Sylvania 300

We always hear about driver's going to "the big red truck" after races where a rule has been bent or broken. What really goes on in that truck? Dave Burns will try to figure out the answer in this weekend's "Dave Discovers" segment during the pre-race show for this weekend's Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire.

	Dave Burns

The issue was brought to light, of course, following the Kevin Harvick/Ricky Rudd tiff after last week's race. "The big red truck" had a big line full of red faces.

This may be a tough piece to pull off. Obviously, you want to address the serious things that happen in the NASCAR hauler, but seeing as though the "Dave Discovers" segments are generally pretty lighthearted, it'll be quite interesting to see how it's handled.

Meanwhile, Jimmie Johnson, the winner of the last Winston Cup race at Loudon, will be Bill Weber's guest on the War Wagon. Johnson has three top-five finishes in his past five starts. He was 11th last weekend at Richmond.

In this week's "Benny and the Pits" segment, Benny Parsons introduces us to Ricky Craven's No. 32 team, which has quite an international flavor.

Wally Dallenbach will take CNN's Robin Meade for a ride around New Hampshire International Speedway. Meade is the lead news anchor for CNN Headline News' morning show, Robin & Company. Among other stories, Meade anchored the network's coverage of Operation Enduring Freedom as well as that from Operation Iraqi Freedom in spring of 2003.

It's doubtful she'll be intimidated.

Thoughts from Richmond: An outstanding job by Matt Yocum and Marty Snider to get microphones in the faces of Kevin Harvick and Ricky Rudd so quickly after their altercation at Richmond. Harvick's answers to Yocum were the only words Harvick said about the incident all night.

A hearty atta boy to the folks in the truck, as well, for turning around the Harvick/Rudd flashback so quickly. Top-notch stuff, indeed.

	Kevin Harvick feeling all warm and fuzzy at Richmond last weekend. Credit: AP

Dallenbach's work in the booth is greatly improved over last year. He is obviously more comfortable and is putting forth very solid analysis. That said, he did mispronounced the name of the racetrack during "Wally's World." He said "Richmond Speedway" when it is in fact, "Richmond International Raceway."

More good news for those harping over commercials came when TNT cut away from a commercial to show Matt Kenseth's spin early in Saturday's action.

Quote of the week: "He's got that little yap-yap mouth. I couldn't tell what he was saying" -- Ricky Rudd when asked what Kevin Harvick said to him during their post-race confrontation at Richmond.

What exactly is a yap-yap mouth, anyway?

Ask The Producer: This week's "Ask The Producer" question comes from several users wanting to know why TNT/NBC doesn't continue to show race results across the top of the screen after the race is over.

EMAIL Send Mark a note or a question for Ask The Producer

"Maybe that's something we'll think about doing after the Victory Lane interview next week."

Each week, we'll pick one question to ask the producer of the NBC/TNT telecast. Why did they do things this way? Why did they talk to that driver? Any question that eats at you could be answered right here in the Viewer's Guide.

Send your questions to the e-mail box in this piece.

On to this weekend's schedule...

Winston Cup Series: Sylvania 300

Site: Loudon, N.H.

Track: New Hampshire International Speedway (1.058-mile oval, 12-degree banking in turns, 2-degree banking on backstretch. Length of Frontstretch: 1,500 feet. Length of backstretch: 1,500 feet.)

Race distance: 300 laps, 317.4 miles

Last year Newman and Busch battle as the rain falls at NHIS Play video Skinner, Petty and Wallace have problems Play video Ryan Newman takes the lead as the rain nears Play video

TV: Bud Pole Qualifying: TNT, 3:05 p.m. ET Friday. Happy Hour: SPEED, 11 a.m. ET Saturday. Race: TNT, 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday.

Last year: Ryan Newman's determination and a convenient rainstorm made him a winner for the first time in his Winston Cup career. Newman barely held off Kurt Busch to take the rain-shortened New Hampshire 300.

Last race: Newman dominated a late long run and then held on through three restarts -- the last with four laps to go -- to win Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway.

Potential storyline: Mark Martin is expected to make his 500th consecutive NASCAR Winston Cup start on Sunday. Martin is currently third among drivers with consecutive starts behind Rusty Wallace, who is set for his 616th at New Hampshire and Ricky Rudd who is set for a record 707th at New Hampshire. Also, Jeremy Mayfield is expected to make his 300th career NASCAR Winston Cup start on Sunday.

Point to ponder: Matt Kenseth has been No. 1 in the NASCAR Top 10 since the fourth race of the season (Atlanta, March 9), a run of 23 consecutive race weeks.

Next race: MBNA America 400, Dover International Speedway, Sept. 14

Craftsman Truck Series: New Hampshire 200

Site: Loudon, N.H.

Track: New Hampshire International Speedway (1.058-mile oval, 12-degree banking in turns, 2-degree banking on backstretch. Length of Frontstretch: 1,500 feet. Length of backstretch: 1,500 feet.)

Race distance: 200 laps, 211.6 miles

TV: Race: SPEED, 1 p.m. ET Saturday.

Last year Cook holds off Setzer in the closing laps Play video Jon Wood's jack man is injured after being hit in the pits Play video Small is upset after hitting the wall on lap 46 Play video

Last year: Terry Cook held off Dennis Setzer by .189 seconds to win the New England 200 in July 2002, his third victory of the season.

Last race: Tony Stewart passed Ted Musgrave with 16 laps to go last Thursday night and got his second consecutive Virginia is for Lovers 200 victory at Richmond.

Potential storyline: Each of the top four title contenders has scored a top-five finish at New Hampshire International Speedway. Gaughan finished fifth last year as a Raybestos Rookie contender. Kvapil placed second, also as a rookie, in 2001 and added a seventh place last year. Musgrave is 2-for-2 in top-fives with a best finish of fourth in 2002.

Point to ponder: The only active NASCAR Winston Cup Series competitor to post a top-five finish was Ernie Irvan, fifth in the 1996 inaugural race.

Next race: American Racing Wheels 200, California Speedway, Sept. 20.

Mark Spoor is an associate producer of NASCAR.com. The Domino's Viewer's Guide appears each Thursday.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.