Viewer's Guide: Fontana

Jeff Gordon has returned to the forefront of NASCAR this week after his controversial victory last Sunday at Talladega.

	Jeff Gordon celebrates his 65th career victory. Credit: Autostock

On Sunday, Gordon will be the lead guest on Sunday's pre-race show from Fontana.

While Gordon's win last week surely will be the main focus of Sunday's interview, don't forget that Gordon has won twice at California Speedway (1997, 99). What's more, he's led 329 laps there -- more than any other driver.

Oh yeah, and he's got a bit of confidence heading into the weekend.

"We had a shot to win at Texas and Martinsville. Unfortunately, things didn't go our way and we just made the most of it. Instead of getting down, I think it fired this team up."

If he wins this weekend, it will mark the 19th time Gordon has won back-to-back races during his 12-year career. It would also extend his streak of multiple-win seasons to 11, the longest current streak in NASCAR's premier division.

"We're not worried about streaks or records," Gordon said. "We just want to go into the upcoming off-weekend with momentum still on our side."

Goin' Hollywood: Jimmie Johnson, a native of El Cajon, Calif. and another former California Speedway winner, will take Chris Myers on a tour of Hollywood during Sunday's pre-race show.

Ten Laps: Kyle Petty will get grilled by Myers this week during the "10 Laps with..." feature. Petty is expected to open the "Victory Junction Gang Camp," for critically ill children.

Ask The Producer: This week's question comes from a user named Mike Henry:

NASCAR ON FOX  Visit FOXSports.com for NASCAR news

"Why don't the announcers use the telestrator when describing some particular action on the track? Sure would help us old timers follow their verbal descriptions."

NASCAR on FOX producer Neil Goldberg explains:

"We do use the telestrator but obviously not as often as you would like to see. The telestrator we use has several function. You will see it used with the standard line drawing function but it also allows us to spot shadow X and arrow, we can also number things. We will certainly look into the frequecy of it use to help better aid the viewers."

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, we give the reins to a pair of users who differ on the FOX commentating crew.

Greg Maxon fires first

EMAIL Send Mark a question for "Ask The Producer" or your take for "The Rant"

"I can no longer listen to the audio portion of FOX's coverage; it is a crime the way Larry McReynolds murders the English language. His grammar is terrible, he talks in the third person sometimes. Darrell is only a touch better. There are several personalities who are relegated to pit reporters who have a better command of the langauge and are easier to listen to."

Ellis George has a different view:

"I really and truly enjoy listening to D.W., Jeff Hammond, Larry McReynolds. They are fantastic, they provide technical, driver, and colorful perspectives for the race. Who cares if they talk like a bunch of rednecks at times? It is funny and entertaining. DW is the most animated announcer I have ever seen, he is almost as much to watch as the race."

Get in on the action: In "The Rant," we'll pick e-mails each week to argue about 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.

On to this weekend's schedule:

Nextel Cup Series: Auto Club 500

Site: Fontana, Calif.

Track: California Speedway (2-mile oval, 14-degree banking in turns. Frontstretch: 3,100 feet. Backstretch: 2,500 feet).

Race distance: 500 miles, 250 laps

Last year Busch celebrates his sixth career Cup victory Play video Busch, Labonte and Wallace duel in the closing laps Play video Dale Jarrett hits the wall hard with 21 laps to go Play video

TV: Bud Pole Qualifying: SPEED 6 p.m. ET Friday. Happy Hour: FX. 2 p.m. ET Saturday. Race: FOX, 3 p.m. ET Sunday.

Last year: Kurt Busch was the winner of a three-car duel with Bobby Labonte and Rusty Wallace for victory.

Labonte nipped Wallace at the line for second. Bill Elliott and Jamie McMurray were fourth and fifth. The race marked Elliott's first top-five of the year.

Last race: Jeff Gordon got his first victory of the season Sunday when the Aaron's 499 finished under caution at Talladega. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who was battling Gordon for the lead, was scored in second when the caution flew.

Potential storyline: Defending race champion Busch has run only three of the seven California Speedway races, but he has a 5.33 average finish.

Point to ponder: This week's Auto Club 500 at California Speedway is the 110th event staged in the Golden State for NASCAR's premier series. Marshall Teague won the first California race, wheeling his low-slung Hudson Hornet to victory on the half-mile dirt surface of Carrell Speedway in Gardena, way back on April 8, 1951.

Busch Series: Stater Bros. 300

Site: Fontana, Calif.

Track: California Speedway (2-mile oval, 14-degree banking in turns. Frontstretch: 3,100 feet. Backstretch: 2,500 feet).

Race distance: 300 miles, 150 laps

TV: Busch Pole Qualifying: SPEED, 4 p.m. ET Friday. Race: FOX, 4 p.m. ET Saturday.

Last year Kenseth celebrates his 13th career Busch Series victory Play video Kenseth survives a late restart to get the victory Play video Cautions come fast and furious during the middle laps Play video

Last year: Matt Kenseth captured his 13th career NASCAR Busch Series victory, outdueling Michael Waltrip to win the 1-800-PIT-SHOP.COM 300.

Last race: It's tough to think of Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a mentor, but he played the part well at Talladega on Saturday. Martin Truex Jr. won the Aaron's 312 with help from Earnhardt Jr., who was second.

Potential storyline: Tony Stewart will drive the No. 29 Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in Saturday's Stater Bros. 300.

This will mark Stewart's first NASCAR Busch Series start of 2004. Stewart's most recent NBS start came last August at Michigan when he finished 11th in the No. 8 Chevrolet for the Chance 2 Motorsports team owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Point to ponder: No NASCAR Busch Series race has ever been won from the Busch Pole at California Speedway. The best starting spot of any winner there is second. Dale Earnhardt Jr. started from the outside of the front row before going to victory Lane in 1998, while Matt Kenseth started second and finished first in 1999.

Mark Spoor is an interactive producer of NASCAR.COM. The Domino's Viewers Guide appears each Thursday during race weeks.