By Mark Spoor, Turner Sports Interactive
March 5, 2004
10:27 AM EST (1527 GMT)
One of the prevailing storylines during the past few seasons has been how quickly rookie drivers have been able to make an impact in NASCAR's top series.
Kasey Kahne's surprising runner-up finish in the Subway 400 at Rockingham a few weeks back has brought the issue back to the forefront. In fact, this year's rookie class will be featured prominently on Sunday's NASCAR on FOX pre-race show from Las Vegas.
"The new points structure gives a whole new motivation to rookies," said NASCAR on FOX producer Neil Goldberg.
"In the past they might have come in as a rookie and taken a follow-and- learn-type approach, not thinking they could come right in and be in a position to race for a championship.
| |
 |
| Kasey Kahne is 21st in the Nextel Cup standings. Credit: Autostock |
"But with the new points system they can shoot for a solid top-10 and who knows after that, anything could happen."
Scott Wimmer, the rookie driver of the No. 22 Dodge, is fourth in the championship standings heading into this week. Kahne, meanwhile, sits 21st, Brendan Gaughan is 22nd, Johnny Sauter is 23rd, Brian Vickers is 29th and Scott Riggs is 35th.
Hot spots: Darrell Waltrip will give viewers another installment of his "Hot Spot" feature this week, outlining a part of Las Vegas Motor Speedway that could present drivers with some problems. The segment made a solid debut last week, as Waltrip's explanation of tough spots at Rockingham was proven repeatedly throughout the broadcast.
Hometown boy: During the broadcast of Saturday's Sam's Town 300 Busch Series race on FX, the network will feature Kyle Busch, the younger brother of Nextel Cup star Kurt Busch. Kyle will also attempt to qualify for the Nextel Cup event, driving a No. 84 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
"It's definitely a big deal to make my Nextel Cup debut in my hometown, especially with an organization like Hendrick Motorsports, but you have to treat this weekend like any other race," Kyle said.
"I can't let what I'm trying to do with the Cup car negatively affect what we're trying to accomplish in the Lowe's Chevrolet on the Busch Series side. We want to win the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award, and we're trying to get into the top 10 in points. Saturday is just as important a day for me as Sunday will be."
Quote of the week: "It's pretty good read, I've been told." Darrell Waltrip shamelessly plugging is new book "DW: A lifetime going around in circles," during the pre-race show at Rockingham.
Ask The Producer: After the Daytona 500 was shown in HDTV by NBC, several fans wrote in this week to ask when FOX will broadcast races in HDTV.
 | NASCAR ON FOX | |  | |
|
|
Goldberg explains that the process has started.
"I think HDTV is in all of the networks' future," he said. "At FOX it is (FOX Sports president) David Hill's job to decide the proper timing to roll out FOX Sports HD coverage.
"Like last year we are broadcasting a 16x9 format in 5.1 surround. I know there are current discussions as to the future of HD at FOX."
Let your voice be heard: Each week, we'll pick one question to ask the producer of the FOX 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.
The Rant: This week, the age old argument continues: Which is better FOX or NBC?
Kevin Whitaker of Dallas, Texas is certainly on the side of NBC:
 | EMAIL | | | |
|
|
You said that half the NASCAR Nation would not be so thrilled that FOX is taking over the broadcasts -- I'm definitely part of that half. I can't get enough of Allen, Wally, and Benny. Their chemistry is awesome, and to top it off, Benny never misses a thing. If you see the slightest unusual move of any car, Benny immediately knows exactly what went wrong. His insights are amazing!
Stephanie Wright of Marshallville, Ohio is definitely a FOX girl:
First of all, I absolutely LOVE Darrell Waltrip and his way cool "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!" It is the coolest thing ever !! FOX blows NBC AWAY!!!!!! Go Darrell!!!! FOX ROCKS!!!
Get in on the action: In "The Rant," we'll pick two e-mails each week to argue both sides of a TV coverage issue, be it a commentator's comment, a driver's comment, a pre-race feature -- basically anything you want to spout off about.
Come with an intelligent, passionate argument and you may see your take on NASCAR.com.
Again, since we're into the season now, please keep your e-mails to television coverage issues.
On to this weekend's schedule:
Site: Las Vegas, Nev.
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval, 12-degree banking in turns. Frontstretch: 2,275 feet, Backstretch: 1,572 feet)
Race distance: 267 laps, 400 miles
 | VIDEO CLIPS |  | Matt Kenseth celebrates his seventh victory
Play video |
|  | Johnson spins on the final lap, giving Kenseth the victory
Play video |
|  | Gordon and Busch limp to the garage after a crash
Play video |
| | |
|
|
TV: Bud Pole Qualifying: SPEED 6:10 p.m. ET Friday. Race: FOX, 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday.
Last year: Matt Kenseth won the 2003 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 for his seventh career Cup victory and his lone 2003 win. It was Roush Racing's fourth win in six Cup races at LVMS.
Last race: Kenseth fought off Kahne to win the Subway 400 for the second time in three years. Kenseth won by just .010 seconds -- the fourth-closest finish since electronic scoring was introduced in 1993.
Potential storyline: Other than the Roush dominance, look for some time to be devoted to former series champ Bill Elliott. Elliott is running a limited schedule this season, starting with this weekend's race. He comes out of "semi-retirement" to drive Evernham Motorsports' No. 91 UAW-National Training Center Dodge.
Point to ponder: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been around longer than you might think. He's scheduled to make his 150th career Cup start on Sunday.
Site: Las Vegas, Nev.
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval, 12-degree banking in turns. Frontstretch: 2,275 feet, Backstretch: 1,572 feet)
| VIDEO CLIPS |  | Nemechek holds off Harvick during the final laps
Play video |
|  | Jeff Burton has trouble after leading 24 laps
Play video |
|  | Harvick dominates the early laps at Las Vegas
Play video |
| | |
|
|
Race distance: 200 laps, 300 miles
TV: Bud Pole Qualifying: SPEED 4:30 p.m. ET Friday. Race: FX, 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
Last year: Joe Nemechek held off Harvick to win last year's Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Nemechek led 49 of the 200 laps. Harvick, who led most of the early going, led 93.
Last race: This time, it was an incident between Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon that gave Jamie McMurray his fourth straight win in the Goody's Headache Powder 200 at North Carolina Speedway.
Potential storyline: Ron Hornaday may be a hot topic Saturday. Hornaday has seven consecutive top-10 finishes at Las Vegas, and an average finish of sixth, in NASCAR's top three divisions. In his two NASCAR Busch Series races at the track, Hornaday was eighth in 2000 and ninth last year. Hornaday's best finish at the track is a second in a 1998 Craftsman Truck Series event.
Point to ponder: Jason Keller is slated to make the 325th start of his Busch Series career in the Sam's Town 300. In doing so, Keller will move past Dale Jarrett into sole possession of third place on the all-time list of most Busch Series starts.
Mark Spoor is an associate producer with NASCAR.com. The Domino's Viewer's Guide appears Thursdays during race weeks.
The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.
|
© 2001-2012 NASCAR | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
NASCAR.COM is part of Turner - SI Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network.
