NASCAR Now: As The Host Turns

Earlier this week, a fresh face appeared as the host of NASCAR Now, ESPN's daily racing show. It was Doug Banks, a current radio DJ with a long history of success in both the hip hop and urban communities. Mr. Banks never mentioned Erik Kuselias, who had hosted this program since the series began in Daytona Beach in February. ESPN had apparently seen fit to make a change.

Today, without so much as a word about Mr. Banks, who appears to host the show but Erik Kuselias once again. Both Mr. Banks and Mr. Kuselias have referred to themselves individually as the "host" of this series, and both have press releases saying they are "the" series host. Viewers need either an explanation...or a scorecard.

Mr. Kuselias went right back to his sports talk radio form and tried to intimidate Chad Knaus in a harsh and non-smiling interview. Unfortunately for Mr. Kuselias, former radio hosts do not match up well with NASCAR championship crew chiefs, who make their living on pressure-packed decisions in a live event on national television. Kuselias went on to try and put Tim Brewer and DJ Copp, both expert analysts, on the spot as well. Neither one took the bait, and Kuselias was left frustrated once again. It seems he cannot imagine a sport where most folks cooperate, and there is very little anger and ugliness. Major League Baseball, this is not.

Kuselias was left with only veteran driver Jack Sprague as his final interview, and it was clear the wheels had come off Kuselias' interview train. Here are some wonderful samples:

• Kuselias: "Why are the trucks so competitive?"


• Sprague: "Erik, they have been competitive for a long time."


• Kuselias: "Plenty of former Cup driver are racing Trucks...how come?"


• Sprague: "Its fun."


• Kuselias:"250 starts...up there...tops...what does it mean to you?"


• Sprague: "The Truck Series is my career."

Kuselias struggled through a ridiculous segment where drivers were somehow "picked" against each other in the next race simply because ESPN landed a sponsor for this feature. I guess this segment excludes things like cut tires, accidents, and mechanical failures. ESPN2 is off-track with the harsh sports talk mannerisms of Kuselias contrasting with the polite and charming manners of his NASCAR analysts and guests. As I have mentioned before, its like watching two completely detached groups come together for thirty minutes while they are forced to make a television show.

NASCAR Now: The Doug Banks Era Begins...This should be interesting.

ESPN has added yet another wrinkle to the NASCAR landscape with the addition of hip-hop urban radio host Doug Banks as the new host of NASCAR Now. Banks made no mention of previous host Erik Kuselias, a career lawyer who entered sports radio only a short time ago. Neither Banks nor Kuselias have any previous NASCAR media experience on their resume.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Mr. Banks first show was a disaster from the drop of the green flag. He is clearly more at home in a radio format without a script and teleprompter. But as with Kuselias, ESPN forced Banks into interviewing NASCAR personalities directly. Without any knowledge of the sport, both of these rookies are struggling in their first season.

Its curious as to why ESPN does not pair the host up with an expert, who can step in and help with the specifics of this very hard to understand sport. In the past, NASCAR media veterans like Bob Jenkins, John Kernan, Eli Gold, Ralph Shaheen, Krista Voda, and others would have been considered for this type of high-profile position. But, this is the new ESPN/ABC/Disney.

Gone is the importance of the sport. What is going to be emphasized is that ESPN and ABC are here now. The big guns like Brent Musburger and Chris Fowler, the columnists like Tim Cowlishaw and the experts like Brad Daugherty are here. ESPN has brought their "A" team to town, and one thing is very clear. Their "A" team is completely lost.

The urban hip hop radio show host attempted to interview Regan Smith, who will be stepping into the Ginn ride for Mark Martin at Bristol. Every question he asked Smith pertained to Martin. How do you feel the fans will like you taking over for Martin? Do you think Martin will be in the car if he wins Atlanta? Did Martin give you driving tips? Another horrible scripted interview from ESPN by a host who does not know the first thing about this sport. When will this cycle end?

Unfortunately, Banks brought the hapless Tim Cowlishaw on the show to reprise his Around the Horn persona, and answer questions about NASCAR with complete inaccuracy. Cowlishaw will no doubt be taken to task about his ill-advised comments on Michael Waltrip driving in the Busch Series race in Atlanta, and how Toyota has "gotten nothing" for their money from Waltrip. Cowlishaw likes to shoot from the hip, but in his racing comments, his gun is clearly not loaded.

Give Banks some credit, he is a clean and credible host, with a professional manner on the air. Perhaps, if ESPN would step up and surround him with the kind of regular cast that Banks employs on his radio show, NASCAR Now would emerge from the dark hole it has dug itself since Daytona.

SPEED: Inside NEXTEL Cup - Las Vegas

The word has gone out to Michael Waltrip to clean-up his act. Here he was on the set clean and shaved, hair actually combed, no coffee cup in sight. Perhaps, the addition of Greg Biffle as a semi-permanent panel member helped Michael to understand that he might just not be irreplaceable. And make no mistake about it, this show has been pivotal to his entire NEXTEL Cup career.

Dave Despain is just back from Daytona Bike Week, and his trouble shifting to the world of NASCAR continues. He is about as interested in this sport as the man in the moon. His drool manner and low level of enthusiasm is just not right in this setting. The ghost of Alan Bestwick haunts this set.

Luckily, Biffle has proven to be just the medicine the panel needs to regain their form of several years ago, and make Brian Vickers just a bad memory. Greg has a solid mechanical understanding of racing like Kenny Schrader, and the are both solid foils for the hi-jinks of Waltrip. One has the feeling after watching the three drivers enjoy themselves for the first time this year, that this series is just one new host away from regaining its stride. Wendy Venturini anyone?