By Mark Spoor, Turner Sports Interactive
June 12, 2003
2:34 PM EDT (1834 GMT)
It's probably a safe bet that of the millions of people who woke up Sunday morning planning to watch the Pocono 500, very few thought they would see Jeff Hammond and Chris Myers in a hot tub during the broadcast.
Sadly, we all did.
During the pre-race show of Sunday's Pocono 500, we were treated to a skit in which Myers and Hammond were attempting to check in to a Pocono hotel. When the clerk tells them there's only one room left, our friendly commentators bite the bullet and share the room.
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| Chris Myers: King of the Hot Tub |
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Presumably sometime later, Kevin Harvick and his wife Delana check in for their second honeymoon. When they go to their room, imagine their surprise when they see Myers and Hammond sharing a hot tub and a bottle of champagne.
The happy foursome then decides to share the hot tub, which prompts Harvick to say to the commentators, "Keep your hands above the water."
There's only one question that begs to be asked.
Why?
Why would FOX obviously spend considerable time and effort to make something that Chuck Barris would gong in less than a heartbeat?
If people wanted to watch a comedy show, they would tune into one. People watch pre-race shows to get some insight on what's going to happen in the race. While FOX had plenty of that in the show, there's always another angle. There's always room for more.
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If it's Sunday, NASCAR fans want to watch NASCAR, not Laugh-In.
On to this week's awards...
Thanks for the mention: Myers, while showing a replay of the scary crash between Steve Park and Dale Earnhardt Jr. last fall at Pocono, mentioned that "fans on NASCAR.com voted that crash the Most Dramatic Moment of 2002" in our Fans Voice Awards last offseason.
Thanks guys.
Shifting gears: FOX opened their pre-race show Sunday with Myers, Hammond and Darrell Waltrip outside explaining how much drivers would have to shift during the race and what affect that would have on the transmissions.
What really illustrated how tough Pocono is on cars was a graphic FOX put up that said of 54 DNFs at Pocono heading into Sunday, 16 were due to accidents while 38 were attributed to mechanical failure.
Good insight.
He'll be here all week: While replaying Ken Schrader's scary crash Sunday, Myers said that Schrader "was feeling more heat than Martha Stewart."
Oh, that Chris Myers.
Don't quit your day job.
 | VIDEO CLIPS |  | Jarrett hits the wall hard at Pocono last weekend
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It's getting' hot in here: Speaking of fiery crashes, how cool was FOX's shot from inside Dale Jarrett's burning car after Jarrett's wreck? Now that is what in-car cameras are for.
Nice work.
Things that make you go "hmmm...": Late in Sunday's race, Waltrip said, "It's not the fastest car that wins, it's the one that gets there first."
That's deep stuff.
Inside stuff: Points to Matt Yocum for getting a conversation between Tony Stewart and crew chief Greg Zipadelli late in the race. Zippy was asking his driver how he was feeling because the team was nervous. According to Yocum, Stewart just said, "I'm just driving."
Ya just knew Stewart was gonna win after hearing that.
Invented Word of the Week: Just*ment (j st m nt) n. 1 an adjusting or being adjusted 2 a means by which things are adjusted
I'll see you at the flagpole: During Saturday's Busch Series race at Nashville, Kerry Earnhardt and Todd Bodine were involved in an accident. In the post-wreck interview, Earnhardt said, "NASCAR will probably give him a slap on the wrist. That's not all he's going to get."
Oooooooooh.
Quote of the week: For some reason, Steve Byrnes seems to get all of these. Anyway, Byrnes was asking Jimmie Johnson what it's going to take to win at Pocono.
Johnson's reply?
"I haven't done that, so I'm not exactly sure."
Nice.
On to this weekend's action ...
Site: Brooklyn, Mich.
Track: Michigan International Speedway (2-mile oval, 18-degree banking in turns, 12-degree banking in frontstretch, 5-degree banking in backstretch. Length of frontstretch: 3,600 feet. Length of backstretch: 2,242 feet)
Race distance: 200 laps, 400 miles
TV: Bud Pole Qualifying: SPEED 3 p.m. ET Friday. Happy Hour: FX 6:30 p.m. ET Friday (tape).Race: FOX 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday.
| Last year |  | Kenseth beats Jarrett in nearly a photo finish
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|  | Kenseth celebrates his fourth career victory
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Last year's race: After an intense battle with rookies Jimmie Johnson then Ryan Newman, and a last-lap scare from Dale Jarrett, Matt Kenseth survived a three-lap shootout to win the Sirius Satellite Radio 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
Last week's race: Defending Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart got his first Pocono win and his first Winston Cup win of 2003 in Sunday's Pocono 500. Mark Martin finished second and points leader Kenseth was third when the race ended under caution.
Last time at Michigan: Jarrett ran down Jeff Burton with just four laps remaining to win the Pepsi 400 in August of 2002.
Potential Storyline: Bill Elliott leads all active drivers with seven NASCAR Winston Cup victories at Michigan. Six of Elliott's seven Michigan wins came in an eight-race span from 1984-1989.
Point to ponder: Jeff Burton has eight top-10 finishes in 18 races at MIS and is the only active driver with 10 or more starts who has not posted a DNF there
Next race: Dodge/Save Mart 350, Infineon Raceway, June 22
Site: Sparta, Ky.
Track: Kentucky Superspeedway (1.5-mile oval, 14-degree banking in corners, 8-degree banking on straights. Length of backstretch: 1,600 feet)
Race distance: 300 miles, 200 laps
TV: Bud Pole Qualifying: SPEED 5 p.m. Friday, Race: FX, 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
Last year's race: Todd Bodine outstretched Greg Biffle by mere inches when the rain-delayed Kroger 300 resumed after a day-long rain delay, giving the veteran driver his first NASCAR Busch Series win since March 2001.
| Last year |  | Biffle spins as Bodine edges him at the finish line
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|  | Bobby Hamilton Jr. is upset with Jack Sprague
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Last week's race: Scott Riggs won a four-lap duel with David Green to win the Trace Adkins Chrome 300 at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday. It's the second Busch Series win of 2003 for Riggs, who also took over the series points lead.
Potential Storyline: NBC/TNT broadcaster/driver Wally Dallenbach is entered at Kentucky in the No. 17 Ford owned by John Reiser. The car has been driven by NASCAR Winston Cup Series point leader Matt Kenseth in six races this year and has been to Victory Lane twice (California and Charlotte).
Point to Ponder: Last week Jason Keller became the first NASCAR Busch Series driver to top the $7 million mark in career earnings. Keller's $23,400 earned at Nashville for his 14th-place finish gives him a career total of $7,002,930.
Next race: GNC 250, Milwaukee Mile, June 29
Mark Spoor is Associate Producer of NASCAR.com. Viewer's Guide appears each Thursday.
The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.
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