Viewer's Guide: Fontana

If ever a driver needed a victory in the Nextel Cup Series, it's Jeff Gordon this weekend at Fontana.

Gordon's sixth-place finish at Bristol moved the four-time Cup champion to 10th in the point standings and back into the Chase for the Nextel Cup with just two races to go before the field is finalized.

	Inside the Numbers Jeff Gordon's past five races Track Finish Behind 10th Pocono 13th -114 Indy 8th -87 Watkins Glen 14th -67 Michigan 15th -58 Bristol 6th --

Bill Weber spent some time with Gordon in California earlier this week and the interview will air during Sunday night's expanded pre-race show from Fontana.

"For Gordon, this is the NASCAR version of a 'must win' game, and that is when Jeff has always been at his best," Weber said. "This time, there is far too much to lose and a possible fifth championship to gain."

Gordon is very familiar with the situation that lies in front of him. Still, he's confident his team will pull through and earn the all-important berth in the Chase.

"There will be a lot of pressure on all of us, but that pressure is something I feel I handle well," Gordon said. "This DuPont team just needs to focus on what we can control and not worry about the other teams.

"However, at the end of the race, you are very aware of the position of the guys you are battling with in the points. You know that passing just one more car may cut the amount of points a driver gains on you, or even add a few more points separation to those behind you."

While he has posted three victories at Fontana, Gordon has posted two consecutive finishes of 30th or worse at the two-mile track.

"While we ran well, we experienced engine problems in both of those races," Gordon said. "I don't see that being a problem this weekend.

"The guys in the Hendrick Motorsports engine department have been working hard and making gains, so we should have some good horsepower this weekend without having to worry about reliability."

David Green is among the guests slated for Trackside this week live from Fontana (7 p.m. ET Friday, SPEED).

If you're heading there this weekend, the SPEED Channel Stage Truck will be located outside the track, behind the main grandstand outside Turn 4.

The ratings news was solid again for TNT on Saturday at Bristol. The Sharpie 500 drew a 4.7 national rating and garnered 4,250,000 households. Those numbers represent a 15 percent increase from last year's event.

Also in Sunday's pre-race show, Wally Dallenbach will welcome Josh Duhamel of the NBC drama Las Vegas.

NBC/TNT producer Sam Flood

In this week's "Ask the Producer" question, we deal with a popular inquiry. Several users want to know if it's ever been brought up to replay Saturday night races on Sunday afternoons.

NASCAR on NBC/TNT producer Sam Flood said the issue has not been brought up, mostly because SPEED Channel already airs a replay of each race during the week.

Each week, we'll choose a fan's question to ask a NASCAR on NBC/TNT producer. Send your puzzler by e-mail using the link to the right.

In this week's version of "The Rant," Sarah Kelley of Boston, Mass. is upset over something she read in last week's Guide:

As a loyal viewer of Inside Nextel Cup, I am very upset at the new changes that will be taking place in September. I don't understand why you would alter a show that has been an the air successfully for nine years.

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

Allen Bestwick is a great host, he and the rest of the cast have great on-air chemistry and they should be broken up. He shouldn't be getting the boot.

I also find it sad that they are replacing Johnny Benson for the young Brian Vickers? Every where in NASCAR the veterans are getting replaced by young guys. Why must this happen to Inside too? Keep the show how it is!

Now to this weekend's schedule:

Nextel Cup Series: Sony HD 500

Track: California Speedway

• 2-mile oval
• 14-degree banking in corners
• 11-degree banking on frontstretch
• 3-degree banking on backstretch
• Frontstretch: 3,100 feet
• Backstretch: 2,500 feet

Race length: 250 laps/500 miles

TV schedule (All times ET)

• NASCAR Live: 2 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Trackside: 7 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Final Practice: 2 p.m. Sat., SPEED (tape)
• NASCAR Live: 4:30 p.m. Sat., SPEED
• Bud Pole Qualifying: 5 p.m. Sat., SPEED
• NASCAR This Morning: 11 a.m. Sun., SPEED
• Pre-race: 7 p.m. Sun., NBC
• Race: 8:20 p.m. Sun, NBC

Twice as niceSadler celebrates his second victory of 2004 Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

One year ago, Elliott Sadler easily held off rookie Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin at the end of the 250-lap Pop Secret 500 with the help of a couple of late caution flags that slowed the two challengers.

The most recent checkered flag went to Matt Kenseth, who completely dominated the Sharpie 500 on Saturday night at Bristol.

Keep an eye on Greg Biffle; he got his first win of this season at California Speedway in February. Since then, Biffle also has won at at Texas, Darlington, Dover and Michigan.

Busch Series: Ameriquest 300

Track: California Speedway

• 2-mile oval
• 14-degree banking in corners
• 11-degree banking on frontstretch
• 3-degree banking on backstretch
• Frontstretch: 3,100 feet
• Backstretch: 2,500 feet

Race length: 150 laps/300 miles

TV schedule (All times ET)

Get out the broomGreg Biffle celebrates a California sweep Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

• Busch Pole Qualifying: 3 p.m. Sat., SPEED
• Race: 8:30 p.m. Sat., NBC

One year ago, it was Biffle getting the better of fellow Nextel Cup regular Casey Mears in a thrilling late-race duel to the checkers.

The most recent checkered flag went to Ryan Newman, who withstood rain, cautions and a heated battle from Greg Biffle on Friday night to win the Food City 250 at Bristol.

Keep an eye on Adrian Fernandez. Fernandez will return to the Busch Series this weekend. He made his NASCAR debut in March when the series held its first points race outside the United States at Mexico City's Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course. Fernandez, who started 40th after an accident during qualifying, finished 10th.

The Domino's Viewer's Guide runs Thursday during race weeks.