NASCAR Nation
Encyclopedia
NASCAR Nation was a program on the Speed Channel
, which aired Monday nights, discussing the lifestyle of NASCAR drivers when they are not on the track. It was cancelled after the 2005 season.
The program began in 2005, effectively replacing Totally NASCAR
, which had aired on Fox Sports Net
since 2001. Speed expanded the program to one hour and it was a mixture of hard news, opinion, and feature segments. It aired Monday through Friday at 7 pm Eastern Time (ET).
In June 2005, the show carried an interview with NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton
in which he tried to justify the disqualification of Busch Series
driver Johnny Sauter
. Due to a technical violation found during post-race inspection, Sauter was stripped of championship points and prize money. Reportedly, NASCAR officials did not like the tone of the interview.
Whether or not the interview was a factor was never explained publicly, but the week of June 20-24, Speed aired repeats of previous shows, then returned on June 27 with an entirely retooled NASCAR Nation. The information segments were removed and only the "fluff
" elements, as noted above, remained. The show also received a new set, new theme music, and new hosts.
In August, NASCAR Nation was reduced to Mondays only, at 8 pm ET. It was part of a new "strip" of weekly NASCAR shows introduced by Speed. These shows included The Chase is On, One-Track Mind, and Backseat Drivers.
At the end of the 2005 season
in November, NASCAR Nation, was cancelled. Two segments from the show were carried into 2006: "Mikey Mic'd," starring Michael Waltrip
, which aired on NASCAR RaceDay
but was then canceled; and a trivia segment, which is part of NASCAR Live.
One-Track Mind and Backseat Drivers were also canned. The Chase is On remained for a few more seasons but has not returned since the end of the 2007 season.
Speed would not have another original nightly show about NASCAR until NASCAR Race Hub debuted on October 10, 2009
.
In addition, both versions featured contributions from Jon Willenborg, a former contestant on The Apprentice
.
SPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
, which aired Monday nights, discussing the lifestyle of NASCAR drivers when they are not on the track. It was cancelled after the 2005 season.
The program began in 2005, effectively replacing Totally NASCAR
Totally NASCAR
Totally NASCAR is a newscast about NASCAR racing that airs on Fox Sports Net. The program returned in 2010, but in a different format from the show that was originally shown from 2001 to 2004...
, which had aired on Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
since 2001. Speed expanded the program to one hour and it was a mixture of hard news, opinion, and feature segments. It aired Monday through Friday at 7 pm Eastern Time (ET).
In June 2005, the show carried an interview with NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton
Robin Pemberton
Robin Pemberton is an American motor racing official, currently the vice president for competition of NASCAR. He has held that position since 2004....
in which he tried to justify the disqualification of Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
driver Johnny Sauter
Johnny Sauter
Johnathan Joseph Sauter is a NASCAR driver from Wisconsin. Sauter is the son of former NASCAR driver Jim Sauter, and the brother of NASCAR drivers Tim Sauter and Jay Sauter...
. Due to a technical violation found during post-race inspection, Sauter was stripped of championship points and prize money. Reportedly, NASCAR officials did not like the tone of the interview.
Whether or not the interview was a factor was never explained publicly, but the week of June 20-24, Speed aired repeats of previous shows, then returned on June 27 with an entirely retooled NASCAR Nation. The information segments were removed and only the "fluff
Fluff
Fluff is a noun for anything light, soft, or fuzzy and may also be:* Belly button fluff, also known as navel lint* A lightweight file manager using the FLTK user interface library and the default file manager in Tiny Core Linux-A brand or product:...
" elements, as noted above, remained. The show also received a new set, new theme music, and new hosts.
In August, NASCAR Nation was reduced to Mondays only, at 8 pm ET. It was part of a new "strip" of weekly NASCAR shows introduced by Speed. These shows included The Chase is On, One-Track Mind, and Backseat Drivers.
At the end of the 2005 season
2005 in NASCAR
The 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series began on Saturday, February 12. The ten race Chase for the Nextel Cup started with the Sylvania 300 on Sunday, September 18, and ended on Sunday, November 20, with the Ford 400....
in November, NASCAR Nation, was cancelled. Two segments from the show were carried into 2006: "Mikey Mic'd," starring Michael Waltrip
Michael Waltrip
Michael Curtis Waltrip is a semi-former professional race car driver, co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, and a published author. He is the younger brother of three-time NASCAR champion and racing commentator Darrell Waltrip. Waltrip is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500; having won the race in...
, which aired on NASCAR RaceDay
NASCAR RaceDay
NASCAR RaceDay is a pre-race show on Speed Channel. Hosted by John M. Roberts, the show features driver–analysts Kenny Wallace and Kyle Petty, as well as pit reporter Wendy Venturini, who provide news from the track right before each weekend's race. Hermie Sadler came on board in 2008...
but was then canceled; and a trivia segment, which is part of NASCAR Live.
One-Track Mind and Backseat Drivers were also canned. The Chase is On remained for a few more seasons but has not returned since the end of the 2007 season.
Speed would not have another original nightly show about NASCAR until NASCAR Race Hub debuted on October 10, 2009
2009 in NASCAR
There were three NASCAR national series in 2009:*2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - The top racing series in NASCAR*2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series - The second-highest racing series in NASCAR...
.
Show segments (original)
- "The Big Story": In-depth examination of a NASCAR personality or event
- "Home Base": Drivers' lives away from the track
- "Nationcast": A look at the weekly weather from the race site
- "Time Capsule": Highlights of past NASCAR moments
- "Sound-Off": Fans' opinions of various topics (in later version, drivers were asked)
- "Mikey Mic'd": Reality mini-show starring Michael Waltrip (also in later version)
Show hosts
- Ralph SheheenRalph SheheenRalph Sheheen is currently a pit reporter for NASCAR on TNT, an announcer for AMA supercross and superbike racing on the Speed Channel, and is the lead commentator of CBS Sports' coverage of the AMA....
and Courtney GeorgeCourtney GeorgeCourtney George is an internationally elite curler from Duluth, Minnesota.Courtney George made her major competition debut at the 2006 Torino Olympic Games. She was asked to serve as the Alternate for the United States women's team skipped by Cassandra Johnson...
(first two weeks) - Ralph Sheheen and Krista VodaKrista VodaKrista Voda is an American sportscaster who covers auto racing. Voda is a pit reporter for NASCAR on Fox and is the host of The Setup, the pre-race show for coverage of the Camping World Truck Series, as well as Trackside on Speed Channel.Voda was born and raised in Clinton, Iowa and attended the...
(March through June) - Leeann TweedenLeeann TweedenLeeann Velez Tweeden is an American model.Tweeden was born in Manassas, Virginia. She graduated from Osbourn Park High School in 1991. Tweeden skipped college altogether and instead pursued a career in modeling...
, Craig Reynolds, and Shannon SpakeShannon SpakeShannon Spake is a NASCAR correspondent for ESPN. Spake contributes to both NASCAR Countdown and NASCAR Now, and occasionally appears on SportsCenter to give pre and post-race reports...
(June through November)
In addition, both versions featured contributions from Jon Willenborg, a former contestant on The Apprentice
The Apprentice (U.S. TV series)
The Apprentice is an American reality television show hosted by real estate magnate, businessman and television personality Donald Trump, created by Mark Burnett and broadcast on NBC...
.