar. Celebrities from all walks of life gather on yachts in the marina alongside the street course to watch drivers tackle a demanding, 19-turn track that only the very best have mastered. On motorsports’ biggest day (the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 also are scheduled), Monaco serves as the ultimate starting course.
You’ll also like: Singapore Grand Prix (Sept. 23 live on SPEED)

The Greatest Spectacle in Racing certainly lives up to its billing. IndyCar’s biggest race is world-renown for its breathtaking high speeds and high drama throughout the scheduled 200 laps. This year’s event will also be emotionally charged as the track celebrates last year's winner, Dan Wheldon, who suffered a fatal crash in the last race of the 2011 season.
You’ll also like: Texas (June 9)

It’s the oldest endurance race, dating to 1923. It has been glorified in movies — and Paul Newman actually raced there. The race carries a mystique all its own because of its stature and the danger that lurks at every turn. It’s an event both admired and coveted by those in the racing community, one that truly challenges the competitors and equipment trying to best the course.
You’ll also like: Rolex 24 at Daytona (Jan. 28-29 live on SPEED)

The Dakar Rally is a test of man and machine, a 13-stage affair that chews up favorites and front-runners on a daily basis. Originally run in Africa, the event circuit now is based in Argentina, Chile and Peru. It's one of the toughest races in all of motorsports and one in which the shifting terrain and weather conditions change the race not only year to year but day to day.
You’ll also like: Rally of Great Britain (Sept. 13-16)

One of the most historic motorcycle races (dating to 1907), the Isle of Man TT is also one of the most dangerous races in the world — to the point that it hasn’t been part of the FIM World Championship since 1976 because of safety issues. The more than 37-mile-long Snaefell Mountain Course features high speeds, tough corners and maddening challenges that test even the bravest riders. Always worth following.
You’ll also like: Macau Grand Prix (Nov. 15-18)

After a five-year wait, Formula One is coming back to the US — we think. Although a deal was reached in 2010 for F1 to return at a new racetrack in Austin, Texas, controversy has swirled as financial issues complicated the building of the track and its deal with F1. But now things appear to be on schedule at what will be the 3.4-mile Circuit of the Americas, which will feature 20 turns and plenty of overtaking opportunities.
You’ll also like: Canadian Grand Prix (June 10 on SPEED)

Drivers reaching speeds close to 200 mph, more than 600 miles in distance, a turn called “Hell Corner” — what’s not to love about the Bathurst 1000? The touring car race has certainly become Australia’s “Great Race,” both in terms of challenges the drivers face at the Mount Panorama Circuit and also for the race's sheer excitement.
You’ll also like: Gold Coast 600 (Oct. 21)

The tradition continues. Dubbed “The World’s Greatest Road Race” during its original incarnation (1927-57), the famed and dangerous Mille Miglia road race was revived in 1982 and is now a vintage car event from Brescia to Rome (and back) that showcases some of the finest production cars in existence and draws crowds in the millions. More than 1,300 entries were submitted for the 375 available spots in 2012, so it is set to be a display unlike any other.
You’ll also like: Goodwood Festival of Speed (June 28-July 1)

An annual rite of spring, the NHRA has ventured east to Gainesville, Fla., since the 1970s for the Gatornationals — the site of multiple record-breaking performances (including the first 260-, 270- and 300-mph runs). Expect history to be made there this year.
You’ll also like: NHRA Finals (Nov. 8-11)