02-16-2003 | TruckSeries.com Report
Three-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Darrell
Waltrip is strapping in for two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
events in 2003 and SPEED Channel is taking viewers along for
the ride. Waltrip, a regular on SPEED Channel's Trackside
program, will be wired for sound and his No. 17 Chevrolet,
sponsored by Tide, will be equipped with extra cameras. FOX
broadcast partners Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond will get
in on the act, with Larry serving as DW's spotter and Hammond
taking position on the pit box. Both will have live mics as
part of the SPEED Channel broadcasts from the spring race at
Martinsville and the August NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race
at Indianapolis Raceway Park. "It doesn't get any better than this," said Rick Miner,
SPEED Channel Sr. VP/Executive Producer. "DW behind the wheel,
Larry Mac as our eye in the sky and Hollywood Hammond
interpreting it all on the pit box. With Darrell using kid
brother Michael's truck as well as his NASCAR Busch Series pit
crew, these will certainly be great events for SPEED Channel
and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series." Although the team looks to have a lot of fun, the trio also
expects to be competitive, picking two tracks where Waltrip has
enjoyed success in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck. His best career
finish in a truck came at Martinsville in 1996 when he finished
fifth. Last season at IRP, he scored a top-10 when he crossed
the line in sixth. "The last time we did this, there weren't a lot of
expectations," Waltrip said. "With Mikey's truck, his Busch
crew, DEI motors and all the talent involved, they are going to
know we are there when we roll into Martinsville. And I need to
be on the race track. I need that presence in the garage and I
want the guys in there to look at me as a driver." McReynolds also recognizes the opportunity to deliver a
unique television experience. "We work so hard every week as broadcasters to take fans as
deep as we can into the world of NASCAR racing," said
McReynolds, a regular on several SPEED Channel programs,
including Trackside, NASCAR Performance and NASCAR qualifying.
When we talk to the competitors in the garage, they can't
always share everything with us. The teams are trying to keep
secrets and keep the upper hand on the competition, so we can
only tell the viewers as much as they are willing to tell us.
With DW's truck tour, we can take the SPEED Channel viewers
deeper into the game of NASCAR racing than they have ever been
before." And if the DW is running near the front at the end of the
race? "Katie bar the door and look out," Hammond said.