TNT to begin coverage with tribute to Bill France Jr.

When I was growing up sports casting was in my blood, or at least in my dreams. My brother was the athlete. I was a baseball player, sort of. All glove. No stick. That got me only so far in Little League.

When I accepted the fact I would never be a player, I knew covering sports was the next best thing. I tell people today, I was a lousy athlete, so I had to figure out another way to get into everything for free. I've fooled 'em so far.

• NASCAR on TNT

One thing I was always fascinated by was the behind-the-scenes dance that goes on in all types of media. When I speak to groups across the country, people usually want to know how television really works. How does it all come together and seem so smooth on the air? I use this analogy: broadcasting a live event is a lot like Thanksgiving dinner; the dining room is beautiful, the table perfect, the food looks terrific but, whatever you do, don't peak in the kitchen. Get the picture?

The past couple of days my office looks like the kitchen instead of the dining room, and for good reason. Our TNT crew hits the air this weekend for the first event of our Summer Six Pack, or whatever Jeff and Tara are calling it. We have six races. They are six good races. They are six important races. Would I like to be doing 26 races? Sure. But I love life with TNT and I hope you will enjoy our Summer Showdown, or whatever. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah.

We have some of the most talented behind-the-scenes people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I tell the groups I speak to that the people they don't see do all the work, Wally and I just take all the credit. Both statements are true. People with intimidating names like Sponge, TK, Coach, The Doctor, Girlie, Matty Mo, Johnny O., D.O., D.B., Red, El Hefe and some people, quite honestly, I barely know, have spent months preparing for these six races.

For our team, we are doing the Daytona 500 six times, it is that important to us. I love to rehearse. I dislike meetings. Lately, I think we have been rehearsing our meetings. Arrrrrgh! Stay with me here, I will get to a point ... eventually. (Continued)