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SPEED Channel to wire Waltrip, McReynolds and Hammond for Truck races
Special to FOXSports.com
Feb. 14, 2003 2:09 p.m.
DW KEEPS ON TRUCKIN’ WITH HELP FROM KID BROTHER, BROADCAST PALS
Three-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip is strapping in for two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events in 2003 and SPEED Channel is taking viewers along for the ride. Waltrip, a regular on SPEED Channel’s Trackside program, will be wired for sound and his No. 17 Chevrolet, sponsored by Tide, will be equipped with extra cameras.
FOX broadcast partners Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond will get in on the act, with Larry serving as DW’s spotter and Hammond taking position on the pit box. Both will have live mics as part of the SPEED Channel broadcasts from the spring race at Martinsville and the August NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Rick Miner, SPEED Channel Sr. VP/Executive Producer. “DW behind the wheel, Larry Mac as our eye in the sky and Hollywood Hammond interpreting it all on the pit box. With Darrell using kid brother Michael’s truck as well as his NASCAR Busch Series pit crew, these will certainly be great events for SPEED Channel and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.”
Although the team looks to have a lot of fun, the trio also expects to be competitive, picking two tracks where Waltrip has enjoyed success in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck. His best career finish in a truck came at Martinsville in 1996 when he finished fifth. Last season at IRP, he scored a top-10 when he crossed the line in sixth.
“The last time we did this, there weren’t a lot of expectations,” Waltrip said. “With Mikey’s truck, his Busch crew, DEI motors and all the talent involved, they are going to know we are there when we roll into Martinsville. And I need to be on the race track. I need that presence in the garage and I want the guys in there to look at me as a driver.”
McReynolds also recognizes the opportunity to deliver a unique television experience.
“We work so hard every week as broadcasters to take fans as deep as we can into the world of NASCAR racing,” said McReynolds, a regular on several SPEED Channel programs, including Trackside, NASCAR Performance and NASCAR qualifying. When we talk to the competitors in the garage, they can’t always share everything with us. The teams are trying to keep secrets and keep the upper hand on the competition, so we can only tell the viewers as much as they are willing to tell us. With DW’s truck tour, we can take the SPEED Channel viewers deeper into the game of NASCAR racing than they have ever been before.”
And if the DW is running near the front at the end of the race?
“Katie bar the door and look out,” Hammond said.
SPEED Channel, the nation’s fastest growing sports cable network, is the first and only 24-hour cable network devoted exclusively to motor sports and the human fascination for speed. Currently seen in more than 55.8 million U.S homes and 4.5 million more in Canada, SPEED Channel was acquired by Fox Cable Networks Group in July 2001.
Special to FOXSports.com
Feb. 14, 2003 2:09 p.m.
DW KEEPS ON TRUCKIN’ WITH HELP FROM KID BROTHER, BROADCAST PALS
Three-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Darrell Waltrip is strapping in for two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events in 2003 and SPEED Channel is taking viewers along for the ride. Waltrip, a regular on SPEED Channel’s Trackside program, will be wired for sound and his No. 17 Chevrolet, sponsored by Tide, will be equipped with extra cameras.
FOX broadcast partners Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond will get in on the act, with Larry serving as DW’s spotter and Hammond taking position on the pit box. Both will have live mics as part of the SPEED Channel broadcasts from the spring race at Martinsville and the August NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Rick Miner, SPEED Channel Sr. VP/Executive Producer. “DW behind the wheel, Larry Mac as our eye in the sky and Hollywood Hammond interpreting it all on the pit box. With Darrell using kid brother Michael’s truck as well as his NASCAR Busch Series pit crew, these will certainly be great events for SPEED Channel and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.”
Although the team looks to have a lot of fun, the trio also expects to be competitive, picking two tracks where Waltrip has enjoyed success in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck. His best career finish in a truck came at Martinsville in 1996 when he finished fifth. Last season at IRP, he scored a top-10 when he crossed the line in sixth.
“The last time we did this, there weren’t a lot of expectations,” Waltrip said. “With Mikey’s truck, his Busch crew, DEI motors and all the talent involved, they are going to know we are there when we roll into Martinsville. And I need to be on the race track. I need that presence in the garage and I want the guys in there to look at me as a driver.”
McReynolds also recognizes the opportunity to deliver a unique television experience.
“We work so hard every week as broadcasters to take fans as deep as we can into the world of NASCAR racing,” said McReynolds, a regular on several SPEED Channel programs, including Trackside, NASCAR Performance and NASCAR qualifying. When we talk to the competitors in the garage, they can’t always share everything with us. The teams are trying to keep secrets and keep the upper hand on the competition, so we can only tell the viewers as much as they are willing to tell us. With DW’s truck tour, we can take the SPEED Channel viewers deeper into the game of NASCAR racing than they have ever been before.”
And if the DW is running near the front at the end of the race?
“Katie bar the door and look out,” Hammond said.
SPEED Channel, the nation’s fastest growing sports cable network, is the first and only 24-hour cable network devoted exclusively to motor sports and the human fascination for speed. Currently seen in more than 55.8 million U.S homes and 4.5 million more in Canada, SPEED Channel was acquired by Fox Cable Networks Group in July 2001.
