Viewer's Guide: Michigan

ATLANTA -- Dale Jarrett is one of several drivers looking to break into the 10-driver field for the upcoming "Chase for the Nextel Cup." Heading into this weekend's action at Michigan, Jarrett sits 14th, 87 points behind 10th-place Jeremy Mayfield.

On Sunday, before one of the most important races he's started in quite a few years, Jarrett will visit with the NBC crew for an interview.

Sunday's race holds so much meaning for Jarrett because Michigan presents Jarrett's best chance to gain ground on the three drivers standing between him and a spot in the Chase. Jarrett has four wins at Michigan, most recently in Aug. 2002.

Moreover, Jarrett has an average finish of 14th, including a third-place finish in the most recent Cup race at MIS in June. Conversely, Mayfield's average MIS finish is 19th and he was 19th there in June.

Better late than never: TNT was supposed to run a feature on Kasey Kahne a few weeks back at Pocono. However, thanks to the race being moved up due to weather, the feature was put on the shelf. It will come off the shelf Sunday. The piece features Bill weber and Kahne hanging out in Kahne's home state of Washington.

Ask The Producer: This week's question comes from several users that asked how it is decided when the race broadcast ends each week.

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

NBC/TNT producer Rich O'Connor says the length of each broadcast is determined by a five-year average of the most recent broadcasts of that particular race. If a telecast goes overtime, there is what O'Connor called "an understanding" that they will get off the air as soon as possible.

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, Marilyn K. Triano of Thorold South Ontario, Canada has a problem not with TV announcers, but with track announcers:

"Why must track announcers incite fans in the stands to stand up? These announcers have obviously never paid for a seat. They sit behind a glass window with an unobstucted view and constantly ask fans to stand in front of others who must then stand to have any view at all.

"If the announcers had any true fan sense, they would instead ask fans not to stand. Any reasonably intelligent paying fan knows that if no one stands up, no one else has to.

"Waving to and cheering on your favorite driver can be easily accomplished while sitting. Of course, there will be times when standing is necessary, but most announcers feel they must promote it. The majority of skirmishes and fisticuffs that occur in the grandstands are a direct result of someone blocking someone else's view of the track."

Marilyn, I've been attending sporting events for a long time and I can't remember the last time I didn't have to get around someone to get a view of an exciting moment. It's just part of the experience, particularly when you're dealing with fans as passionate as NASCAR fans.

That said, I never have understood the practice of announcers forcing the issue. Our sport is exciting enough and fans know when they need to get on their feet.

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: GFS Marketplace 400

Site: Brooklyn, Mich.

LAST YEAR Victory Lane Newman scores a series-high fifth win Final Laps The fuel gamble pays off for Ryan Newman Fiery Crash T.Bodine and K.Wallace walk away from a fiery crash

Track: Michigan International Speedway (2-mile tri-oval, 18-degree banking in turns)

Race distance: 400 miles, 200 laps

TV: Bud Pole Qualifying: TNT, 3 p.m. ET Friday. Happy Hour: TNT, Noon ET Saturday. Race: TNT, 2 p.m. ET Sunday.

Last race: At one point in Sunday's Sirius at the Glen, a sick Tony Stewart was seriously considering climbing from the cockpit of his No. 20 Chevrolet. But fighting off stomach cramps, Stewart held off Ron Fellows by more than a second to win for the second time at Watkins Glen.

Last year: Ryan Newman went 104 miles on his final tank of fuel to get his fifth win of the 2003 season.

Potential storyline: Yet another open-wheel star is set for his Nextel Cup debut. J.J. Yeley will attempt to make his first Nextel Cup start this weekend, at Michigan International Speedway.

Yeley will drive the No. 11 Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs Racing. Yeley has made 11 NASCAR Busch Series starts for Joe Gibbs Racing this year. He also has one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start --- July 31 at Michigan.

Point to ponder: David Pearson was the driver to beat during the early years of Michigan International Speedway. Pearson's amazing string of Michigan wins started in 1969. Michigan's second race that year was a 600-miler. Pearson won from the pole, driving a Holman-Moody Ford to the first of his nine Michigan wins.

Busch Series: Cabela's 250

Site: Brooklyn, Mich.

Track: Michigan International Speedway (2-mile tri-oval, 18-degree banking in turns)

Race distance: 250 miles, 125 laps

LAST YEAR Victory Lane Kevin Harvick wins a rain-shortened Cabela's 250 Final Laps The Cabela's 250 is shortened by 15 laps due to rain Green Flag Tony Stewart jumps to the early lead at MIS

TV: Busch Pole Qualifying: SPEED, 1 p.m. ET Friday. Race: TNT, 1 p.m. ET Saturday.

Last race: Kyle Busch passed up a final pit stop for tires, then held off a charging Johnny Sauter in the closing laps to win the NASCAR Kroger 200 Busch Series race August 7 at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Last year: Despite not having the dominant car all day, Kevin Harvick was awarded the win in the 2003 Cabela's 250 when the race was stopped due to rain after 110 of 125 scheduled laps.

Potential storyline: Saturday's race will look a lot like a Nextel Cup event. Cup regulars Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, Joe Nemechek, Michael Waltrip, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon, Casey Mears and Jamie McMurray are all entered in the Cabela's 250.

Point to ponder: Busch could be on his way to making history if he maintains the momentum gained from his victory at IRP. Busch was second in points to leader Martin Truex, Jr. at the halfway mark of the 2004 season. Five times in the last 10 seasons the driver leading the points standings at mid-year has NOT gone on to win the Busch Series championship.

If Busch were to win the title, he'd be the first rookie to accomplish the feat.

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