They are calling it FOX NASCAR Sunday. Basically, it's still Chris Myers, Jeff Hammond and Darrell Waltrip from the Hollywood Hotel in Daytona.
FOX starts the Sprint Cup Series season on a cold and clear day in Florida. NASCAR has undergone several months of changes that have resulted in a solid increase in fan interest. Now, the action on the track has to live up to the hype.
The Hollywood Hotel is going to be the place for FOX to rise to the occasion. Myers has been both the best and worst of what NASCAR needs on TV. On this day, he cannot act as the "California outsider" who does not know a lugnut from a fuel cell. TV viewers need the informed and well-spoken Myers seen on other programs.
The NASCAR on FOX pit reporters are Steve Byrnes, Matt Yocum, Krista Voda and Dick Berggren. This team has been together for a long time and each has worked very hard to be accepted in the sport. FOX continues to be the standard in this area.
Mike Joy has been calling the action in Daytona for a long time. His challenge this February is to help the sport get back on solid footing after a tough 2009. There is little doubt he is the right man for the job. Having already handled the Bud Shoot Out and the Gatorade Duels, the big race is in good hands.
Larry McReynolds has been keeping a low profile and limiting his comments so far this season. After a big bump in the road last year that caused hard feelings all around, McReynold is looking to have a smooth telecast. Still the most detail oriented analyst on NASCAR TV, he should be able to get himself back on track before the checkered flag.
Fan comments have been flying about Darrell Waltrip this season. He was called out by Jack Roush for negative comments about the sport. Then, Denny Hamlin said DW was always telling the drivers how to drive. The bottom line is that Waltrip has been the most high-profile analyst in the sport for a decade. Criticism comes with the territory.
DW will be clearly in the spotlight once the action begins as the story of bump-drafting begins to unfold. NASCAR is turning the drivers loose and has changed many rules since last season. From contact in the corners to the green/white/checkered finish, things are going to be very different in this race.
FOX Sports executive David Hill admitted he was wrong about the later start times. The race today will be underway by 1:20PM ET. Hill admitted he would back off with the Digger character after negative reactions from fans. Finally, Hill said there would be no online streaming of this race because that protected the FOX local stations. That really does not help fans without TV access.
This is the fourth season of offering a live TV race blog. We are looking for your comments on the FOX coverage of this event. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Just click on the comments button below to add your opinion. Thanks and let's go racing!
