NASCAR Now: One Man Alone

ESPN returned to its major NASCAR commitment on Tuesday with series host Erik Kuselias presenting a very diverse program. Included was an interview with NEXTEL Cup rookie David Ragan, a Dale Junior vs. DEI update, a news feature on the Daytona team penalty appeals being denied, and even a word from Bruton Smith about the changes in Las Vegas. There was only one problem. The solitary person on the set was Kuselias, who knows very little about motorsports or NASCAR.

On countless ESPN news and information shows, we see "experts" appear from every corner of the set. Sometimes, there are four or five panelists all discussing the same topic. On NASCAR Now, we have a former ESPN radio host standing alone on-set, holding some pieces of paper, and talking to "floating heads" in boxes on the wall. Is this what NASCAR means to ESPN?

Kuselias didn't know David Ragan, or the racing legacy of his father, and it showed. Reading scripted questions, Kuselias conducted yet another bizarre and almost "pretend" NASCAR interview. He asked almost nothing that made sense or was connected to the question before. Incredibly, he never asked how Ragan's father was doing, what he was doing, or why Ragan chose NASCAR.

Then, Kuselias was thrust into the middle of the Junior vs. DEI debate. On came Marty Smith and Angelique Chengelis in liveshots, but neither was allowed to speak to each other, only to Kuselias. He would ask one a scripted question, then ask the other one the next scripted question. What is going on here, is this really ESPN...the Worldwide Leader in Sports?

After a feature about the Daytona penalties, Bruton Smith stopped by on the phone to talk about Las Vegas track changes. Smith could have been talking about changes on the surface of Mars. Mr. Kuselias has clearly not watched a Las Vegas race on TV, not been to a Vegas race, and had absolutely no clue to what Bruton was talking about.

ESPN has to re-think the format of this show and fast. Kuselias will not become a NASCAR expert in one season, and should not have to. His role is clearly to host, and not provide analysis, news coverage, or feature reports. How then, is the poor man left all alone on network television to speak about three topics he has no idea about...except for what is on his script?

If ESPN wants to commit to a NASCAR show based in Connecticut, they better bring in some solid "expert" help for the current host, because today's effort left a lot of NASCAR information on the table, and a lot of egg on Mr. Kuselias face.

ESPN: Busch Series in Mexico

With all the hype surrounding this event, one thing became clear for the network. ESPN did the right thing in hiring Rusty Wallace and Andy Petree. Less ethnic than Larry McReynolds and Darrell Waltrip, this duo has become comfortable with both each other, and the ESPN production team. This week in Mexico was their best performance to date.

The enthusiasm of Wallace is well-balanced by the calm persona of Petree and the veteran Jerry Punch. Give lots of credit to Punch for allowing the analysts to speak freely, and interact directly with the pit reporters. This team is beginning to establish a solid reputation, which they must have before they attempt their first NEXTEL Cup event. The big league debut will be here sooner than later.

The importance of a production team that understands racing cannot be emphasized enough, as we have experienced with both TNT and NBC over the last several years. ESPN has benefited from cherry-picking the outstanding personnel from in-house and on the NASCAR TV trail. This showed today with no production glitches and good decision-making in the camera selection.

Even with the field fillers and the designated Hispanic drivers, the racing was fun and different from the normal Busch Series event. Luckily, Juan Montoya is going to be TV story no matter where he goes, and ESPN knows it. This was a solid effort from ESPN that leaves one feeling they are almost ready for a longer NEXTEL Cup effort.

ESPN: Busch Series in Mexico Pre-Race Show

ESPN surrounded this event with all types of media for all kinds of reasons. On ESPN, the first live event telecast in Spanish. On ESPN2, Chris Fowler lead a pro-NASCAR marketing effort that offered a one-sided debate on the pros of this event, while ignoring the American tracks who have been begging for an event like this for years. For Felix Sabates to represent that the one thing NASCAR needed was a Hispanic flavor was certainly interesting. Many people believe that the absolute last thing NASCAR needed was another road course event with little passing and anonymous field fillers.

Fowler is much better when not over-shadowed by Brent Musburger, who was off on college basketball duties. Brad Daugherty was quickly dismissed from the set to make room for Sabates, and continues to be an enigma on these telecasts. He is a college and pro basketball player who adds little, and does not interview, report, or prepare features for the show. This pre-race was no different.

Mexico is a theme party, and the racing is foreign to Americans. A flat road course with narrow straights and curbs better suited to the IndyCar Series. Without a doubt, the look in the eyes of the regular Busch Series competitors was not one of pleasure, but one of obligation. For veteran NASCAR fans, the past memories of these cars dueling at Rockingham on a beautiful spring day are still crystal clear. Unfortunately, they are destined to remain memories.