Now that Speedweeks at Daytona are over, it is time to look back and reflect upon what we have seen, and what we have been provided for our viewing pleasure by NASCAR’s media partners for Speedweeks (FOX, Speed, and ESPN 2). Before I begin, I should state this. Speedweeks is supposed to be the most important time of the year in NASCAR, at least for the television partners. This is because the races at Daytona during Speedweeks are the biggest events of the year for each series that races. This includes the ARCA Re/Max Series that had their season opener back on February 7, in addition to NASCAR’s three national series. As a result, telecasts of said races should be held to a greater standard. It is to this standard that I have to critique the broadcasts.

Matt Kenseth entered Daytona winless in his last 36 starts. That winless streak is now history. Kenseth passed Elliott Sadler in turn 3 on lap 145 for the lead under threatening skies. Half a lap after the pass, the yellow came out for a crash involving the No. 98 of …

Owner Points Shakeup in the Nationwide Series Just like in the Sprint Cup Series, there are plenty of changes in the teams that will contest races this season. For example, the No. 2 Chevrolet of RCR and the No. 9 Dodge of Gillett-Evernham Motorsports (now Richard Petty Motorsports) are now …

Well, we’re through pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 and the Budweiser Shootout. As your TV critic, it is my duty to look everything over and pass some judgment on it; and starting this week and throughout all of 2009, I plan on doing just that. With the departure of the Daly Planet from the NASCAR scene last week (see Matt McLaughlin's "column":https://frontstretch.com/mmclaughlin/22292/ for more), this column remains one of a select few that touches on television's role with NASCAR -- and I’ll do my best to meet that challenge head on. As I grow into this role, I hope to be what LeAnne Schreiber is for ESPN, someone that people can come to about their issues with TV coverage and get them addressed (although Schreiber is also on the verge of leaving her post). Of course, my duties are limited to covering just NASCAR TV programming ... but I hope to have the same type of effect.

The Daytona 500 has what may be the quirkiest system for setting the field of any race in all of professional motorsports. On Sunday, it was Pole Qualifying day at Daytona. Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 only sets the front row for the race, though. It also sets the …

Sometimes, history can, in fact, repeat itself. In a scenario very similar to the one that allowed Kevin Harvick to win the Daytona 500 back in 2007, a lane opened up on the high side at the end of the backstretch on the final lap. Harvick took advantage of the …

Owner Points Scramble Now that the gates to Daytona International Speedway’s garage are set to open in a mere couple of days, there is a mad scramble to lock teams into the Daytona 500 (and the four races immediately following it). A total of four teams (the No. 01, 15, …

After a long offseason -- seemingly made even longer due to SPEED Channel’s near complete lack of off-season motorsports programming (which is another rant for another day), we’re coming up to the beginning of the season. Now, most of what viewers will see this year in NASCAR telecasts will be similar, if not the same as in past years. However, there will be a few changes.

Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing announces their fourth car for the Daytona 500 On Thursday, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing announced that John Andretti will drive their fourth car in the Daytona 500. In addition, it was announced that the team has entered into a brief partnership with Front Row Motorsports for the car. The car …

Tire Testing at Atlanta Last week, Goodyear held a two-day tire test at Atlanta Motor Speedway, designed to develop a proper tire compound for the Kobalt Tools 500 on March 8, and prevent a repeat of last year’s spring race. Last year, the tires wore enough that the cars could …