Food enthusiast Adam Richman heads to Watkins Glen International near Rochester, N.Y., to root on NASCAR driver Joey Logano at the track and in a food challenge in Wednesday's episode of "Man v. Food Nation" at 9 p.m. ET on the Travel Channel.

"Logano is a cut-up and a rising star in the sport and he was very good-natured," said Richman, who has been hosting eating challenges since 2008. "Joey really knows how to work in front of the camera. That's because, as an athlete, he's been in front of a camera for years. He has that awareness to make good television."

Richman said the show, taped months ago, will be bittersweet because it highlights racing just a few days after the death of IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon in Las Vegas on Sunday.

"I've been at Indy. I've never met Dan but I met a lot of his friends and to see how they reacted to the crash and his death, you can feel their loss," Richman said. "To see the velocity firsthand and seeing those cars race around a track, it's terrifying."

"Man v. Food Nation" is a show in which Richman travels to various cities to try the signature food dishes of the local eateries and then help a local take on a food challenge.

"The challenges are two or three times as hard now than when I simply sat down and ate," said Richman, who previously handled the challenges himself on "Man v. Food." "Now, I have to provide the narrative content and keep the energy high in the room. I want to do my part to help them win."