This is the final TNT tune-up before the network's big show at Daytona on Saturday night. The New Hampshire Motor Speedway has been known as a single-file flat track, but later today it might be called the payback track by the media.
Tempers are tight and a superspeedway looms next week, so paybacks are on the agenda and making headlines in the media. Lindsay Czarniak starts the TNT coverage at noon ET with Kyle Petty and Larry McReynolds on the panel. Petty injured his leg on a kayak trip this weekend. Look for the TNT crew to bring that up.
Dale Inman is the subject of the Pride of NASCAR feature. Denny Hamlin is the on-set driver interview. Wally's World will provide a course description. Lindsay Czarniak takes a ride with Jeff Burton.
Adam Alexander will call the race with Petty and Wally Dallenbach Jr. alongside. Matt Yocum, Phil Parsons, Ralph Sheheen and Marty Snider will report from pit road.
The challenge of the TNT team will either be to create excitement from what has been a traditionally boring race or try to keep track of the "have at it boys" paybacks that may start early in the event. Kind of interesting not knowing what might happen after the green flag waves.
Loudon works great on TV. The low angle shots show the speed while the in-car cameras are super for the tight racing. A straight pit road makes for a good triple-split on the caution flag pitstops that are normally a key to the race.
While Sonoma lent itself to the commentary from Dallenbach, it will be Petty who is in the lead this week on a flat one-mile track. It has been ten years since Kyle's son Adam Petty lost his life in a pre-race accident at this facility. Petty stated earlier that it was on his mind. It certainly should be.
This TNT crew has been smooth but affected by the tough hand-off from FOX. Low TV ratings have been dogging the series this season. Perhaps the threat of drivers mixing it up instead of driving for points will bring some fans back to the TV today.
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