It's the 400th race in the truck series this weekend in Kansas. Several title sponsors have worked with this series, with Camping World currently paying the bill.
Several TV networks have also televised the trucks, but the series has settled into a very happy relationship with SPEED. The network has consistently delivered a quality product at a much lower production cost for NASCAR.
This week, Krista Voda hosts the pre-race show from the starting grid at the Kansas Speedway. Ray Dunlap and Hermie Sadler are the reporters. Voda has been a critical part of the TV success with her simple and straightforward delivery of news, features and information. Bad puns aside, Voda sets the right tone for the racing.
Rick Allen knew nothing about NASCAR when he made his way from the Midwest to Charlotte to call the truck series races. Allen has "great pipes" and the ability to take a race and crank-up the excitement level. In terms of the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series TV races, this is an element that is sorely missing.
Phil Parsons has been the Andy Petree of the truck series. He flies below the radar, does not promote himself and has been consistently delivering quality analysis for many years on SPEED. Parsons and Petree just keep showing up and getting the job done.
The spice in the truck series telecasts is always offered by Micheal Waltrip. Fans either love his enthusiasm or think he is completely full of himself. Waltrip is a completely different person from the happy-go-lucky driver who used to clown around with Kenny Schrader and Johnny Benson on Monday nights.
These days, Waltrip has a lot going on. He is about to race in the 24 Hours of LeMans, his best-selling book is about to be made into a movie and he continues to run a multi-car Sprint Cup Series team.
When Waltrip is focused and on his game, the partnership in the TV booth works quite well. But when Waltrip is too loud, too overpowering and loaded with sponsor promotions he affects the entire telecast. Let's see just which Mikey shows up today.
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