The surprise on the ESPN schedule for Bristol, TN turned out to be a one hour Saturday night special. The track is hosting an "old-timers" race for charity and ESPN is teaming Ned and Dale Jarrett up to call the action.
This pairing is perfect, as some of Ned's peers like Junior Johnson and David Pearson will be racing with Dale's contemporaries like Rusty Wallace and Jimmy Spencer. Click here to view the complete line-up from ESPN.
The race coverage starts at 6PM on ESPN2, with Allen Bestwick, Jerry Punch and most of the ESPN gang also joining in the action. This is just the kind of shot in the arm NASCAR needs right now.
Having some fun and introducing some new fans to those drivers who kept us entertained for years is a great idea. Topping it off is the track and the fact that the entire race is for charity.
The guys will be driving late model stocks and the rumors are already flying of doctored parts and special pieces. Click here to read a hilarious piece by ESPN's Ed Hinton about the trash talking that is already going-on between the competitors.
Hopefully, things go well and all involved stay safe and have a blast. Your comments are welcome on this topic, just click the comments button below. TDP is a family friendly website, please keep this in mind when posting.
Thanks again for taking the time to read The Daly Planet.
30 comments:
It will be great to hear Ned at the mike once again. His intelligence, knowledge and professionalism are always welcome. He was the best. Luckily for Dale, he shares many of these attributes and I think that ultimately he will be as good as his father in the booth.
This is going to be fun and we get Ned too. Doesn't get much better
let's see - Ned Jarrett and DJ VS 4 plus hours of Digger on FOX..easy decision for this race fan
I am more excited about this race now that the Jarrett's are in the booth. How lucky are we?
@ Newracefan, ditto.
Bummer that DW can't participate. Wonder if his wife laid down the law. Can't imagine why Fox wouldn't let him out of his obligation for such an event. And Jimmy Spencer, should be a hoot. Can't wait to hear the Jarretts call the race.
Just having the chance to see all that experience at Bristol...could be the high point of the weekend.
I heard Rusty interviewed somewhere saying he understood Junior and someone else had had new cars built and that he was going to have to keep up as he wanted a 10th Bristol win - could be exciting. I'm surprised, but pleased,that EESPN is giving the race air time.
Ned can be quite a story-teller and while he comes across (and is) so dignified, he has some super stories about the early days of racing. Wish EESPN would have an hour or 2 of Ned, Junior, and other swapping yarns.
@ Richard in NC, Some years back there was a show on TV with a bunch of old timers telling stories. Sorry, I don't remember name of show or channel. It was good. It needs a reair.
Dot, I believe you are probably referring to an couple of infomercials that ran a few years ago promoting a set of videos of NASCAR greats sitting around telling stories, hosted by Eli Gold as I recall. I watched every time I ran into and never got around to ordering the videos. Among others, Ned had some super stories.
Oh I remember those videos! I also saw them when they were shown on SPEED, usually as filler during rain delays, like during qualifying in Chicago that one time where it was so windy the giant orange blew up and rolled across the track.
It will be great to hear Ned on the air again. I remember how cool it was to hear him sit in on the first part of the race a couple of years ago. He is the very personification of the word Dignity.
I wish his example would rub off on a bunch of people calling races today.
This would be a great show Ned,DJ and all except, Rusty Wallace will be in It!!It wont be fair to the old timers!! Rusty is still faster than his son Steven!! Who do you think is going to win this gang!!OH!! Good guess!!If he is an old timer what is Mark Martin??Come on man!!!
This should be a fun race and to have the Jarrett's calling the race will be fun too because both Ned and Dale are class acts.
The show is broadcast on ESPN, and DW works for Fox. Do the math, as his brother would say. David Hill can't get out of his own way, and the fact that he has enslaved DW to the Fox Compound shows his arrogance, and ignorance. Prior committments? I doubt it.
On a side note: I love the fact that we get to see The Skoal Bandit on TV! That must make Bill Clinton madder than a wet hen!
The other issue too is Darrell is a Nashville Speakers Bureau client and someone may have assigned him to a gig in the Tri-Cities for Saturday night.
Some of those speeches he makes can be worth more than $10,000.
If it's a five-figure speaking gig he's making that night, then I can understand. His primary job is his television gig, but being wanted to speak in regions near races is worth aplenty. Also last year at Bristol he was hit with the virus at the worst possible time -- I wonder if he's being ordered to cut out to prevent what happened last year from happening again.
(At Bristol he was silenced by a virus and had to be treated by the same doctors who treat singers (he lives in Nashville), and was prescribed rest; Easter was the next week and didn't miss another race.)
JD, you are correct. That piece by Ed Hinton was too funny. Just makes me want to enjoy the prerace with those drivers. And that may be even better than the race. Priceless.
Darrell Waltrip's non-participation is a glaring issue where this race is concerned.
From the Wednesday edition of NASCAR Now, it looked like the race is largely an ESPN love-fest.
Andy Petree, Ray Evernham, Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty were featured and never said a word about..."ole DW."
As someone said, DW's wife may have said no. As I recall, he had to beg to be allowed to drive his truck just once at Martinsville a few years back.
Still, it'd be a ton of fun to see him racing Junior Johnson.
JD, that's a good point about how this race has become a huge ESPN thing. I could see FOX saying no for that reason.
I watched a webcam piece he had on FOXSports.com this morning, and he indirectly said something about a FOX obligation. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the obligation.
I have to make sure I tune in for this on Saturday and hope that ESPN doesn't "bump" the event for something else. I will look forward to hearing Ned call a race again and watching the legends of NASCAR competing again.
I'm surprised who many folks want to run DW's life. Hey, he's a free man. If he says no, let it go.
He is not a slave to Fox (where he make millions) or anyone (who pays him nothing) who comments here. If he's going to follow anyone's advice, why would he follow stangers instead of a wife he loves? That's his choice and that's his life.
I cannot tell who is who, but many who comment here are always dissing DW for his personality/comments and now are criticsising him for not participating. I don't think he can win with some folks, so why try.
The only problem I have is that many of these drivers may not be around in a couple of years. Working for Fox: millions
Driving against your old boss and friends:Priceless
Give me friendship over a job any day.
If you heard Rusty on Wind Tunnel Sunday night & reading Ed's story - DVR will be set - this has the potential to be pure gold!
Anon 1:58PM,
Waltrip has said he has a prior obligation for Fox, but he is at Bristol and this race is less than thirty minutes long at 6:20PM in the afternoon.
I don't think you have seen anyone here trying to run his life, just wondering why a Fox obligation would stand in the way of some classic fun at a time when the sport really needs a shot in the arm.
My feeling is that if his wife said no, DW would have told us.
JD
Just glad ESPN is covering the event. It may be an all-out ESPN self-promoting farce, BUT- THERE WILL NOT-I REPEAT- NOT BE ANY POORLY ANIMATED RODENTS!!!! At least there's that. Should be a great event, cant wait!
I saw Rusty, Ray E., Andy P. and Brad D. on NASCAR Now and I know Brad is at least 6-9 or 6-10, but the way they shot the picture Brad looked at least 9 feet tall. I would really love to see them explain how they are going to make a seat fit Junior J. and Brad D. I'm anxious to see the race, but I doubt there is any way it could ever live up to the hype.
I'd still like to see an hour post-race, from the pits - and I really, really do hate that David Pearson won't be able to drive in the race.
I don't think DW participating in this race is just a committment of 1/2 an hour. As I watch ESPN coverage on this, some have built special cars, they have to try and modify them, pass inspection, build a team, be at the race track multiple times. It's not just being helicoptered in, get in a suit, drive for 1/2 an hour and leave.
DW is a well repsected retired driver and if he said he couldn't, it shows little respect not to accept it.
The only bad thing about both Jarretts in the booth is it would be cool as hell to have DJ doing the call as Ned won the race. Tell me you all wouldn't shed a tear of joy if it ended that way.
I hope some of the other tracks add a race like this. Maybe 4 or 5 a year.
DW is done racing!!Its not Fox,Its not anybody telling him what to do!He and his wife just dont want to do It anymore..DW has never let anything get in the way of what he wanted to do!!Dont think for a minute he is starting now!!Is Rusty really an Old Timer??I dont think so Tim...
For Rusty to race against Jr Johnson,Cale and even Harry Gant,is like asking your dad If he wants to fight you now that your 35!!
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