Viewer's Guide: Tropicana 400

ATLANTA -- Look for plenty of changes when the NBC/TNT bunch takes over the broadcast reins this weekend at Chicagoland.

The broadcast literally will look much different. The races will be shown in the widescreen format, much like NBC does for its prime-time dramas.

	Sam Flood

There'll also be new theme music and a new graphics package. Most notably, a running scroll bar across the top of the screen during the race instead of a still bar NBC/TNT used to use that showed three competitors at a time.

"We've taken a lot of surveys on this and fans like the rolling ticker better," said NASCAR on NBC/TNT producer Sam Flood. "Plus, if someone takes the lead just past the start-finish line, with the old way, it could be wrong for quite a while."

This year, the ticker will alert fans as soon as there is a lead change.

One of the more popular segments of the NBC/TNT broadcast, "Through The Field," is also getting a slight makeover with the addition of something called "Inside The Field."

"We understand that not every car runs in the top 20, so we've created a new vehicle... in which our pit reporters will dig up stories about non-top 20 drivers.

"If you do the math, you find out that we're going to be able to try and cover everyone, which is really important to us.

"Having more characters involved makes the stories all the more interesting, but first and foremost, we're covering the story of the race. Who wins that race is the story. It's not easy to win a NASCAR Nextel Cup race."

Flood says the broadcast team will try to do a traditional "Through the Field," every 30 minutes during the race. However, happenings on the track may have to make that flexible.

Features like "Wally's World" and "Benny in the Pits" also will return starting this week. Flood says each pre-race show will also feature plenty of driver interviews.

"This week, we will speak live to 15 drivers before the green flag," said Flood. "It's important for us to put the spotlight on the drivers, since they're the stars of the show."

NBC's special 60-minute pre-race show begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Ask The Producer: This week's question comes Robert McCall of Niota, Tenn. who asked if NBC/TNT is planning to show more races in high definition.

According to Flood, TNT will broadcast the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 in high definition from Richmond on Saturday, Sept. 11. Other than the date, this race is notable, of course, because it's the final Nextel Cup event before the cut is made for the first "Chase for the Nextel Cup."

Let your voice be heard: 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.

The Rant: This week, Paula Bumpers of parts unknown is wondering why the FOX crew neglected what she thought was an important angle last week at Daytona:

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

"As I write this, the Pepsi 400 is about to begin. FOX has yet to show us all the great paint schemes for the night race. My driver is in one of the C2 cars, but I am not sure what it looks like as of yet.

"It wasn't as if Fox didn't have time to show us all the paint schemes because there was a lengthy rain delay. They even found time to show us part of a 'Cops' episode.

"I believe one of the FOX Team Members even referenced all the awesome paint schemes. He mentioned that the drivers themselves may not realize who they are racing next to since there are so many different schemes. Hmmm....guess no one thought the viewers might be interested in seeing them before the race starts so that we can identify our drivers during 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 busy schedule:

Nextel Cup Series: Tropicana 400

Site: Joliet, Ill.

Track: Chicagoland Speedway (1.5-mile oval, 24-degree banking in turns. Frontstretch: 2,332 feet. Backstretch: 1,800 feet).

Race distance: 400 miles, 267 laps

Last year Newman hangs on for his third win of the season Play video Bobby Labonte walks away from a fiery crash Play video Junior takes a hard hit on the track and in the points Play video

TV: Bud Pole Qualifying: SPEED, 4 p.m. ET Friday. Happy Hour: SPEED, Noon ET Saturday. Race: NBC, 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday.

Last race: Jeff Gordon proved Saturday night his victory at Talladega in April was no fluke, leaving the favored Dale Earnhardt Inc. duo of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip and everyone else behind in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

Last year: Ryan Newman and Kevin Harvick both pitted to top off their tanks on Lap 198 of the 267-lap race, hoping to stretch the fuel to the end. Newman made it, and Harvick didn't. Newman got out of the pits first and took the lead for good on Lap 210 when the drivers ahead of him all pitted under caution.

Potential storyline: Harvick remains in control of the all-important 10th-place spot for a third consecutive week. Now, he also enjoys a bit of breathing room. Prior to last weekend's Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, Harvick clung to a 26-point lead over 11th-place Kasey Kahne. Entering Chicago, Harvick holds a 111-point cushion over Kahne, who remains 11th.

Point to ponder: In the 1950s, entrepreneur Andy Granatelli promoted races at Chicago's famed Soldier Field. In 1956, the venue hosted NASCAR's top drivers. Fireball Roberts won a 100-mile event, beating Jim Paschal and Ralph Moody. But it wasn't until 2001 that NASCAR's premier series returned with the opening of Chicagoland Speedway. Then-rookie Kevin Harvick won both the inaugural event and the 2002 race, while Ryan Newman won the 2003 race.

Busch Series: Tropicana Twister 300

Site: Joliet, Ill.

Track: Chicagoland Speedway (1.5-mile oval, 24-degree banking in turns. Frontstretch: 2,332 feet. Backstretch: 1,800 feet).

Race distance: 300 miles, 200 laps

Last year Bobby Hamilton Jr. takes the checkered flag Play video Johnny Sauter's engine blows while running seventh Play video Paul Menard spins and Gunselman gets tagged Play video

TV: Busch Pole Qualifying: SPEED, 2:30 p.m. ET Friday. Race: NBC, 2 p.m. ET Saturday.

Last race: Mike Wallace drove from fifth to first on the last lap of Friday night's NASCAR Busch series race, taking advantage of crashes by Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to earn one of the biggest victories of his career.

Last year: Bobby Hamilton Jr. thoroughly dominated in the field, leading 185 of the 200 laps.

Potential storyline: Jamie McMurray will be back in the No. 1 Dodge for the Chicago race, and is also scheduled to drive the James Finch entry next week at New Hampshire. McMurray finished ninth in the No. 1 car at Chicagoland last year.

Point to ponder: Chicagoland Speedway is the second track in Illinois to host a NASCAR Busch Series event, the first being Gateway International Raceway in Madison, near St. Louis. It was the 45th different track at which the series has competed. Chicagoland was the 11th of 12 new tracks to join the circuit since 1995.

Craftsman Truck Series: Built Ford Tough 225

Site: Sparta, Ky.

Track: Kentucky Speedway (1.5-mile oval, 14-degree banking in turns. Backstretch: 1,600 feet).

Race distance: 225 miles, 150 laps.

TV: Race: SPEED, 8 p.m. ET Saturday.

VIDEO CLIPS Edwards earns his first Craftsman Truck Series victory Play video Chaffin spins in the grass and takes a wild ride Play video Gaughan's engine expires while running in the lead Play video

Last race: Carl Edwards came back from a first-lap accident Saturday to win the Craftsman Truck Series Race at Kansas Speedway, his second victory of the season.

Last year: Edwards won his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race by beating veteran Ted Musgrave.

Potential storyline: By starting this week's event, Deborah Renshaw will be the seventh different female to compete in a Craftsman Truck Series event and fourth of 2004. There have been 57 races (of 227) in which at least one female competitor has participated.

Point to ponder: A virtually caution-free Kentucky Speedway event in 2002 saw Mike Bliss win the fifth-fastest race in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history at an average speed of 143.515 mph. Greg Biffle's 2000 winning pace of 98.385 remains the slowest of 39 series events contested on a 1.5-mile track.

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