Viewer's Guide: Richmond

ATLANTA -- -- Since the Chase for the Nextel Cup was announced back in January, NASCAR fans have all been pointing to Saturday night's race at Richmond as the can't-miss event of the year.

After the Chevy Rock and Roll 400, the field will be set for the 10-race Chase for the Nextel Cup and only those drivers will have a chance at the championship.

Not surprising, TNT will be all over the deciding race Saturday night.

At 7 p.m. ET, the prerace show from Richmond will feature interviews with each of the nine drivers that are going after the final four spots in the Chase. In addition, the on-air bunch will take a look back at how those involved in the battle got to where they are.

After the field is determined, TNT will present "The Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship Preview Show," a look at the championship field and a look ahead to the final 10 races of the season. That show will run from shortly after the checkered flag until midnight ET.

In addition, Saturday's broadcast will be available in high definition.

Sam Flood

Ask The Producer: This week's question comes from several fans who wonder why NBC/TNT changed its NASCAR theme song.

NBC/TNT producer Sam Flood said simply that the production staff felt like it was time for a change and time to move forward into the new era of NASCAR with a new look and a new sound.

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, James MacRae of Parts Unknown says he'll follow the Chase for the Nextel Cup, but he doesn't see it as the crowning of a champion.

ALSO •   "Bubble" Standings •   "Clinch" Standings

"My rant is over people comparing 'The Chase for the Nextel Cup' to the Super Bowl or the World Series. Football and baseball seasons end with the champions winning their final game. No one considers their season a success because they won the season opener or the Monday Night game in Green Bay in October. NASCAR is all about 36 main events each season.

"Don't get me wrong, I am following the Chase with interest, but would compare it more with the Cy Young or an MVP type of award (acknowledging excellence rather than naming a champion)."

I understand what you're saying James, but under this new system, it is all about these final 10 races. Whoever performs the best in these final 10 races will be the champion, just like the team that peaks during the playoffs wins in baseball or football.

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

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:

Site: Richmond, Va.

Last year Final laps Newman comes out on top in a thriller at RIR. Hot tempers Harvick confronts Rudd on pit road following the race Tough night Stewart is involved in a pair of incidents

Track: Richmond International Raceway (.75-mile tri-oval, 14-degree banking in turns).

Race distance: 300 miles, 400 laps

TV: Bud Pole Qualifying: TNT, 3 p.m. ET Friday. Happy Hour: TNT, 7 p.m. ET Friday. Race: TNT, 7 p.m. ET Saturday.

Last race: Elliott Sadler assured himself of a spot in the championship chase by winning the Pop Secret 500 in Fontana, Calif. Sadler has to start the next race to officially clinch a spot.

Last year: Ryan Newman held on through three restarts, the last with four laps to go, and won the Chevrolet 400.

Potential storyline: Jamie McMurray sits 11th in the Nextel Cup standings, 25 points behind 10th-place Mark Martin. McMurray was penalized 25 points back in March after violations at Bristol.

Point to ponder: Richmond International Raceway actually began holding auto racing events in 1946, starting out as a half-mile dirt track. The speedway was paved in 1968. It was a half-mile asphalt track for 20 years; after Neil Bonnett won the 1988 Pontiac Excitement 400, Richard Petty climbed aboard a bulldozer and in a ceremonial move began digging up the old racing surface to begin construction on the new three-quarters-mile configuration.

Site: Richmond, Va.

Last year Spin to win Sauter spins Kenseth to get his second NBS victory Trash talk Riggs has some harsh words for Hornaday Talking it over Harvick and Kenseth share words after the wild finish

Track: Richmond International Raceway (.75-mile tri-oval, 14-degree banking in turns).

Race distance: 187.5 miles, 250 laps

TV: Busch Pole Qualifying: SPEED, 3:30 p.m. ET Thursday. Race: TNT, 8 p.m. ET Friday.

Last race: Greg Biffle and Casey Mears dominated the Target House 300 at Fontana, Calif., swapping the lead twice down the stretch before Biffle pulled away with two laps remaining for the win.

Last year: Johnny Sauter bumped Matt Kenseth into the wall in the final turn and won the Funai 250 at Richmond for his second career Busch victory.

Potential storyline: Akins Motorsports owners Doug Stringer and Brad Akins announced Wednesday that it will field a two-car program for a minimum of 20 NASCAR Busch Series events in 2005 with ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Brent Sherman behind the wheel.

Point to ponder: Jason Leffler has five top-10 finishes in his past six starts.

Site: Richmond, Va.

Last year Victorious Stewart celebrates another Truck Series win at RIR Not happy Jimmy Spencer is miffed after getting taken out

Track: Richmond International Raceway (.75-mile tri-oval, 14-degree banking in turns).

Race distance: 150 miles, 200 laps

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

Last race: Carl Edwards came from the back of the field and edged Shane Hmiel to win the O'Reilly 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 25. Edwards qualified fifth, but his crew elected to make unapproved pre-race repairs after a spin on his second qualifying lap.

Last year: Tony Stewart passed Ted Musgrave for the lead with 16 laps to go and won his second consecutive truck race at Richmond.

Potential storyline: Jamie McMurray will make a return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as the driver of the No. 2 Dodge in the Kroger 200 at Richmond on Thursday. McMurray replaces Andy Houston in the Ultra Motorsports truck.

Point to ponder: Ken Schrader won his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Bud Pole at Bristol two weeks ago. He is the fourth competitor to win both a pole and a race on all three of NASCAR's national touring series. The others are Greg Biffle, Terry Labonte and Jimmy Spencer.

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