Viewer's Guide: Bristol

ATLANTA -- It's no secret that Carl Edwards has gotten plenty of attention since his win at Atlanta two weekends ago.

Here's bad news for the other 42 drivers that will share the track with him Sunday.

He has a win at Bristol.

	Inside the Numbers How Carl Edwards did last August in his lone Nextel Cup Series start at Bristol. Start Finish Laps Status 25 33 386/500 crash NOTE: Edwards won the Craftsman Truck Series race earlier that weekend. He finished 11th in the NCTS race at Bristol in 2003.

Edwards won the Craftsman Truck Series race there last August. What's more, he did it from the rear of the field after his crew made unapproved pre-race repairs to his Ford after a spin in qualifying.

Still, Edwards contends that neither that, nor his career-changing win two weeks ago mean anything come Sunday.

"Bristol is a great track. It's a demanding track and can take a lot out of a driver but its fun to drive at the same time.

"The No. 99 team had a great win at Atlanta but it's time to put that behind us and focus on the upcoming race at Bristol.

"Everyone has a fresh start this week so we need to go back out there and do everything we can to come away with a good solid run."

Crew chief Bob Osborne knows he'll be earning his money this week.

"Bristol is a big challenge for any team," said Osborne. "It's intense racing and there are a lot of factors that you can't control, so you have to do a really good job on the things that you can control."

Not surprisingly, Edwards will be one of the drivers featured on the pre-race show Sunday on FOX. Also planned...

• A look at the dominance of Roush and Hendrick teams so far this season. Jeff Hammond -- who has worked for both teams -- will compare the two.
• Chris Myers will go "10 Laps" with Greg Biffle.

Edwards, Rusty Wallace and Jeremy Mayfield are among the guests scheduled for "Trackside" on Friday from Bristol (7 p.m. ET) on SPEED.

In this week's "Ask The Producer," Mary Weisbecker of Parts Unknown wonders when FOX will get a fair shake.

"I have always wanted to know when the schedule will swap around where FOX broadcasts the second half of the season. I think FOX should have the opportunity to do the second half. You guys never get to do the 10 race to the championship and I don't think NBC should have that opportunity every year."

NASCAR on FOX producer Neil Goldberg said it all goes back to the deal that was signed with NASCAR leading up to the 2001 season.

'NASCAR on FOX' producer Neil Goldberg

"The NASCAR TV schedule is a function of how the TV deal was negotiated with the networks," he said. "As TV producers we would love to see the season to the conclusion of its championship, but FOX has the rights to the first half of the season.

"We are equally excited about being able to roll out the new season each year, set the stage for the championship and have all the new stories and personalities like Carl Edwards and Reed Sorenson take shape on our networks broadcasts. Thanks for your interest and support."

Each week, we'll choose one fan's question to ask a NASCAR on FOX producer. Does something on the broadcast leave you shaking your head? Have you always wondered how or why the TV crew does something? Use the link to the right to e-mail your question and you just might read the answer right here.

Speaking of "Ask The Producer," we had a lot of reaction last week to the question about the length of the pre-race show. A user said the pre-race show was a bit too long and Goldberg responded by saying that fans like the longer format.

Ted Neff -- also of Parts Unknown -- disagrees.

"Why not ask viewers the question of whether they like the longer format? Don't take the word of the guy in charge of it. Personally, I think we have to endure too much of their talking through the race, we don't need an extra half hour of it.

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

"Of course you could always list the times separately, have the pre-race show" at say 12:00 and the race at 1:00."

Laura Bowles -- yet another resident of Parts Unknown -- has a different take.

"I don't mind the longer pre-race show, but advertise it as such as a separate show, so my DVR can properly record the race.

"I set it to record and it starts recording and the first hour is all pre-race, so I end up not recording the end of the race. Be realistic, the NFL advertises their pre-race as a pre-game show, so they're up front with everyone."

Now to this weekend's schedule:

Track: Bristol Motor Speedway

• .533-mile oval
• 36-degree banking in turns
• 16-degree banking on straights
• Length of frontstretch: 650 feet
• Length of backstretch: 650 feet

Race length: 500 laps/266.5 miles

TV schedule (All times ET)

• NASCAR Live: 12:30 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Final practice: 2 p.m. Fri. (tape delayed), SPEED
• Bud Pole Qualifying: 5:30 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Trackside: 7 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• NASCAR Live: Noon Sat., SPEED
• NASCAR Performance: 6:30 p.m. Sat., SPEED
• NASCAR Live: 7:30 p.m. Sat., SPEED
• NASCAR This Morning: 11 a.m. Sun., SPEED
• Pre-race: 12:30 p.m. Sun., FOX
• Race: 1:15 p.m. Sun., FOX

One year ago, not even a mysterious engine problem and an error in judgment by the driver himself could keep Kurt Busch from getting his third Bristol win in a row.

Busch wins a two-lap sprint to the checkers last season Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

The most recent checkered flag went to Carl Edwards, who beat Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle off pit road during the final round of stops of the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta, then made a last-lap pass of Johnson at the finish line for his first Nextel Cup victory.

Keep an eye on Jeff Gordon. Gordon has five Bristol wins and will be looking to rebound from a disastrous run at AMS two weeks ago.

Track: Bristol Motor Speedway

• .533-mile oval
• 36-degree banking in turns
• 16-degree banking on straights
• Length of frontstretch: 650 feet
• Length of backstretch: 650 feet

Race distance: 250 laps/133.25 miles

TV schedule (All times ET)

Drivers express their anger last year after a wild finish Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

• Final practice: 4 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Busch Pole Qualifying: Noon Sat., SPEED
• Race: 2 p.m. Sat., FOX

One year ago, Martin Truex Jr. got his first Busch Series win, pulling away after a restart nine laps from the finish.

The most recent checkered flag went to Reed Sorenson, who dominated the Pepsi 300 at Nashville, getting his first Busch Series victory by more than 14 seconds.

Keep an eye on Kenny Wallace. Wallace has a win at Bristol in 1994 and is coming off a second-place finish last weekend at Nashville.

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