Jarrett to replace Wallace for NASCAR TV coverage
Quote selected text Published January 23rd, 2008 in NASCAR News
Former Cup champion Dale Jarrett will replace Rusty Wallace in the booth this season for ESPN’s NASCAR coverage, and Wallace will become the lead analyst for the network’s studio programs.
Jarrett, who won the Cup title in 1999, will compete in the first five races this season before retiring. It will be a high school reunion of sorts in the booth, with Jarrett, lead announcer Dr. Jerry Punch and Andy Petree — all of whom attended Newton-Conover High School in North Carolina — calling the races.
Jarrett was a booth analyst for 10 Nationwide Series ESPN race telecasts last year and worked several Sprint Cup races as a guest analyst on NASCAR Countdown, the program that precedes all NASCAR telecasts.
Wallace, the 1989 Cup champion, will be the analyst for an enhanced NASCAR Countdown. He also will appear on NASCAR Now, ESPN’s daily NASCAR news and information show, and will call several race telecasts in place of Jarrett. Wallace, who retired from racing in 2005, was an analyst for ESPN’s IndyCar Series coverage in 2006, and moved into the NASCAR booth last season.
“We were pleased to have Dale with us in a limited role last year and look forward to his participation on a regular basis,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, studio and event production. “Rusty’s enthusiasm, team spirit and knowledge make him an invaluable contributor to our coverage. These champion drivers in their new roles add tremendously to ESPN’s championship team for our second year back in NASCAR.”
Bookmark to:
- Ned Jarrett returns to ESPN television booth for Busch race at Lowes
- Dale Jarrett to make debut as ESPN NASCAR analyst at Texas
- ESPN’s Sprint Cup Coverage Launches with Big Week Leading to Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
- Jarrett says he’s returning to MWR with UPS for 2008
- Report: Jarrett to run only 6 races in 2008
this is going to be cool! i would like to see dale and his dad in the booth with k petty!
Oh thank God!
Thank god, I hated the way Rusty Wallace did his broadcasting. Dale Jarrett will be a better broadcaster then Rusty Wallace. Jarrett has won the Daytona 500 3 times, and the Brickyard in 1999. Unlike Wallace who ahsnt won a big race, and I mean that. He hasnt won at Daytona, never at the Brickyard. This is a great move
Rusty will be back in the booth before the season is half over. ESPN is never content with the way things are they like to keep us guessing about what has been will get the spotlight today.
THANK GOD I liked watching rusty race but him broadcasting was annoying
Woohooo!!! Cheers!!!
How about that lil punk Steven wallace hitting the fence on the way back to the garage the other day?
I’m glad this is happening. I didn’t mind Dale in the booth for the Busch races last year and I think he’ll do very well. On the other hand, I like Rusty as a driver and as a person, but I never did like him in the booth.
I can’t wait for Kyle Petty to hang up his helmet… He’s a natural… Easily the second best driver/announcer, behind B.P. I don’t think anyone will ever replace him
BP was one of a kind but i like Kyle too
Whew!!! Finally “boring” Rusty out of the
booth — however I am not really looking forward
to having Dale. He is not that much of an
improvement over Rusty. Ned is a great announcer and perhaps Dale will lighten up
as time goes by. I know there must be a
personality there someplace.
Right now I will take anyone in the booth –
just get the racing going!!!!!!!!!
Well it’s about time for old Rusty to fly off on one of his jets. He was really becoming
an annoyance to have to listen to.
Dale is no peach though. He is just the opposite of Rusty because Dale is soo boring,
he can’t string more than 1 sentence together at a time and if he tries too it’s like
eating cardboard to hear.
Dale Jarrett has a policy of not signing autographs or talking to fans before a race
unlike most other drivers he thinks the fans are nothing more than a distraction for him
at his work place.
He never accepted the roll of a driver/personality so I wonder why he now thinks we
should pay any attention to him in a TV personality roll.
Better question is for ESPN’s Mr.Williamson, Why do you think putting Dale “Dry and
boring as cardboard” Jarrett in is a better fit than Rusty was. ???
Looking like the 2ond year for ESPN is going to be as bad as year one.