Viewer's Guide: Nextel All-Star Challenge

So what exactly was Tony Stewart's rant all about Saturday night at Richmond?

As longtime fans of NASCAR will attest, with Stewart, sometimes it's hard to tell. Still, a clue might have appeared in the Roanoke Times last week.

	Tony Stewart is fifth in the Nextel Cup Series standings. Credit: Autostock

The paper asked Waltrip his opinion of Stewart's recent behavior and Waltrip -- as is his style -- had no trouble giving his opinion.

"He's just self-destructing all around him," Waltrip said of Stewart. "He's got a gun and it's loaded and he doesn't mind using it. That's a shame.

Waltrip did tell the paper that Stewart's driving is reminiscent of Dale Earnhardt, but that the intimidation tactic may not play anymore.

"Earnhardt used to rough people up a little bit, just to kind of say, 'Hey, don't mess with me,'" Waltrip said. "It's a way of sending people messages but the problem [Stewart] has, not only has he got drivers mad at him, but he's got crews mad at him."

Stewart unloaded on Waltrip and the entire FOX commentating crew during Saturday pre-race and post-race shows.

"I think the people blowing it out of proportion are Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds and Darrell Waltrip," Stewart said.

"I keep watching the replays of the race... you keep watching the screen waiting on Tattoo to come by in his little white tuxedo welcoming everyone to Fantasy Island."

It got worse from there, as Stewart said that had it not been for the past champion's provisional, Waltrip would not have been able to race the last couple of years of his career.

VIDEO CLIPS Stewart and D.W. exchange words during Saturday's pre-race show Play video Stewart's rant continues during the post-race show Play video

Joy said earlier this week that he'd prefer not to comment on Stewart's criticism until he's had a chance to speak with Stewart himself. NASCAR on FOX producer Neil Goldberg said the same when speaking for the FOX crew.

Waltrip did address the issue on his Web site earlier this week.

"I realize that a lot of people think that I, plus any number of folks that I'm associated with, have been a little hard on Tony, and maybe we have," Waltrip said.

"I love Tony. Away from the racetrack, he's one of the most engaging guys I've ever been around, and he can be that way at the track too. I'm not picking on him. I really do care about him."

Waltrip went on to say that Stewart isn't exactly breaking new ground.

"Tony's not the first driver to be singled out for doing things that people don't approve of," he said. "Dale Earnhardt and I have been singled out. Most of us have been in this situation at one time or another.

"I don't mind seeing NASCAR fine Tony or take away points from him. I wouldn't mind if they put him on probation, but I sure don't want to see him get suspended or parked."

NASCAR ON FOX  Visit FOXSports.com for NASCAR news

Taking the challenge: FX's pre-race coverage of Saturday's Nextel All-Star Challenge will feature live coverage of driver and team introductions before Saturday's special event.

Ask The Producer: Ask The Producer takes the week off thanks to the All-Star event. It will return next week.

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: Not surprisingly, several fans sent notes following Stewart's comments last weekend. A couple of examples follow.

Cathy Jacobsen of Oscoda, MI gets the first word:

"I feel that Tony Stewart's remarks made about Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds were totally uncalled for. I liked Tony for his honesty and emotion but that was cold and premeditated. I'm beginning to agree with Rusty that Tony is losing respect and not only with the drivers."

Sarah Kearney of California also weighs in:

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

"Tony Stewart needs to be taught some manners and his mouth washed out with soap! If he has a grudge with some one take it off the track!

No need to talk like that to the camera. We certainly don't need to hear his sarcasm."

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.

Quote of the week: "For the first time in my career, I felt like my old man for about five minutes." -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. early in last Saturday's race at Richmond.

On to this weekend's busy schedule:

Nextel Cup Series: Nextel All-Star Challenge

Site: Concord, N.C.

Track: Lowe's Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval, 24-degree banking in turns. Frontstretch: 1,952 feet. Backstretch: 1,360 feet).

Race distance: 135 miles, 90 laps.

Last year Johnson celebrates his million-dollar win in Victory Lane Play video Johnson passes his boss for the victory at Lowe's Play video Kurt Busch wins a wreck-filled middle segment Play video

TV: Nextel Open Qualifying: SPEED, 6 p.m. ET Friday. Nextel All-Star Challenge Qualifying: SPEED, 7 p.m. ET Friday. Nextel Open (30 laps, 45 miles): FX, 7 p.m. ET Saturday. Race: FX, 9 p.m. ET Saturday.

Last year: Johnson took the lead away from teammate Jeff Gordon three laps into the final 20-lap segment, then pulled away to an easy victory over Kurt Busch in NASCAR's annual all-star race.

Last race: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car was magic on old tires at Richmond, as he left Jimmie Johnson in the dust late in the Chevy American Revolution 400. It was Earnhardt's series-leading third win of the year.

Potential storyline: As far as the actual competitive format goes, the race will be run in three segments (40, 30 and 20 laps) but in contrast to past years, no drivers will be eliminated after the first and second segments. Two other tweaks: The field will be inverted after the first segment, instead of the second segment; and the number of cars inverted will be determined via a random draw instead of a fan vote.

Point to ponder: The first two events were run in a single segment. The segmented format started in 1987. The first race, in 1985, was 70 laps. The race was 83 laps in 1986 and 135 laps from 1987-89. The 70-lap format began in 1990 with a two-segment race. The three-segment format began in 1992, also the first year the race was held at night. The current three-segment, 90-lap format began in 2002.

Busch Series: Goulds Pumps ITT Industries 200

Site: Nazareth, Pa.

Track: Nazareth Speedway (.946 mile-oval, 1 degree banking in Turn 1, 4 degrees in Turn 2, 6 degrees in Turns 3-4. Frontstretch: 800 feet. Backstretch: 1,200 feet).

Race distance: 200 miles, 200 laps.

Last year Ron Hornaday scores his second career Nazareth win Play video Hornaday takes the lead shortly after the green Play video Ron Young brings out a pair of caution flags early Play video

TV: Busch Pole Qualifying: SPEED, 4 p.m. ET Saturday. Race: FX, 12:30 p.m. ET Sunday.

Last year: Ron Hornaday pulled away during the final green-flag segment, then held off hard-charging Brian Vickers for his third Busch Series victory and second at Nazareth.

Last race: Kyle Busch has been close before, but on Saturday night, he sealed the deal. The rookie scored his first Busch win with a dominating performance in the Funai 250.

Potential storyline: Saturday's event will be the final Busch Series race at Nazareth Speedway. The track will be closing at the end of the 2004 season.

Point to ponder: Ron Hornaday and Tim Fedewa are tied for most wins at Nazareth, with two victories each. Both drivers won the first race of their NASCAR Busch Series careers at Nazareth – Fedewa in May 1995 and Hornaday in July 2000.

Craftsman Truck Series: Infineon 200

Site: Concord, N.C.

Track: Lowe's Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval, 24-degree banking in turns. Frontstretch: 1,952 feet. Backstretch: 1,360 feet).

Race distance: 201 miles, 134 laps.

TV: Race: SPEED, 8:30 p.m. ET Friday.

Last year Musgrave takes the lead for good on the final restart Play video Musgrave celebrates his first win of 2003 Play video

Last year: Ted Musgrave held off Brendan Gaughan after a late-race restart to win the inaugural Hardee's 200 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Musgrave was penalized for speeding on pit road earlier in the race.

Last race: Jack Sprague, who returned full-time to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2004 after a two-year absence, led the last 54 laps at Mansfield to post his first victory since Sept. 9, 2001.

Potential storyline: The first four spots in the NCTS points standings are occupied by drivers representing all four manufacturers. Dennis Setzer (No. 46 Chevrolet) moved to the lead with a second-place finish in the UAW/GM Ohio 250. Previous leader Carl Edwards (No. 99 Ford) dropped to second followed by rookie David Reutimann (No. 17 Toyota) and Bobby Hamilton (No. 4 Dodge). Setzer is on top for the first time in his series career of 146 races dating to July 1, 1995 at The Milwaukee Mile.

Point to ponder: An accident prematurely ended Kvapil's day and with it a run of 35 consecutive races without a DNF. The streak began Sept. 5, 2002 at Richmond International Raceway after Kvapil suffered engine failure three weeks earlier at Nashville Superspeedway. The Ohio DNF was only the second for the reigning champion in 75 series starts.

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