Welcome back Allen Bestwick. There, that wasn't so hard.
Maybe absense does make the heart grow fonder. Bestwick made his first appearance on ESPN the duce's NASCAR Now show Wednesday and actually made the show watchable.
The combination of Erik Kuselias, Doug Banks and Brad Daugherty has been brutal on a showcase show for ABC's nightly NASCAR coverage. There is a pretty good argument that fans don't need this show anyway, what with Speed's generally good quality programming. ESPN is comitted to a nightly NASCAR recap however and the network that brought you the late, great, RPM Tonight in the 80's has made a start at fixing the show.
Long time listeners and co-hosts of ON PIT ROW are likely laughing out loud to see me cheering Bestwick. I have never been a fan. I haven't seen much of him in recent years and maybe he was victim of over exposure at the time, but I was not unhappy to see him replaced on the NBC Cup broadcasts.
Wednesday was another story. Allen Bestwick knows NASCAR. Now, NASCAR Now does too.
Although not in a position to view the show I have little doubt Bestwick brought more to NASCAR Now than previous hosts have.
The Daily Planet (you REALLY should allow links in comments, Google "The Daily Planet NASCAR' and it should be #1 on the list) has a very good review of Bestwick's appearance although they seem to indicate it may have been "an audition."
Posted by: marc | May 31, 2007 at 08:03 PM
And I forget to add (read cheap self promotion) my latest post is on France and his TV deals as told by France himself.
Posted by: marc | May 31, 2007 at 08:11 PM
Marc
I read the Daily Planet article. Very good. I think Bestwick is in, though.
I'd love to allow links in comments. Type Pad has it's limitations. After watching your trials the past few weeks, I'm hesitant to make sweeping changes right now.
Posted by: charlie | May 31, 2007 at 08:51 PM
Understood Charlie, TypePad does some funky things on occasion. It's never happened here but there are times on TypePad blogs I write a comment and it tosses it because it claims I entered an invalid URL.
And don't even get me started on the TypeKey crapola.
Posted by: marc | June 01, 2007 at 12:38 AM
AB is a vrooimg pro. NN needs folks like Marty Smith, etc., not Doug Banks.
Posted by: vroom | June 01, 2007 at 07:58 AM
I'll take Bestwick over Bill Weber any day. Bestwick definitely knows NASCAR and has more credibility, not to mention genuine interest, compared to Kuselias. It's a shame Boris Said is on the show, because he should be driving for someone.
Posted by: Mike | June 01, 2007 at 11:47 AM