ESPN Willing To Take a Gamble On "Backseat Drivers" For Nationwide Race

How many times have you sat back thinking how cool it would be to get five or six of your best, and most knowledgeable online NASCAR buddies to chop it up during a race?

Now I’m not talking about a live conference call, or logging into one of the many internet instant messaging sites that are available.

But instead actually sitting around a table, and discussing the different scenarios as the race as it is being run.

Some of the discussions that could, and most likely would be discussed are race strategy along with putting yourself in the drivers’ seat, and taking on the mindset of your favorite driver.

And of course the biggest topic of discussion would probably be some of the split second decisions, which the crew chiefs make during a race.

The topics that could arise would be endless, and the debates that stem from them could get really interesting.

Well for this Saturdays’ Carfax 250 NASCAR Nationwide race at Michigan International Speedway, ESPN2 has decided to change their normal broadcasting approach.

Rusty Wallace and Ray Evernham participated in NASCAR’s weekly media conference call to discuss the launching of a new format called. “Backseat Drivers.”

The telecast will feature five former NASCAR champions, and it will be done without the traditional play by play” announcer.

Now along with the former five champions, Ray Evernham, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree, and Rusty Wallace will still call the race from the booth.

Tim Brewer will do contributing reports and analysis from the ESPN Craftsman tech garage.

Dave Burns, Shannon Spake, Jamie Little, and Vince Welch will continue to cover the pit action, while Allen Bestwick will do the hosting.

Now while some fans may like the new format, there will always be those who most likely will disagree.

And I’m sure it won’t come as a big surprise, especially when you begin to look around at the other changes that have taken place so far within the sport.

Rusty Wallace, who has seen his share of change, had these thoughts on how he feels the telecast will play out.

“Well, I'm looking forward to the idea. Myself and Ray and Andy and DJ, we've probably got a lot to talk about, that's for sure.

"I guess my biggest concern is that I don't step over the top of each other and we don't keep interrupting each other and stuff like that," was Wallace serious when he made this comment?

"I think once we get about ten minutes into the broadcast we'll find our home and understand where we're at." Wallace was quoted.

Wallace also added this while talking about the format for this weekend, “It's going to be a different process for sure."

"Instead of saying here they go, here they come, this guy is passing this guy or whatever, we're going to be able to comment on how the race is going and from our past experience what we think we should do to do win a race."

Ray Evernham was not short on words while answering a few questions about his thoughts on the new format. “I really enjoy the role on ESPN."

"After racing for years with DJ and Andy and Rusty, it's like we're all kind of doing the same thing still, so I get to see the guys. But as much as we've done together, we still have different opinions on things, and it's great to be able to spar back and forth.”

Even though Evernham sounds like the more subtle of the two, he didn’t buy into Wallace’s comment that they wouldn’t be stepping on each other s toes.

“Unlike Rusty, “I really believe that we're going to be talking over one another and stopping and saying, no, man, that's not the way it is. But I think that's what ESPN wants, and I think that's what the fans are really going to enjoy."

Evernham knows that one of the analysts will have to take over the lead role, but who will it be is anyone’s guess.

“As far as I know, when we drop the green flag we're all headed towards the first corner together, so you know this group, someone is going to be trying to lead."

"I think I'm going to rely on DJ a little bit to help in and out and Allen Bestwick will really be traffic cop, but it's going to be up to us, added Evernham.

With all the complexity of those involved, hopefully it makes for a really good telecast with Evernham already predicting the outcome.

“You'll probably hear some of say, "Don't tell me, I beat you in 2000," or "Don't tell me, I beat you in 2001," and "you should have done this." It'll be a lot like that.”

Evernham went on to speak a little on how much he misses the competition side of the sport, as compared to the role he now has with ESPN.

Especially with the success that he had while guiding Jeff Gordon to three of his cup championships, along with 47 race wins as his crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports.

“I think you miss certainly certain aspects of it. I mean, I love cars, I love to work on them and I love to be in the race.

But I don't miss the 36 or 40 weekends a year and all the stress that went along with it.”

Evernham also spoke about his job with ESPN, adding this.

“I do enjoy my role with ESPN. I'm a very team oriented person, and I love to go to the racetrack with these guys. When you get there it's a team atmosphere.

"You're around a bunch of racing people in a relaxed mode. As I said, Rusty and DJ and Andy and I have all become good friends because we don't have to compete against each other every week."

When you sit back and start wonder with all that goes on during a race, how will they keep themselves from second-guessing the teams and drivers during the telecast?

“We're not. That's the whole reason for the broadcast."

"We're going to second guess the teams, we're going to second guess one another, we're going to talk about stuff that we did, we're going to say what's good and what we think is wrong,” Evernham responded.

Wallace added this to Evernham’s comment, “I agree. We're going to say what we think."

"We're not going to go into the broadcast trying to say, okay, I'm going to disagree with you six or eight times just to try to spice the show up, none of that stuff."

"I'm going to say, look, when I won my four races at Michigan , this is how I did it and this is what happens in the race.”

When you look at the line up of ex-crew chiefs Ray Evernham and Andy Petree, going up against ex-drivers Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett, it should make for a very interesting broadcast especially once they all settle into their own rhythms.

“So I'm looking forward to it. I guess that's the point is they're hoping that DJ and Rusty second guess the drivers."

"And they're opening that Andy and I are second guessing crew chiefs and that we're second guessing Rusty and DJ and vice versa, no different than it really is on the radio between a crew chief and a drive, “added Evernham.

It all sounded good during the media conference, but once the green flag drops it’s every man for himself.

And don’t be surprised if once again there is no love lost between all who are involved.

The only broadcasters that will be safe, are the ones that will be covering pit road because without a doubt that broadcast booth will get hot.

Wallace closed with this, “It's going to be a different type of broadcast. I feel comfortable with it, I'm excited about it, and when it's all said and done, it's either going to work or won't work and we'll see what happens.”

The race airs Saturday, Aug. 15, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2.