NASCAR veteran Rusty Wallace will join Speed Channel's program "Trackside" as a regular host beginning the second half of the Nextel Cup Series season, Speed officials confirmed Thursday.

In what some might term a surprise move, Wallace will replace Michael Waltrip, a fan favorite, in the show's lineup for the second half of the season, Speed spokesman Erik Arneson said.

Speed Channel recently extended Waltrip's contract to work in the booth for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races, and the network also confirmed that Waltrip would continue his work on the long-running Monday night show "Inside Nextel Cup."

Wallace, the 1989 Cup series champion, is in his final year of Cup competition and has appeared as a guest TV analyst several times, including with "Trackside," on Fox's "Hollywood Hotel" and in coverage of Busch Series races.

Wallace could not be immediately reached for comment.

During the first half of the Cup season, broadcasts by Fox and FX, have had hosts Steve Byrnes, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond on the Friday night "Trackside" program.

The live 60 minute show originates from the site of the week's Nextel Cup race and focuses on the that weekend's events.

Speed is making several talent changes to its programming, some of which will take place this season, while others may wait until 2006.

 

Sure hope it was Waltrip's decision to leave the show and not the producers. I'd much rather see him on there than Crusty.  Blahh........