[Bob Tanner]

Marty Smith wrote this in his recent ESPN.com column:
Wallace can't own team, commentate on races
By Marty Smith
ESPN.com

Rusty Wallace announced last week he will expand his NASCAR Busch Series operation to two teams in 2008. But what about Sprint Cup?


Wallace said Monday he would like to field Sprint Cup Series teams. However, his contract with ESPN/ABC forbids that, given the conflict of interest involved in commenting races in which teams he owns compete.

So he is contemplating the future sale of a majority stake in Rusty Wallace, Inc., he told ESPN.com Monday.

"Selling off a majority stake of the race team would allow me to focus more on my television career, and still ensure the race team's still in proper hands," Wallace said. "I'd like to be minority owner.

"I've established a great organization and want make sure it stays that way. A majority sale is something I'll look at in the future."

Wallace said the move wouldn't happen until 2009 at the earliest, and added that some current sponsors are among the interested parties in acquiring majority ownership.

Wallace's son, Steven, will drive one Busch Series car in 2008 and the other machine will be split between young Chase Austin, who will run non-companion events, and a Cup Series veteran, who is yet to be determined.

Marty Smith covers Nextel Cup racing for ESPN.com.

Makes perfect sense to me. Now, how about a column asking close relatives who have close relatives racing refrain from announcing those races? That one makes even more sense!

[BringBackWilkesboro]

So what's next for Tim Brewer, who worked for the Morgan-McClure team which is still active. Could cause problems...

[jks812]

I don't see the problem. He's called the Busch races and I haven't seen him showing any difference to his son. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't see it.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by jks812

I don't see the problem. He's called the Busch races and I haven't seen him showing any difference to his son. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just don't see it.

Rusty does eons better at being neutral toward his son than another "announcer" I can think of does toward his brother.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Makes perfect sense to me. Now, how about a column asking close relatives who have close relatives racing refrain from announcing those races? That one makes even more sense!

but if they did that we might miss another moment like when Dale J. won the 500 as Ned was calling the action... still gets me teary eyed. not that I care that much for Dale, but Ned's an all time favorite of mine.

[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

but if they did that we might miss another moment like when Dale J. won the 500 as Ned was calling the action... still gets me teary eyed. not that I care that much for Dale, but Ned's an all time favorite of mine.

I think we're safe there, RD. I can't imagine young Wallace winning the 500 any time in the near future. He can hardly make one complete curcuit around the track (forwards, that is). He seems to be an accident looking to happen. Rusty must do a lot of commentating with his eyes closed because I imagine watching your kid get so up close and personal with the wall so often (not to mention other cars) must be tough to watch. I think ol' Rusty has done a decent job not playing favorites. I might have been too busy squirming in my chair to notice because he's so hard to listen to.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadet

I think we're safe there, RD. I can't imagine young Wallace winning the 500 any time in the near future. He can hardly make one complete curcuit around the track (forwards, that is). He seems to be an accident looking to happen. Rusty must do a lot of commentating with his eyes closed because I imagine watching your kid get so up close and personal with the wall so often (not to mention other cars) must be tough to watch. I think ol' Rusty has done a decent job not playing favorites. I might have been too busy squirming in my chair to notice because he's so hard to listen to.

roger that!

announcing talent aside, ya know Rusty's heart is in the right place .. he's trying to not be a dad watching his son fail .. that in itself is hard to do without bleeding all over everything.

[bears9]

But in that case he calls the Busch Series races that Steven drives in so why cant he call Cup races that Steven drives in.

[Racer Duck]

all we have to go by is Rusty's statement that his contract with ESPN/ABC stipulates it's a conflict of interest. guess they don't think Busch is a big deal, but "Sprint Cup" is (that's still a terrible name .. blah!)

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by bears9

But in that case he calls the Busch Series races that Steven drives in so why cant he call Cup races that Steven drives in.

Well, on the Cup side of things, there's Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon to focus on. Just like ESPN has done with the Yankees, NASCAR brodcasts will be dominated by those two and they want to be sure there is no possible way their disscussion could move away from them. Of course, without having seen a Cup brodcast yet, that is only speculation.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by BringBackWilkesboro

Well, on the Cup side of things, there's Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon to focus on. Just like ESPN has done with the Yankees, NASCAR brodcasts will be dominated by those two and they want to be sure there is no possible way their disscussion could move away from them. Of course, without having seen a Cup brodcast yet, that is only speculation.

Oh but the Busch series has Rusty's brothers Mike and Kenny

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

, but "Sprint Cup" is (that's still a terrible name .. blah!)

I just gave up and call it "Cup." If nothing else, it takes fewer key strokes.

[tkj24]

I have called it cup since Winston left.

[Souporscotty]

When I hear "Sprint Cup", I think of little open wheel cars flipping end-over-end down a dirt track.(Not that there's anything wring with that)

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Souporscotty

(Not that there's anything wring with that)

especially if it's the 24 or 48(with no bodily harm of course )