Fox Continues To Steer NASCAR In Right Direction

(From The USA Today -- By Michael Hiestand)

FOX's DARRELL WALTRIP noted on air Sunday that FOX's TERRY BRADSHAW had just called to correct him. Waltrip had sung bits of HELLO WALLS, and the NFL analyst called to say it was FARON YOUNG -- not FERLIN HUSKY, as Waltrip had said -- who sang that country song. That perked up FOX race analyst LARRY McREYNOLDS -- "The good news is that Bradshaw is watching."

The exchange came just before a post-crash restart of the AARON's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL CUP RACE with two laps to go. And it came at TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY, an Alabama track famous for its crashes where, as Waltrip said after an earlier 25-car pileup, "the volcano erupted."

It was clear again Sunday that nothing can top FOX'S NASCAR coverage when it comes to mixing metal smashing with heaping helpings of corn pone.

Smartly, FOX reporters took handheld TV monitors for driver interviews. That let drivers comment instantly on crashes rather than giving the usual response -- that they first needed to see replays.

Fortunately, the crashes didn't produce any serious injuries. And it's refreshing that while so many safe sports are treated as if there's life-and-death drama, FOX can find something to chuckle about. When FOX's prerace show lost power, host CHRIS MYERS was candid after it returned -- "You can kiss my circuit breaker."

And in a harmonic convergence of corporate interests, NASCAR driver JEFF GORDON got plenty of time Sunday on FOX to show off the ad on his car for the upcoming STAR WARS: EPISODE III -- REVENGE OF THE SITH, mention a movie Web site and quote YODA, the movie character painted on his car.

What a coincidence! STAR WARS comes from FOX corporate cousin 20TH CENTURY FOX. FOX might be less interested in movies June 19th, when WARNER BROTHERS, for its new BATMAN BEGINS, will title-sponsor that NASCAR Nextel Cup Race -- yes, it will be called the BATMAN BEGINS 400.

But it worked out for FOX on Sunday as Gordon won and again cited YODA after the race -- adding he "had the force with me."