Just set it and forget it. SPEED rules the NASCAR TV on Friday from noon ET through 8PM. The network will handle all the on-track activity at MIS.
The dynamic trio for SPEED will be Steve Byrnes, Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds. These three have been friends for a very long time and their comfort level with each other translates quite well to TV.
Bob Dillner and Wendy Venturini will be doing a lot of walking as they spend seven hours tracking down the Sprint Cup and Nationwide stories from the garage area. Venturini continues to grow her fan base while Dillner is usually the last man out of the garage area after he provides updates for Sunday night's SPEED Report.
Noon begins the TV day with Sprint Cup Series practice while the Nationwide Series gets on the track next at 1:30PM. There are a lot of Cup drivers who will be jogging to the Nationwide Series garage while doing double duty this weekend.
3:30PM brings live qualifying for the Cup guys and on the big track at MIS, this is perhaps not the most exciting TV programming. Luckily, McReynolds usually has more than enough details and tidbits on each team to help NASCAR fans pass the time on the air.
The on-track action is capped at 5PM when the Nationwide Series returns for the late practice session. This could be a very interesting practice with lots of rubber down on the track and cooler temps making for some memorable speed and action.
Trackside ends the night for SPEED. Byrnes, McReynolds, Hammond and Elliott Sadler will welcome guests Joey Logano and Justin Allgaier. Kasey Kahne may also possibly be stopping by to say hello. This is always a fast-paced hour but SPEED is still having problems dealing with the rowdy crowds during the interview segments. Really tough to hear what is going on sometimes, an issue SPEED will no doubt have to address for next season.
ESPN2 makes its only Friday contribution with NASCAR Now at 9PM. This show is on the air later than normal due to live tennis. Mike Massaro is the host for this program that will recap the MIS action and preview the Nationwide race on Saturday.
This post will host your comments as we go through the NASCAR TV Friday. It should be fun to watch SPEED cover MIS exclusively. The weather looks good and there are some great stories developing both on and off the track for the network to cover.
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