Viewer's Guide: Daytona 500

Technically, the NASCAR season doesn't begin for a little more than a week. Still, you wouldn't know it from looking at the television schedule for this weekend.

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Of course, the centerpieces of the weekend are Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout on TNT and Sunday's Bud Pole Qualifying session on NBC for next Sunday's Daytona 500.

As far as Saturday's shootout goes, you can expect plenty of pre-race interviews with all of NASCAR's top stars.

"We just want the pre-race show to be more of a celebration of cars back on the racetrack," said broadcast producer Sam Flood.

Flood also gave the fans -- particularly fans frustrated about increased commercial breaks -- something to look forward to Saturday night.

"We're going to try to run the entire first segment of the race commercial free," said Flood. "We may have to take a commercial if there's a caution during that period, but our hope is to run the entire segment commercial free."

That first segment is 20 laps, followed by a 10-minute intermission. The second segment is 50 laps that must end under green-flag conditions, meaning the "green-white checkered" finish is in effect.

The starting lineup will be determined by a random draw on Thursday.

Some more things to keep in mind for Saturday night's event only:

• Teams may change tires or perform any normal pit-stop maintenance during the 10-minute intermission.
• Caution laps will count during both segments.
• Crews can work on their cars during a red flag, but only in the pit or garage areas.
• All restarts are double-file.
• All lapped cars will restart at the rear of the field.

SPEED begins its Speedweeks coverage on Friday with Shootout practice at 4 p.m. ET. In all, they'll provide coverage of 11 practice sessions among all three major series leading up to the Daytona 500.

The network has also renamed its NASCAR This Morning show NASCAR Raceday. John Roberts, Kenny Wallace and Jimmy Spencer will remain as the show's hosts.

	Sam Flood
	E-MAIL •   Send Mark your take for "The Rant" or your question for "Ask The Producer"

In this week's "Ask the Producer" question, Matthew Badaczewski of Chesterfield Township, Mich. wants to see coverage of qualifying improve.

Taking a cue from the color-coded ticker used for the Race to the Chase, I was wondering if it would be possible to do something similar for qualifying, showing who's locked in, on the bubble, or won't be making the race.

Flood likes the idea.

"That's definitely something that we can explore," Flood said. "By the time the TNT/NBC half of the season starts, that could happen."

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.

Now on to this weekend's schedule.

Nextel Cup Series: Budweiser Shootout

Track: Daytona International Speedway

• 2.5-mile oval
• 31 degree banking in corners
• 18-degree banking in tri-oval
• Length of frontstretch: 3,800 feet
• Length of backstretch: 3,000 feet

Race length: 70 laps/175 miles

TV schedule (All times ET)

• NASCAR Live: 2, 5, 7:30 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Shootout practice, 4, 6:30 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• Trackside: 8 p.m. Fri., SPEED
• NASCAR Live: 10 a.m, 12:30, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Sat., SPEED
• Pre-race: 8 p.m. Sat., TNT
• Race: 8:30 p.m. Sat., TNT

2005 FlashbackCheck out all the highlights from last year's Speedweeks Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

One year ago, Jimmie Johnson got his first restrictor-plate victory by taking the checkered flag in the Budweiser Shootout.

The most recent checkered flag went to Greg Biffle, who won the Ford 400 for the second consecutive year by besting teammate Mark Martin in a door-to-door finish.

Keep an eye on Denny Hamlin. He's the only rookie in the Shootout field. He got his spot by winning the Bud Pole for last fall's race at Phoenix.

The Domino's Viewer's Guide appears each Thursday during race weeks.