Guess what, fans? ESPN really does listen to us! Or ... maybe they just listen to their own broadcasts and realize how painful they are all on their own.Rusty Wallace is out! Out I say! Done deal. My source actually used the word "fired!"
I'll tell ya what ... I don't care if he was fired, quit or otherwise. I'd just like to wish him good riddance. One Answer this... reader suggests that ESPN will shift Wallace back to the IRL booth. Good for him--they can have him.
Wallace will be replaced by the retiring Dale Jarrett, who drove circles around his fellow former champion in the booth this season.
Never thought I'd say it .. Thank you, ESPN!
Update: Daly Planet has also received a confirmation that Rusty is out.
Update: Official Comment from ESPN
"Rusty Wallace is our guy. We have a long-term contract with him. He's the voice of NASCAR on ESPN."That's disappointing. I should like to withdrawal my thanks and hope that Mr. Williamson is just saying that 'cause he has to and that he'll be telling us something different at a later date.
NORBY WILLIAMSON – ESPN Executive Vice President, Studio and Remote Production
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
10-17-2007 @ 12:32PM
min_k said...
Hallelujah!! Rusty wasn't good at all...
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10-17-2007 @ 1:09PM
buschbrosfan said...
Woooooooooooohooooooooo!
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10-17-2007 @ 1:09PM
TorontoJrFan said...
God hears our prayers after all.
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10-17-2007 @ 1:10PM
Cathy said...
I am so glad Rusty is out. It will make watching ESPN more bearable. Now if you could get the rest of your announcers Suzy and Brad out it would make things 100% better. Thanks for yur time.
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10-17-2007 @ 1:10PM
Bobbie said...
Well ESPN SCREWS ANOTHER DRIVER. DAMN RUSTY NOT ONLY DO THEY SCREW TONY NOW THEY SCREWED YOU OVER. I THINK RUSTY IS A GOOD ANNOUNCER.THE ONLY REASON DJ WAS IN THE BOOTH WAS BECAUSE HE CANT MAKE RACES!!!!!! ATLEAST RUSTY MADE ALL HIS.
RUSTY IT WASNT YOU ITS THE FOOLS AT ESPN. THEY NEED TO GET RID OF BRAD DAUGHTERY NOW BECAUSE HE REALLY SUCKS THE BIG ONE.HE THINKS HE KNOWS IT ALL AND HE DONT KNOW SH*T. HE THINKS BECAUSE HE OWNED A TRUCK TEAM HE KNOWS EVERYTHING. ESPN SUCKS FOR COVERAGE AND THEY JUST PLAN OUT SUCK.
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10-17-2007 @ 1:29PM
Maveness said...
Just because Rusty could drive a car doesn't mean he knew a thing about what was going on on the track. Good riddance! DJ has done a decent job and at least now that he's realized he's done he can find something to do to make the fans not want to slit their throats on Sunday (when ESPN/ABC is covering the race).
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10-17-2007 @ 1:34PM
Heather said...
Rusty was a great driver. And I also feel that ESPN sucks. TNT is much better. I think Speed should just take it all over.
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10-17-2007 @ 1:46PM
limegreen359 said...
seeeeeeeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaaaaa rusty. you were painful to listen to. nascar needs to go back to fox full time
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10-17-2007 @ 2:15PM
Mike said...
Well, that was some of the problem as you well know TGOM. Maybe if they could finish by canning the dumb chick and Brad, maybe get rid of the producer that calls the shots on commercials and what we actually get to see then we will see an improvement.
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10-17-2007 @ 2:53PM
Amy said...
Goodbye Rusty won't miss ya! now get rid of Suzy ESPN!
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10-17-2007 @ 2:54PM
Hawk said...
Now that Rusty is gone maybe ESPN will move Punch back to the pits and to the pre-race show. Also remove Brad, Suzy, Brent, and especially Eric the clueless.
Have a great week
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10-17-2007 @ 2:58PM
llucas said...
Rusty might not have been great,but Brad & Suzy suck ! The production sucks, how about finishing the race on the same channel it started ? Let's hope speed picks up nascar in the future . Give it back to the professionals !
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10-17-2007 @ 3:44PM
char said...
I'm glad Rusty is gone. Now the rest of them should be let go. All the races should be covered by the Fox Crew anyway
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10-17-2007 @ 3:53PM
rdvent said...
I am glad Rusty is gone . now they should get rid of the rest of the guys. all the races should be with the Fox Crew anyway.
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10-17-2007 @ 3:54PM
Silverifirejumper said...
Oh thank goodness. Rusty was just awful!
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10-17-2007 @ 4:06PM
Don Emerson said...
'Bout time ABC/Espn. If you talk to the drivers, no driver is more admired and respected than Dale Jarrett. In time I think he will prove to be one of the best anoouncers ever to take a seat in the booth. Who knows, maybe he can even make some suggestions to improve the broadcast. Let's hope so....Go Dale Go.
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10-17-2007 @ 4:41PM
abby said...
Thank you God, for listening. I agree with the others, now get rid of Brad and the Chick with the bad hair in the booth with him, along with the Chase for all the Commercials (formaly known as Chase for the Cup), and the broadcast will only be muted 50% of the time.
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10-17-2007 @ 5:05PM
lilbuzzybee said...
I'm sad he is leaving... can he take the rest of the broadcasters (team ) with him!
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10-17-2007 @ 6:08PM
Joe said...
tallglassofmilk, if ESPN actually listens to their broadcasts, or listens to any of us, then they would not only get rid of Rusty, but they would have gotten rid of Tony Kornhole over at Monday Night Football a long time ago.
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10-17-2007 @ 7:27PM
Janet Hamilton said...
Yea! It is about time. He was horrible as a commentator, could do nothing but talk about Jr. This is the best news I have heard today. I like Dale Jarrett, he will do a great job!
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