Big thanks to Dave Moody and the entire crew of "Sirius Speedway" for allowing me to chat with them about NASCAR's TV issues. I had a great time, and hopefully, we can return for more with Dave as the season rolls-on. Thanks to all once again.

ESPN Returns To The Confusion Zone With Authority

Let me say one thing right at the top of the column today. Readers have been critical of my comments about NASCAR Now, the daily NASCAR-themed program launched by ESPN2 this February. Comments have been forwarded that ESPN needs time to get "back into" the sport, and that the new show hosts "don't really" have to know NASCAR. Many say I should not criticize the program, for fear that ESPN will cancel the only daily NASCAR show on TV.

Since the inception of The Daly Planet, there was never an intention to single-out for criticism one program series, one network, or one type of race coverage. This season of NASCAR on TV has simply proven to be an incredible mix of outstanding success, and mind-bending disappointment. Both of these elements have touched ESPN, SPEED, Fox Sports, ABC Sports, ESPN2, and NASCAR Images.

Now, we find this column addressing a thirty minute NASCAR Now program that aired on Tuesday. Only one day after perhaps the best NASCAR Now episode of the season, the network returned to its "bi-polar" existence. ESPN2 rolled-out a totally scripted program on national TV hosted by a person who is clearly unfamiliar with the sport. As so many readers ask me in email...how is this possible on ESPN? Would a non-NFL person host NFL GameDay? Would a non-baseball person host Baseball Tonight? Does everyone at ESPN just read a script now? The answer is no. For some reason, ESPN has decided that only NASCAR deserves this treatment. The real question is why?

When Doug Banks appears as host, NASCAR Now is a tightly scripted program read slowly with no errors. Its a bit like a fifth grader reading a book- report for a teacher. Banks has built himself an fantastic career, only it is not on TV and it certainly is not about NASCAR. In everything I have read, he is a caring and charity-oriented hip-hop urban DJ with a heart-of-gold. He has built a huge radio following, and is regarded as a stand-up guy. The only problem is, he is hosting a nationwide NASCAR show on ESPN2 that will help or hurt the sport at a very critical time. That, my friends, is a problem. Its not helping.

Compounding the host problems are the very strange decisions made by the production staff on a regular basis. NASCAR Now boasts as reporters Marty Smith, Terry Blount, Angelique Chengelis, David Newton, and Shannon Spake. ESPN also owns Jayski.com and ESPN.com, two sites associated with getting the scoop on the biggest NASCAR stories. Can you believe what happened to start this show?

As the first story, Doug Banks proudly said "The Associated Press is reporting that Junior is being offered 51% of DEI valued at 55 million dollars." The sound you heard next was the thud of the ESPN reporters hitting the floor. Leave it to the AP to get the NASCAR scoop on ESPN. I guess that begs the question of why we need all those pesky ESPN reporters? You know, the ones that the show is built around?

Official "ESPN.com NASCAR Insider" David Newton was actually brought on-camera to speak to the AP story. Think about that statement. Imagine asking your own senior reporter to comment on a story that lead a show where he is supposed to be providing the news? Why didn't Banks just ask Newton, "do you feel like a total failure now David?" What a memorable moment in NASCAR Now history. We get scooped...and report it.

From the beginning of this show, The Daly Planet has asked that the "experts" be brought-in to interview the NASCAR personalities. Tuesday, Kurt Busch was unfortunately interviewed by host Doug Banks in a poorly scripted exercise in bad television. After asking Kurt about his brother having Junior make some laps last week, Banks actually asked Kurt Busch if Dale Junior driving his car would be a problem. At that moment, I do believe the world might have stopped spinning just for a moment to watch his reaction. Give Kurt Busch a ton of credit for patiently telling the un-informed Banks that having the national spokesman and symbol of Budweiser in North America driving the Miller Lite car...might be a problem. Could anyone actually make this up?

Banks then led NASCAR veteran Tim Brewer through a painful interview about Jeff Gordon and Dale Sr., a story that is already old. Brewer made lots of references to things like Dale sending Jeff "the milk," and Earnhardt being "old school." Banks never comments on anything Brewer says, because it is clear he does not understand it. Brewer must be wondering just what his role is when he is quizzed one slow disjointed question at a time. No follow-up, no conversation, just answer and leave. This type of interview has defined this series since February.

Finally, ESPN rolled-out their new fantasy NASCAR league, which requires sign-up and registration on ESPN.com. It makes absolutely no sense, but that does not seem to matter. Users sign-up, and then pick one driver against another driver in the race. It makes no difference where they finish, just who finishes higher than the other. A very nice man was on with Doug Banks "picking" fantasy things that he had "made-up." Who he was, and why he was talking NASCAR was never explained. Another fantasy.

This thirty minutes of NASCAR Now brought back all the old memories of just what a struggle this series has been since it began in February. Hopefully, it also helped Daly Planet readers to understand that NASCAR deserves the same respect and knowledge that is given to the stick-and-ball sports by ESPN. This is a long-term commitment by the network to this sport. There are plenty of talented TV anchors available who can step-in and right this ship before the network enters the big time with NEXTEL Cup coverage. That will bring a whole new audience to NASCAR Now, and they will ultimately decide if this show will survive. Right now, its still a toss-up.

The Daly Planet welcomes comments from readers. Simply click-on the COMMENTS button, or email editor@thedalyplanet.tv if you wish not to be published. Thanks again for stopping-by.

ESPN's "NASCAR Now" Scores With New Format

ESPN2 debuted a re-vamped one hour NASCAR Now on Monday night. Somehow, the finality that NASCAR fans are tired of the "fluff" and ready for some "stuff" has reached the hallways of Bristol, CT. Changes in this program were top-to-bottom.

Host Erik Kuselias threw to video highlights of the NEXTEL Cup race right-off the top of the show. With a good script, Kuselias made it work, but perhaps a more veteran voice might "sell" the highlights with authority. Luckily, the best decision was to go directly to soundbites of Jeff Gordon post-race. This allowed the only outstanding issue, about the Earnhardt flag tribute, to be addressed right away.

Stacy Compton showed-up and put the Gordon victory, and his tribute, in perspective. Compton is a very good historian, and his plain language and calm demeanor really helped to finally end the NASCAR Now hype. Nicely done by all parties.

At long last, ESPN used the cell phone to call Steve Letarte and get him to explain how his #24 team stayed-on the lead lap, how Jeff did in the car, and what the tribute meant to the team. This was a feature that NASCAR Now has to commit firmly to each Monday, and expand. Kuselias was absolutely told to avoid the type of "hype" and "drama" that has defined this program series up to this point. Good idea.

NASCAR Now seems to have grasped the concept that raw footage from the events of the weekend works as "in-bumps" on the show when returning from commercial. It was so nice to hear ESPN using announcer sound from the NASCAR on Fox gang, as if they finally acknowledged we are all in this together. More footage in this hour, for any reason, would be welcomed. Fans miss a lot by only seeing the final on-air broadcast.

Shannon Spake hustled to get JD Gibbs on-camera to address the frustration of Tony Stewart. Gibbs did a great job explaining what we all knew, Tony wants to win. Eventually, Erik Kuselias might discover that intensity is exactly what Tony fans love. Spake also addressed the Gibbs COT issues, and actually got a friendly sign-off from Kuselias. That is the clincher that times have changed, Erik was nice.

Tim Cowlishaw continues to be out-of-place on this show. He is the only non-experienced commentator on the set. His "conversational" comments are used only to address the "take it or leave it" sports radio questions poised by Kuselias. As in this program, Stacy Compton laughed at Cowlishaw, and put him in his place about Tony Stewart's "antics." ESPN needs to move Cowlishaw back to an opinion-based position on ESPN.com or ESPN The Magazine. Places where the hype still lives.

Shannon Spake and her Producer are still continuing to crank-out quality features like the one in this show on Hendrick Motorsports. Her low-key and laid back style really fits well, and she seems to be able to stay in the background, and let the information and personalities speak for themselves. She is a nice surprise this season.

Kuselias brought out Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis for the regular news segment. For some reason, NASCAR Now will not allow the two reporters to speak to each other. This is a problem that the show must correct. Marty Smith could easily host the entire news segment, bring-in the other reporters, and then pass-the-ball back to the show host when the news is done. NASCAR Now continues to deny the problem that two of their three co-hosts cannot engage in free-form NASCAR conversation. The individual scripted questions are maddening.

SportsCenter regular Neil Everett lent his voice to a fantastic piece on the relationship between Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Sr. The core of this feature was the on-camera soundbites with Jeff after the Phoenix win, and Dale Junior speaking directly to Gordon's respect for Jr.'s father. The public does not get from NASCAR Now this type of "direct relationship" with the sport very often, and it was nice to see. This is the kind of understanding and preparation that will help fans to believe that ESPN knows NASCAR...once again.

Ryan Newman appeared live, but Kuselias conducted the scripted interview. This is the weakness of the show, and always has been. Newman has talked to non-racing journalists a lot, and he was calm and patient. Needless to say, the questions were horrible, bordering on the in-accurate. Even though this liveshot was a free promo for Newman's sponsor, it would have been a good time to ask some hard questions.

Closing with a promo for next week's Talladega race, the show left one big question on the table. What happened to Friday night's Busch race? Where were the highlights and winner interview? That is the only NASCAR series on ESPN2, it was a good race, and yet nothing made it to the "weekend recap" show? Did I mention the race was on ESPN2? Did I mention this show is now one hour long?

This new NASCAR Now format was a strong step by the network in turning a struggling program series into one with potential. The key will be if the thirty minute version of this show tomorrow can carry-on this new emphasis on hard news, facts, and footage. Time will tell, but this was a good start.

The Daly Planet welcomes comments from readers. Simply click-on the COMMENTS button, or email editor@thedalyplanet.tv in confidence if you wish not to be published. Thanks again for stopping-by.