Sometimes when I watch NASCAR on ESPN the coverage makes me simply wince. But other times I'm on the verge of throwing something through my television set. Something... I don't know -- heavy.

Here are three things, in order of annoyance, that I think they could change to improve their presentation dramatically. I don't mean to pick on ESPN per se, since most of NASCAR's broadcast partners suffer from these same problems, but ESPN just seems to excel at them.

End the Spotter Jibba-Jabba

ESPN was sort of on the cutting edge of bringing in-car team communications to the broadcasts in the 1990s. I think it has very good applications. Sometimes it's nice to know what the crew chief and spotter are saying to the driver and vice versa. Of course the old saying "everything in moderation" should apply here. There are times when it's appropriate and times when it's not. It seems that ESPN has become very undisciplined in how it uses these communications.

Mr. T: Got no time for spotter jibba-jabba.

Example: Often when covering restarts, they'll let the broadcast team relax from the mic and pretty much open wide all the teams' spotter communications -- simultaneously. The result is a mishmash on unintelligible voices that add absolutely no value to the broadcast experience. I truly cannot understand a thing that is even being said because there are ten half-muffled people all talking over each other. What is the point? When restarts come I find myself either muting the TV or changing the channel for a few minutes until the disaster is over.

Another problem is when an incident occurs. Typically when something happens on the track, they immediately open the spotters' audio of the cars involved. The problem is that the guys in the booth are also trying to call the race and the incident itself. Often they have to cut themselves off altogether just because they're competing with the spotter talk. And is broadcasting "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" really the best way to engage the viewer?

Stay Away from the Bumper Cam

Somebody in the truck must have a real fetish with the bumper-mounted camera. It's a nice shot, but it's also a very narrow shot, which means it's not practical for action moments -- like passes. I don't understand why the bumper cam is used to cover passes. I can't see what is going on. Shouldn't that be important? And especially on the restrictor plate tracks where the cars are nose to tail. It's not uncommon to be in a restart or a close pack of racing cars and what do we see? A big Chevy bowtie decal.  And, unfortunately... nothing else.

Scale Back the False Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm in a NASCAR broadcast is a necessity if the race is to be covered well. False enthusiasm, however, is easily identifiable and takes away from the show. It's almost embarrassing because it sounds like the commentators are trying to overcompensate for something that is lacking. The cast at ESPN are particularly bad in this area in my opinion, as is that at SPEED. Just call the race as it is and let the product speak for itself. It shouldn't need any extra hype.

And while I'm on the topic... how is Allen Bestwick in that silly pre-race trailer show instead of calling the race in the booth? Bestwick, probably due to his MRN background, is perhaps the only "new-school" commentator that understands how to call a race effectively and is, in my view, the best currently available television play-by-play announcer in American motorsports.  Somebody, please, put him in the booth!

These are three simply, easy, and non-controversial things that the television broadcasters can do to help improve the viewing experience. At this point I think every little bit that keeps people from flipping stations is going to help.

Usually when NASCAR heads out to Michigan the buzz before the race is about which of Detroit's Big Three is going to earn bragging rights by grabbing the big win at the home track.

Of course this year the talk was about the depressing state of the American auto manufacturers, precipitated by GM's recent announcement that it was scaling back financial and technical support for the Nationwide and Truck Series. Brian France, CEO and chairman of NASCAR, was quick to assure the media that NASCAR was open to having more foreign manufacturers in the sport. And anyone who knows NASCAR knows that comments like that mean that something is probably already in the works.

A large portion of NASCAR fans groaned several years back when it was announced that Toyota would be coming aboard. Today, NASCAR is finding it harder to connect with those older fans, a problem evidenced by decreasing attendance and waning interest. They have to believe that reconnecting with those older fans is important for moving the sport back in the right direction. But how will those fans react if Ford and Chevrolet become also-rans while foreign nameplates dominate the fields?

Of the potential participants, Honda seems the most likely to join the fray. They have a well-developed racing program and already supply V8 engines for Indy Racing League teams (and not just some -- all of them). One possibility worth laughing over is Hyundai. Hyundai in NASCAR... that would go over real well, especially with the old-school folk.

Another badge given serious consideration has been BMW. Now certainly BMW has, like Honda, an established international racing program. But there would just be something odd about a European luxury sedan racing in NASCAR. Kind of a mix between yuppie and redneck. Think about it -- BMW's on the high banks of Darlington, SC? Ehhh... I don't think this is a step in the right direction.

I think NASCAR shot itself in the foot with its whole "common template" philosophy that culminated with the infamous "Car of Tomorrow". Scratching their heads, wondering where they fit in with the new NASCAR, The Big Three in Detroit were left with nothing more than providing push-rod engines and headlight decals for the front bumper.

So... who's excited about BMW?

Is it just me, or does Tony Stewart seem a lot happier these days? And I don't mean just after snagging the top prize in the All-Star race or this past Sunday's win at Pocono. He seems to be in a much better mood for the whole year. Since forming his new team and taking on the owner-driver dual-role, he appears a lot more relaxed than in years past.

I remember when he announced last year that he was leaving Joe Gibbs Racing to start his own team. At the time, all sorts of puzzling questions popped up: Why would he leave one of the best Cup teams during the prime of his career? Doesn't he know how hard it is to be both an owner and driver -- while still being competitive? And what is my Dad going to do with his now obsolete Home Depot shirt?

It appears that Stewart has really taken a liking to his new roles. That's ironic considering the stress of being an owner-driver at the Cup level is usually enough to crumble even the best of men.

When the tour rolled into Daytona Beach in February, somebody with a smile was being interviewed for TV. Somebody... that looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. The graphic on the screen insisted it was Tony Stewart. Yet I don't think I've ever seen him with a... smile. I wondered for a bit if this was the same Tony Stewart I've been watching for the past few years. But about a week later I heard him trashing Goodyear, and that's when I knew it was really him.

Maybe he has a girlfriend or something.

Quick Facts

• The last car owner-driver to win a Cup race (before Stewart's feat at Pocono) was Ricky Rudd in the Fall 1998 race at Martinsville.
• Darrell Waltrip had five wins as an owner-driver of the #17 Western Auto Chevrolet -- two in 1991 and three in 1992, the last being the rain-shortened Southern 500 at Darlington.
• Stewart currently leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup points. The last owner-driver to win the Cup Championship? Alan Kulwicki in 1992. Kulwicki fought off all the high-dollar big-name teams to take two victories and win the championship over Bill Elliott by one single lap. Kulwicki omitted the "Th" from the "Thunderbird" printed on his car's front valence to emphasize his position as the "underdog".