Dale Jarrett In, Rusty Out of ESPN Booth

So do you remember when TallGlassofMilk reported that Dale Jarrett would be taking over Rusty Wallace's spot in ESPN's booth back in October? (October 17th, to be exact)

Well, a lot of things have happened since then, but one thing is for sure. TGOM was right.

From the ESPN mouth itself:

Dale Jarrett, the 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and one of the founding drivers of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will expand his role with ESPN and join high school friends Dr. Jerry Punch and Andy Petree in the booth for ESPN�s full season of NASCAR coverage in 2008.

Rusty Wallace, NASCAR Cup champion in 1989, will become lead analyst for ESPN studio programs in 2008, highlighted by serving as analyst for an enhanced NASCAR Countdown, the program that precedes all NASCAR telecasts.

I know I'm very, very satisfied with this move. What about you?

There was plenty of anti-ESPN sentiment through the end of 2007, though former-driver-turned-broadcaster Wallace shouldn't take all of the blame. Regardless, fans were by and far unhappy with some of Wallace's on-air thoughts, there seemed to be some occasional in-fighting amongst last year's ESPN team with Rusty, and, to me at least, Wallace just didn't have "it" when it came to working a race on TV.

So now, we'll get Wallace nearly every night on ESPN2's NASCAR Now as a lead analyst and as an infield studio reporter during races. I think I can handle that.

The booth changes, though, are just the start of many, many changes in the ESPN NASCAR telecasts in 2008, including:

NASCAR Now finally gets a host that knows motorsports. Nicole Manske, the now-former host of SPEED's The Speed Report, will take that gig. Prior to that role, Manske worked at WISH-TV Indianapolis as a sports reporter and apparently dated IndyCar star Dan Wheldon. Allan Bestwick and ESPN's Ryan Burr will share the hosting with Manske, though that will be a disappoint to male NASCAR fans.
Allen Bestwick has left pit road and will take over as full-time host of NASCAR on ESPN programming, which (I think) infers that we can say goodbye to Brent Musberger's lack of NASCAR knowledge.
Wallace, Bestwick, and Brad Daugherty will hold down the ESPN at-track studio roles.
The pit road reporting lineup will remain the same except for Shannon Spake moving in to Bestwick's role. She'll work alongside Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Mike Massaro.
Former crew chief Tim Brewer will hopefully have more things to talk about this season in the Dish Network Tech Center.
Rusty Wallace will be in the booth for "several race telecasts" while filling in DJ this season. ESPN made it a point last year to allow its team to get burnt-out, so several early season races could see a mix of ESPN talent in any position, but look for it all gain continuity in the second-half of the season.

If nothing else, ESPN realized what a flop parts of 2007 were for its telecasts, and made changes. The effort is nice, but only time will tell if it will pay dividends in fan approval.

What say you?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

1-24-2008 @ 1:30AM

STeve said...

Everything sounds better except for Tim Brewer. I know he has a rich history as a crew chief in Nascar, however he seems slow and confused when describing intimate parts of a race car. I believe someone with some personality should be set in the tech center role.

Just a side note, after a season of the tech center and the C.O.T. his job will become useless because of the lack of future innovation route Nascar has taken with cookie cutter cars.

Gentlemen start your engines, is so accurate. To be specific the "Gentlemen" part. With Nascar smothering out the personalities in Nascar, welcome to the world of prozac.

Best Wishes to the last year of D.E.I., without a future this will be the less semi-competitive year. Losing Jr. was the worse thing that could happen to the iconic dream of Dale Sr..

Now if we can get rid of the guarantee of the top 35. I would love to see evey driver have to qualify or go home. How big would that be for ratings?

As a fan, restrictor plate racing is amazing. I would love to another 2.5 to 3.0 mile track on the schedule.

While I am dreaming, what about a five race series in the off season for the cars or trucks. What a great way to kill time until February.

1-24-2008 @ 8:46AM

Mike said...

I rarely pay attention to what these bobbleheads say any ways. It is the producers that needed to be replaced. You know, the person that decides to go to commercial just before the restart of the race, EVERY week. How hard is it? You are on a 1 1/2 mile track. The light comes on telling you one more lap to go green. The pace car is going 60 MPH. You have 1 1/2 minutes of time to fill. You will be able to show 1 minute to 1 minute 15 seconds of commercials and still come back on to show the damn restart. Don't know how to do the math? OK, time the pace car laps at first with a stop watch. Did you ever notice every body seems to have one at a race? Then you will know how much time you have once the little white light comes on.
Steve, if you want to add excitement I say ban all pitting under yellow. The pits will be closed except for the cars that may have been wrecked. They can pit under yellow but there will be a 1 lap penalty for doing so. if you were not involved in a wreck and you pit under yellow it is a 3 lap penalty. Pitting when the pits are closed? 5 lap penalty. Now that would be exciting.
Mike LeVan

1-24-2008 @ 10:46AM

tallglassofmilk said...

Woohoo! Been waiting for ESPN to clean up that lil' white lie they told us in October when they said what I reported was WRONG!

The best news of all is the Allen Bestwick upgrade and Daugherty downgrade!

Thanks for listening to fans in the Fanhouse and elsewhere, ESPN!

The network will start with a clean slate this season in my book--they actually listened to their viewers. PROPS!

1-24-2008 @ 11:31AM

Cathy said...

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!! No more RUSTY 'I'll tell ya what' WALLACE. I can now watch the SPEED Pre-Race and the ESPN Race coverage and enjoy the whole race. They couldn't have picked a better guy in Dale Jarrett. I was seriously worried after last season if I could continue watching the races on ESPN because of Rusty. Maybe all of our comments and complaining really worked for our cause. Thanks everyone!

1-24-2008 @ 12:40PM

Cleo said...

That's a good start for ESPN...I got a few more suggestions for them.

Start the Nascar Race when its suppose to. No, I don't care if College Football is playing, when you advertise that the Nascar race is starting at 3:45 p/m on ESPN 2, then it needs to start at that time on that station. Not all cable channels carry ESPN Classic. Move the one game that is going overtime to ESPN Classic. Otherwise, get the hell out of Nascar and Let Speed have it.

Glad to see that Rusty is gone bye, bye. Can you get rid of the dead guy who does the car cutaway?

Im thrilled that Dale Jarrett is going to be in the booth! He has style and class. Welcome to Broadcasting, D.J.

1-24-2008 @ 1:40PM

Ron said...

Yeah Mike that would be exciting until your driver Jeff Gordon had to pit when he thought he had a tire going down while the pits were closed and it cost him 5 laps and the race. Then it wouldn't be exciting anymore. What's the difference between the 3 lap penalty and the 5 lap penalty? Isn't pitting when you're not involved in the wreck (3 laps)the same thing as pitting when the pits are closed? (5 laps) Whats your problem about pitting under caution?

Ron

1-24-2008 @ 3:54PM

hey, jeff needs to play by the same rules as the rest. i know full well he takes advantage of the rules as they are. he takes risks and gets away with it often.
sorry this one has not been as well thought out as it should be but as it is i hate seeing 43 cars at one time come in and go out all in one mad dash. had i actually thought about it i may have suggested a limit of two caution pits. the rest have to be under green.
hey, i know not all of my ideas are winners. but it would be more exciting.
mike levan

1-25-2008 @ 2:16AM

Don Emerson said...

Some interesting ideas being put forth, hmmm we're off to a great start. Amen to letting them all have to qualify for a race. That's the way it was designed until the Frances' got bored and started tampering with it. Ain't too sure 'bout Jarrett in the booth. He's a little too tame for my taste. He would make a good preacher,or librarian, but an announcer....I dunno. Guess time will tell. Everybody give TGOM a pat on the back for getting lucky and finally getting something right.Lord knows she's wrong most of the time.Women sportswriters...how useless.Kinda in the same catagory as male nurses, if you ask me. Freeze the cars in place when the yellow comes out and you'd eliminate the pit stop madness and mayhem that affects the outcome of too many races. Racing is supposed to take place on the track, not in the pits. Works for me.......

1-25-2008 @ 9:26AM

drgrcr601 said...

Hmmmmmm, Hear that Kimi? Dyno Don the Guru of Nascar thinks women sportswriters are "useless". What say you?

Ron

1-25-2008 @ 10:33AM

I am in total agreement of getting rid of the top 35 rule. In the realm of Nascar thinking that would probably be a bad idea. With this rule in place it almost guarantees all the top teams will make the race (why the teams like the rule) and keep the fans happy (and the dollars rolling in) on race day.
I'm not in favor however of freezing the field for pitstops as Don suggested. There is a huge competition going on there as well as on the track and pit crews take much pride in what they do and how well they do it. It's a team sport and pit crew competition is a very important part of the team. To eliminate that aspect of it would be absolutely senseless to say the least.

Ron

1-25-2008 @ 11:26AM

Damn Don, I think you have been resting up all this time and came back with more female bashing and stereotyping. I know my girlfriend will be on here soon with something to say about that one.
Freeze the field? I know my idea was a little too simple and if I really wanted to put some effort into it I could actually come up with something that makes a little more sense, but freeze the field? So, with 20 laps to go, the 5th place team comes in, takes 2 tires and a splash of gas in 8 seconds while the second place team comes in, takes 4 tires, gas, and fixes a shift linkage problem in 45 seconds and they do not get the rewards or face the penalty of those decisions? If that were the case, it would be like a free trip to the garage to fix things on every pit. Sorry, I cannot go along with this one. Pitting under grenn would really take into account the WHOLE TEAM WINS TOGETHER atmosphere. At 180 MPH a car travels 264 feet per second. Take an extra 1.5 seconds in the pits and you have just fallen behind almost 400 feet.
mike levan

1-25-2008 @ 12:30PM

Mike I still have the impression you want to punish a team if they pit on the yellow. Allow me to give you a scenario. Jeff's leading the race with 25 laps to go. JJ and company are right on his ass. Jeff calls in saying he thinks he has a tire going down. About that time a yellow comes out. Now what? Here's your chance to be a crewchief with your rules. :-)

Ron

1-25-2008 @ 2:55PM

Well yes, I understand and I do admit Jeff has a horseshoe up his butt when it somes to timely pits. I had also said that if I were to think about it I would probably say OK, make it allowable for teams to use two pits under yellow. All others have to be under green. Not much different from the 2 challenge rule in NFL. You get two challenges, all other mistakes by the refs are just part of the game. I am sure that if there were a limit of two yellow pits allowed, most drivers would in fact save one for what they would expect to be the last pit of the race.
Since Jeffy saved his yellow pit he would get to use it.
As I said earlier, it is not one of my more well thought out ideas and I am sure it could be improved upon. But the reason I made the suggestion this time was in response to Steve wanting more Nascar Excitement. I just feel that some way of limiting the yellow rush to the pits would make it more exciting on the track. I am sure some people like that mad rush. Yes, it is not unusual for a team to gain or lose as much as 10 spots at times. That is usually as a result of only taking two tires or just a splash and go which later hurts due to worn out tires. however, my scenario I feel would make it that much more important to have the best and fastest pit crew.
if everyone thinks it is a bonehead idea, i can handle that. maybe i can come up with a better one next week.

1-25-2008 @ 7:14PM

Kim said...

Hello All! Sorry I haven't been around in a while but you knew I would show up after reading this one, didn't you? :-)

Whoa there, Don! You may have topped your own record this time, two major egotistical insults in one paragraph! You Sir, are such a PIG, seriously!

First off, there is absolutely NOTHING and I do mean NOTHING wrong with female sports writers or commentators. Just as with men, there are some good and some bad. TGOM admits when she has made a mistake and retracts her comments which is more than I can say for most male sports writers! I suppose you believe that women should stay home and remain barefoot and pregnant, don't you? I suppose you also believe that a woman can't possibily be smart enough to be our President, which in my opinion, the one running to be such is the smartest of the bunch!

And second, I KNOW YOU ARE NOT DEGRATING men who choose to go into the nursing profession? Yes, I said profession. It requires a degree, one which my husband has attained. It's called a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and it comes along with a state RN license which in no way is easy to take and pass to obtain. I can only hope that one day you will be in a hospital and my husband will be the one responsible for your care. I can only hope he will come home and tell me about an EGOTISTICAL ASS OF A PATIENT NAMED DON EMERSON so that I can tell him to give you the least bit of treatment possible and maybe even forget your pain medications once in a while so you can suffer!!!!!

You are by far the biggest, most egotistical, and ignorant JERK I have ever come across. First off, go get an EDUCATION! Next, please join the rest of us in the 21st century! And lastly, please try to get a woman, since I know you don't have one and haven't had one and sure as hell can't keep one! Hopefully you will get some "ball busting bitch" to put you in your place. Too bad I am taken or I might be up for the challenge!

Ta ta!

Kim

1-25-2008 @ 7:40PM

Wow, I feel so much better now!!!!!

Now I can actually comment on the article. Well written as always, Geoffrey & congrats to TGOM for calling this one just right! :-)

I too am thrilled with ESPN's changes! Perhaps they really were listening to their fans and even possibly reading the fan boards?

Dale Jarrett will do well as a commentator. He is so well respected by so many fellow drivers and fans alike. I for one have always been a fan of his. He is classy, intelligent, attractive, and above all, knowledgable. This is a good move indeed. I am also pleased to see Allen Bestwick being put to better use. His talents were so wasted last year. He is also entertaining to watch. Although I still respect Rusty Wallace, having him out of the booth full-time is a good decision to say the least. I am also pleased that ESPN decided to keep Brad Daugherty on. I may have been his only supporter on these boards, but the man does know about racing. With better fellow commentators, you will all see a big difference in his performance this year, trust me!

Anyway, good move ESPN! Looking forward to this season now, finally!

Kim

1-25-2008 @ 10:59PM

Hey Ron!

I agree with you completely! I think part of the excitement of racing are the pit stops. I think too many people tend to forget that NASCAR is a Team Sport! The "team" includes the pit crew. They are crucial to the success of the driver. Cars should be able to pit under green and yellow only, never when the field has been frozen. If the field is frozen, then it should remain frozen. When the race goes green, then they can pit if they want, but no more "free pit stops" just because the race was frozen for clean up, accident, debris, etc. etc.

And I am ALL FOR making all drivers qualify for each race regardless of where their team places in points, if they have won the race before, etc. etc. Give everyone a fair shot. That way the single owner cars and the two team cars have a better chance to compete. NASCAR definitely needs to watch becoming a "monopoly." It's okay to have teams, but it's also okay to have a single owner team or a driver owned team compete as well. Borris Said is an excellent example of this. He is such a class act and a talent and deserves more opportunities whether he is in the top 35 or not. :-)

Kim

1-26-2008 @ 1:02AM

Wow Kim, still lusting after me I see. Bummer, give it up girl, it's never gonna happen. As for your man being a male nurse, well good for him. But I still ain't going camping with him. Yeah, freezing the field was kinda dumb, but I've been constipated lately, so I guess that's where I got that idea. Hmmm, I agree, no pitting under a yellow flag unless you are involved in the accident that brought it out.
Everyone has to qualify for the race, points be damned. And last but not least, everyone who votes for Hilary is barred from watching any sport but soccer for the length of her term. Works for me.....

1-26-2008 @ 9:01AM

mikeymike said...

Gender doesnt play a role in lack of knowledge! If you dont know the difference between a passenger restraint system (air-bag) and a suspension air spring (air-bag) then you should not be in a commentator for a blog that deals with primarily MOTORSPORTS. TGOM (another type of air bag) needs to join Rusty, a place where knuckleheads are king. Please tell me she's not coming back to this blog this year...some changes are for the better. Kim, I agree its OK to be a "ball busting bitch" IF you know what the hell your talking about.

1-26-2008 @ 9:04AM

Well Don,

I really don't know how to respond to you this time. You actually made me laugh. Alas I am not "lusting" after you. And just so you know....you could never handle a woman like me! I am way too independent, intelligent, successful, and even pretty good looking. You would be intimidated, trust me. :-) As for my hubby, I doubt he would go camping with you either, although he is an Ex-Marine, served this great country of ours for over eight years and left with many medals and certificates so I am sure he knows more about camping then you do anyway. He is not bothered by those who make such ridiculous statements about male nurses. You see, he doesn't have to question his manhood (Do you?)....He's well over six feet tall, a little over 200 pounds, and solid as a rock! What size are you again? I am beginning to wonder if I was "off" about your age when I guessed it. You must be older than I thought to have opinions that most got over having in the sixties and seventies.

And as for Hilary, I never said I was voting for her. I said she appears to be the smartest of the lot. But then you are clearly a severe right wing conservative Republican to still have such strong opinions about women that most people got over believing in the sixties and seventies (you might remember it...it was called "Womens' Lib"?).

Anyhoo.....works for me too, I guess!

Kim

1-26-2008 @ 9:17AM

MikeyMike,

Hello there. Another country we haven't heard from in some time. You've been in hiding a while too. I am glad you agree with me that there is nothing wrong with being a "ball busting bitch." I also hope you know that I am a woman who does know what she is talking about most of the time, so I hope your reference to such was not meant for me. If I make a mistake or misunderstand something, I am the first to admit it and ask for clarification. :-) And by the way, I am a really nice person. I rarely am a "bitch" but I would be willing to put that "face" on full-time just for Don! He needs one!

Kim