NBC looks to kick NASCAR ratings into higher gear

(AP) — NBC picks up its half of the NASCAR schedule with Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway.

[...] last Sunday's Fox Sports finale ranked second among all sports events watched on a single network, trailing only the final round of the PGA's Hartford Open.

Letarte, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s former crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports, will launch a segment that features traveling crew members.

NBC also brought former Olympic sprinter Ato Boldon, the network's lead track and field analyst, to Daytona to anchor features as a newcomer to the sport.

Letarte is Earnhardt's former crew chief and a confidant while Burton is a former competitor and friend.

[...] Jimmie Johnson has three wins, but he's the only Hendrick driver to get to victory lane this year.

[...] what I've seen on the racetrack, seems to me from a driver and a team that want to go to victory lane, I don't see a lack of determination or desire at all.