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Fast Track Racing - Page 2

© Thomas M. Sampson

When and if, Joe Gibbs does happen to dump Pontiac, I predict that will be the end of that GM model in Cup racing. They only have six entries, and they could possible dump Gibbs before it's all said and done. I've heard opinions from friends alluding that Pontiac will never abandon Cup racing do to the fact that they rely upon their NASCAR presence to market their muscle cars to the public. Their main muscle car is the Firebird, not the Grand Prix, and they seem to have more of a presence in the NHRA than they do in Winston Cup. It brings to mind a verse from a Bob Dylan song (I think it was Positively 4^th Street), "Time will tell, who has fell, and who's been left behind. When you go your way, and I go mine."

Cup TV Announcers........... 2001 Season

We've all heard that DW will be in the booth for Fox next season, and most of us have heard that Larry McReynolds will be joining him. The leading candidate for calling the play by play racing action with them is TNN and CBS veteran Mike Joy. Jeff Hammond, crew chief for Chad Little at Roush Racing, is also expected to join Fox to do in-studio and pre-race shows for Cup and Busch.

McReynolds is contracted to Richard Childress Racing, but Childress isn't going to stand in his way. Childress is reported to have offered him a consultant position with the team if he wants it, but it's doubtful if McReynolds will go that route. He feels that it might hurt his credibility as a journalist dealing with the crew chiefs on the Cup circuit. If he were known to still have an active role with Childress, crew chiefs would be reluctant to divulge information to him that he would need to successfully do his job with Fox.

On the NBC/TBS side of the fence, which will begin covering Cup events in June, Benny Parsons is expected to handle the race analysis and Allen Bestwick is slated to be the lead announcer. The rest of the package is still being formulated, there's lots of time for them to come up with a credible crew.

It's sad but true, ESPN won't let Bill Webber out of his contract, so we won't be seeing him doing any on-site Cup announcing. Bill has been ESPN's pit reporter for 10 years, and he'll be sorely missed, along with Dr. Jerry Punch, who will also remain with ESPN. They will be covering ESPN's broadcasts of the Craftsman Truck series and Webber is expected to play a big part in the coverage of CART FedEx and Indy Northern Light series races. Webber will also still be doing his RPM 2night daily TV show.

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