| By Mark Spoor, NASCAR.COM
September 23, 2005
08:41 AM EDT (12:41 GMT)
The name that Robby Gordon called Michael Waltrip on Sunday at New Hampshire was one of the biggest stories of a NASCAR weekend that was full of them. The whole thing left our "Ask the Producer" inbox buckling under the weight of irate e-mails from users wanting to know how the questionable word made it on the broadcast. NBC/TNT producer Sam Flood had a simple answer. "It's cable," Flood said. "TNT isn't on a delay, was never on a delay and will never be on a delay." The rules are much different for cable outlets like TNT. Currently, the FCC has the power to fine over-the-air radio and television broadcasters for indecency violations. For example, over-the-air outlets are prohibited from broadcasting excretory or sexual content between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when it is more likely that children will be watching. Cable channels, like TNT, do not have the same restrictions. The reasoning is very simple. Cable television -- or satellite radio for that matter -- are services that consumers pay to have access to. Therefore, the government is wary of regulating it. Not surprisingly, there is legislation being proposed in both the House and the Senate that would change that. Regardless, NASCAR has its own policies, as Gordon and Waltrip were reminded of earlier this week when both were fined and docked points for their actions. Each week, we'll choose a question to ask an NBC/TNT producer. If something on the broadcast is puzzling you, click the link to the right and e-mail us your question. TNT has its final Nextel Cup Series race broadcast of the season Sunday at Dover. Among the pre-race features planned: • A profile of last week's race winner, Ryan Newman • A review of last weekend's wild race at New Hampshire • Wally welcomes Baltimore Ravens star Ray Lewis to "Wally's World." The ratings news was better for TNT last week at New Hampshire. The Sylvania 300 drew a 3.4 national rating (4.2 cable rating) Sunday. That number is up from a 2.8/3.4 last season. Michael Waltrip will be among the guests on a live edition of Trackside (7 p.m. ET Friday) on SPEED. If you're heading to Dover, the SPEED stage will be located outside Turn 4. Defending Nextel Cup Series champ Kurt Busch will be profiled on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. In this week's version of "The Rant," Jeff Dick of Parts Unknown shares what has been a popular view over the past few days Drivers who use their cars as weapons should get to watch the next race from the stands. Robby Gordon and Kasey Kahne were intentionally trying to hurt someone -- under the yellow flag no less. Neither driver is in the Chase, so the points mean less and the fines were too small to matter. Now to this weekend's schedule: Nextel Cup Series: MBNA RacePoints 400 Track: Dover International Speedway • 1-mile oval
• 24-degree banking in turns
• 9-degree banking on straights
• Length of frontstretch: 1,076 feet
• Length of backstretch: 1,076 feet Race length: 400 laps/400 miles TV schedule (All times ET) • Bud Pole Qualifying: 3:30 p.m. Fri., SPEED (tape-delayed)
• NASCAR Live: 5 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Trackside: 7 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Happy Hour: Noon. Sat., TNT (tape-delayed)
• NASCAR Performance: 6:30 p.m. Sat., SPEED
• NASCAR Live: 7:30 p.m. Sat., SPEED (taped)
• NASCAR This Morning: 11 a.m. Sun., SPEED
• Pre-race: 12:30 p.m. Sun., TNT.
• Race: 1:10 p.m. Sun., TNT. One year ago, a week after finishing third at New Hampshire, Ryan Newman left misfortune behind and blew away the field to win at Dover. The most recent checkered flag went to Newman, who took the lead back from Tony Stewart with six laps to go Sunday to win the Sylvania 300. Keep an eye on Greg Biffle. If recent history is any indication, look for Greg Biffle to -- perhaps -- complete the season sweep at Dover. The same driver has won both Dover races in three of the past five seasons -- Ryan Newman in 2003, Jimmie Johnson in 2002 and Tony Stewart in 2000. Busch Series: MBNA RacePoints 200 Track: Dover International Speedway • 1-mile oval
• 24-degree banking in turns
• 9-degree banking on straights
• Length of frontstretch: 1,076 feet
• Length of backstretch: 1,076 feet Race length: 200 laps/200 miles TV schedule (All times ET) • Busch Pole Qualifying: 2 p.m. Fri., SPEED (tape)
• Race: 1 p.m. Sat., TNT One year ago, Martin Truex Jr. took a big step toward capturing the 2004 Busch Series championship with a dominating victory at Dover. The most recent checkered flag went to Kevin Harvick, who followed up a Bud Pole win with a Busch Series victory on the same day two weeks ago at Richmond. Keep an eye on Newman. He'll try to become only the second driver to win four NASCAR Busch Series races in succession this weekend at Dover. Two-time series champion Sam Ard set the mark in 1983 with wins at South Boston, Martinsville, Orange County and Charlotte. Craftsman Truck Series: MBNA RacePoints 200 Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway • 1.5-mile oval
• 12-degree banking in turns
• 9-degree banking on frontstretch
• 3-degree banking on backstretch
• Length of frontstretch: 2,275 feet
• Length of backstretch: 1,572 feet Race length: 146 laps/219 miles TV schedule (All times ET) • Race: 9 p.m. Sat., SPEED One year ago, Shane Hmiel chased down Todd Bodine with two laps remaining to score his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory The most recent checkered flag went to Rick Crawford, who outlasted fellow Craftsman Truck Series veterans Dennis Setzer and Ted Musgrave in a thrilling battle across the final laps to win the Sylvania 200 on Saturday at New Hampshire. Keep an eye on Jack Sprague. There isn't a Craftsman Truck Series record at LVMS that doesn't have Sprague's name on or near it. Sprague holds records for most wins (two), most money won ($317,165), most top five and top-10 finishes (six), most laps/miles led (298/447) and most laps/miles completed (919/1,378.5). Mark Spoor is a senior producer for NASCAR.COM. The Domino's Viewer's Guide runs each Thursday during race weeks. | 
