By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Jeff Burton has been a regular face on NASCAR on NBC since 2015 and brings decades of racing experience to the live broadcast in 2018.
However, he’s only one of a rotating panel that hits NASCAR America every Wednesday afternoon on NBC Sports Network. The panel includes TV personality Rutledge Wood, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett, Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and others.
Here, NASCAR America implements its “WednesDale” show, a four-person roundtable show that strives to get personal on guest drivers (i.e. Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, etc.) while also discussing the past weekend’s race.
Additionally, as Burton points out, the “WednesDale” show offers race fans with a “relaxed” water-cooler atmosphere that could better interest TV viewers.
“You can tell we at NBC are working hard to do things differently,” Burton said. “When you’re watching a race with a group of buddies, you may be arguing who your favorite driver is, but that relaxed, having-a-good-time atmosphere is really what racing is about.
“It doesn’t have to be a formal event to watch a race. It can be way more fun and relaxed.”
When Earnhardt officially joined NBC as an analyst for the second half of 2018, some thought there could be some new ideas coming to the network. And though the “WednesDale” moniker is obviously a spin on words for Earnhardt’s Wednesday appearances, similar laid-back adjustments have found their way to race broadcasts.
During the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Letarte, Earnhardt and Burton ditched the suit and tie for throwback NASCAR shirts. Burton chose a blue Richard Petty ‘The King’ shirt and enjoyed that new experience.
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“If you’re going to sit down and watch a race for three hours, it might as well be fun,” he said. “We’ve taken the same approach from races as we do on NASCAR America. It’s harder on the show because it’s one hour, Wednesday is very easy with the roundtable. Some of that approach is us being ourselves, NBC relaxing a little bit [and us saying], ‘Hey, let’s just have fun.'”
The throwback shirts may be a nod to generations past but it’s also an attempt to connect the generations next. With such a relaxed buddy-to-buddy broadcast team, Burton has listened to feedback in past weeks and knows the young generation are the ones to ask.
“We are indeed working to get more people to watch and trying to energize the ones who are watching,” he said. “It’s funny, we have these conversations about how young kids watch TV, and it’s all old people talking about it. Why don’t we just ask the young people? They consume completely different than we did.”
Part of this young generation is Burton’s son, Harrison, who competes part-time across ARCA, K&N Pro Series East and Camping World Trucks in 2018. Watching his father transition from the racecar to the cameras, Harrison, 17, has enjoyed the new look for NASCAR on NBC this year.
“As a younger generation as a whole, we’re not about the suit and tie,” Harrison said. “The moments I enjoy the most are when my dad is having a good time when people are laughing and smiling.
“You watch people who do other sports shows and they’re sitting there all straight up and down, uptight. It doesn’t come off as fun. I think NASCAR as a whole is one of the most fun things there is. I definitely enjoy it.”
Above all, it’s about having fun for Jeff Burton. He certainly hopes that feeling becomes mutual with the viewers.
“The way we broadcast races are coming at fans differently than ever,” he said. “Whether they like it, time will tell.”
