The Busch Series will once again live dangerously on ESPN2 this Saturday afternoon. This time, its LSU and Tulane University that hold the keys to the race.
These two teams begin their football game live at noon, and once again NASCAR Countdown is scheduled for 3PM and the race itself for 3:30PM Eastern Time. Most college football games run three and a half hours at a minimum. In the words of Larry McReynolds..."do the math."
UPDATE: NASCAR Countdown is now airing on ESPN Classic because the football game is running long.
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119 comments:
The first half just ended. This game might be long and come very close to the start of the race.
Forget the Nascar Countdown show, 12:00 still to go in the 4th quarter.
2:58 PM and 11 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Didn't see this one coming.
Countdown is on ESPN Classic. Did they even mention that on ESPN2?
This game might end close to the start time, we'll see what ESPN plans on doing
Thanks for that stricklinfan, and no I don't think they mentioned anythign on ESPN2
Countdown is on ESPN classic. Is this going to become a regular occurrence?
There is a program alert ticker on ESPN 2... but the announcers have not said anything.
Thanks, I was looking but you helped me to find it.
The green flag isn't until 3:45 so it looks like the game should end in time for the green flag.
Lesson learned: always DVR ESPN2 and ESPN Classic if you aren't home to watch the Busch race on Saturday afternoon. Thankfully there's no live college football coverage on ESPN Classic today or there would only be Internet coverage of Countdown today.
I used to love AreoSmith, now I mute the TV..
Just because the Green is not till 3:45, that does not mean ESPN can just skip pre-race.
Can anyone tell us how countdown is going? I don't have ESPN classic.
Hey Everybody,
Didn't we see this one coming a while back?
JD
yes...so then why wont ESPN2 get some buffer room between the broadcasts?
Because they are out of networks. Plain and simple. Their program load is bigger than their distribution paths.
One injury in the Tulane game or a bunch of timeouts and it could get very interesting.
Elliot Sadler works for Speed, but is on Nascar Countdown?
LOL
As I've said many times, ESPN's problem is trying to fit 10 pounds of "stuff" into a 5 pound bag. By alloting 3 hours of programming to college football games that typical last at least 3 1/2 hours, they're just asking for conflicts like this.
I am on the line with a friend right now from SPEED. Its possible that ESPN has no clue that Sadler is a fulltime host on Trackside Live.
The SPEED guys are getting a kick out of it.
ESPN is just trying to get as much on the air as possible in a day. If they gave an additional 30-60 minute slack time, then that would end up booting an entire event off the air.
I don't have Classic. I do hope that I get to see the race.
Free coverage of Countdown is also on nascar.com for those without ESPN Classic.
Erik,
That is not right in any way, shape, or form. Each show and live event is assigned a window that fits the normal length of the event. That is true for every sport.
We have talked about this situation since the Busch Series was purchased last year, and now here we are with only a handful of races left and the pre-race show already off the main network.
If you are just going to continue to hang out and make up things about ESPN, get ready. I am here right now and you are not going to get away with it.
If you want to offer an opinon, please feel free to do it. If you try to tell us things, that might not go over too well. OK?
Countdown is NOT yet on nascar.com. the video on nascar.com says "stand-by for Busch series racing on nascar.com"
That's my fault. I saw the link that said "free coverage of the Busch race at 3:00" and assumed they were simulcasting it there. I'm sorry about the confusion.
My ESPN2 is Ch 30. ESPNC is 110 and ESPNU 109 and ESPNEWS 111. Scroll ahead and maybe you can find ESPNC for Countdown.
what's with this talk about Elliot Sadler all of a sudden? I cant watch countdown.
John,
And unfortunatly, college football has been tinkering with timing rules as they try to get their games shortened. They made changes last season that people didn't like, and made more changes this season.
They thought the normal window would be 3 hours, but it turns out not to be the case. With the start times already set in stone, its too late to change things up.
ESPN ALWAYS shows the end of every live event, no matter what sport, like last weekend where the Busch race bumped the start of a college game to another channel.
Erik,
The "tickering" you are talking about was to make the games SHORTER last year and they undid some of the changes for this year. Even before the tickering began college football games routinely ran longer than 3 1/2 hours. Does anyone remember USC-Notre Dame in October of '05 on NBC right before the start of the fall Charlotte Cup race?
Erik,
Please. This issue is that this is not the start of the season. It is the conclusion.
ESPN2 has been a college football only network on Saturdays for years in the season.
Cheating the NASCAR fan out of the pre-race show and possibly portions of the race because of the lack of a distribution channel is the issue. Everyone knew this was going to happen, the only question was when.
"Catching" the start of the race is not the issue either. NASCAR's second national series deserves a "hard start" time and a full window to air.
This is a multi-million dollar event in a billion dollar TV contract. We deserve better.
I meant "tinkering", LOL.
countdown is now on nascar.com...http://www.nascar.com/video/meta/webcast/busch/webcast_video.high.asx
Nice transition to ESPN2 with no warning at all.
countdown is now on ESPN 2...just seconds before starting ceremonies.
Wow, that was rough.
For the life of me, I don't get why ESPN paid the big bucks to purchase the NASCAR rights and then they pull this crap with their investment. Did they buy it to prevent a competitor from having it? Did they buy it "because they could?" I wish TNN was was still around because they never pulled this kind of crap.
NASCAR was fully aware of ESPN's other programming commitments. If not, they didn't do due diligence and just wanted to cash a big check.
Rough is an understatement!
Sorry Dave Burns there is no penalty for making a pit stop during the pace lap. If you add fuel, yes that's a 1 lap penalty but not making a pit stop.
Erik,
If that is your opinion, fine. If you work for ESPN and are telling us that, then disclose it. You speak in facts as if you are an ESPN lawyer. What gives?
10 laps and a commercial
this team does not have the same chemistry as last week.
24 laps and the second commercial. Are they going to come that often all afternoon?
What do you all think of Brad and Andy? It seems as if Jerry Punch is having a hard time with no Rusty around.
JD
Thats what I was thinking when I said this team does not have the same chemistry as last week.
WOW... ESPN got the caution BEFORE live leader board. its usually the other way around. whats with the change?
I think it's still way too early to make judgements but my initial impression is that the chemistry of this crew isn't the same as last week's.
Karen-
For some of us, ESPN Classic and ESPN News are not available at all. For others, those two channels are on an extra-cost higher tier of channels.
To me it always sounds like Jerry really doesn't want to be there. Like someone talking on the phone while watching TV, only paying half attention.
I still hate the playing of 43 team radios at once during every restart.
it did not sound like all 43 cars. I could actually understand what they were saying on the radio.
I noticed at the very start of the race that Punch was having a problem. He was saying things that just didn’t make sense. I have said “huh?” several times. Might be best if he was given tomorrow off.
I take back what i said about the chemistry in the booth. Its getting better.
Ran 8 laps then another commercial. Seems too many to me.
Be careul what you wish for. If Punch was unavailable to call a Cup race they'd probably fly in Brent Musburger, Mike Tirico, or one of their other ESPN play-by-play guys to take his place instead of doing the smart thing and putting Allen Bestwick in the booth.
maybe they are getting them out of the way to have a commercial free run near the finish.
Gosh, Stricklin, you're right! Forgive me, I was trying to apply logic to ESPN's decisions. Silly me! :)
They basically just laughed at a lady for not understanding what "the tires falling off" term meant. Real good guys. Not all fans are up to speed on the terminology. Way to turn newer fans away by all the booth guys laughing about her email question. Real classy.
I still don't see why ESPN has the need to fly Suzy Kolber in from Cincinnati where she's probably spending the day prepping for Monday Night Football to replace Allen Bestwick as the studio host for the Cup race tomorrow.
If they want Suzy to be the face of NASCAR on ESPN shouldn't she be doing the Busch Series telecasts too? At least when Fox hired Chris Myers to host NASCAR on Fox he was at the track all weekend doing the Busch races, practice sessions, etc. I don't see the sense of having her fly to Kansas to just work on Sunday and never see a track again until she does the same thing the following Sunday.
WHAT?? that was the best I heard all year from Jerry. You have to be VERY sensitive for something as simple as that to send you away from the sport.
Anonymous said...
WHAT?? that was the best I heard all year from Jerry. You have to be VERY sensitive for something as simple as that to send you away from the sport.
September 29, 2007 4:49 PM
The above was in reference to the "tires falling off" comment by Jerry
Full throttle crap again!! ##^&*)
I like how ESPN keeped up with the multiple incidents on the track just now.
Dr. Punch definitely got excited when Carl Edwards blew that tire. I guess Rusty isn't the only person listening to the viewers' comments.
They totally missed all the action with that full throttle thing. Then all attention was on Carl and they forgot every one else was on the track racing hard.
If they cut away from Carl people would cry foul. It was a major incident on the track and deserved focus. When another incident happened ESPN cut to that.
I do know that some fans have been “playing” with the ESPN folk. The tire email could have been one of those.
Half way and a total of 9 commercial breaks.
Have they even used the In Race Reporter since the race started? I'm not complaining one bit, I'm just making the observation of how the broadcast is better without it.
Steve L said...
Half way and a total of 9 commercial breaks.
September 29, 2007 5:05 PM
I believe that ESPN will go commercial free when we get closer to the finish because of that. Also ESPN has not missed a restart.
It's possible that some fan out there was legitimately that naive. I remember the Busch race at Dover in the spring when Suzy Kolber asked why there was a red flag to clean up debris when the track was supposed to be "self cleaning". I'm not convinced that she was kidding either.
ESPN played the audio of Carl Edwards complaining about how Matt Kenseth raced him earlier. I'd like to see them air Mark Green's thoughts on Carl Edwards after Carl ignored the fact that Mark was beside him.
If you're going to complain about people running into you then you shouldn't turn around and do it to someone else 10 laps later.
Not to get off topic, but I did not think it was Carl's fault. Paul Menard pushed Carl down.
Now that we are at the halfway point, what does everyone think of the new booth combination?
One thing I think Brad should learn would be to stop talking when a driver or crew chief talks over the radio. He tends to talk over them.
The booth is fine today. Andy and Brad seem to be enjoying the race and it's nice to hear them laugh. Punch is just Punch.
Man..Brad is one hell of an addittion to the booth. I'd rather listen to him being excited as a kid before Christmas lap after lap that having to listen to Rusty "aero-loose" Wallace.
Too bad the split screen isn't used more than it is. The action back thru the field looks good too. I'd about rather see ten cars fighting for a spot than two swaping the lead.
The energy level has got better here in the last half of the race. But then again, the racing is getting better also. I hope they keep this up till the end.
Back from commercial and a yellow. Go figure.
I am really enjoying Brad today, too. I think he and Andy really seem to play well off each other. There isn't an ego with him because he isn't a former driver...he's just a guy who likes racing---much like the rest of us. So I guess in a way he really is the voice of the fans---doing what we'd all kill to do---but he's doing it very well. You either have "it" or you don't...and Brad's got "it." Coming from a girl who used to really like Rusty Wallace, he needs to step in the booth on Sunday and replace Russell.
Its not like ESPN is intentionally treating the Busch Series like a red-headed step child. Unfortunatly, the Busch Series is not at the level of the NFL. It doesn't have the TV audience or fan following that warrants ESPN blocking off an entire afternoon for what amounts to be a 2nd tier racing series.
Knowing how ESPN broadcasts other sports, this was expected. I'd much rather have racing on ESPN, rather than cable networks that hardly anyone gets in the first place.
PLEASE KEEP RUSTY OUT OF THE BOOTH!!!
This has been FUN LISTENING to Brad and Andee..the only gripe...Brad, please stop yakking over the in car radios and you'd be fine.
I don't know about the rest of you folks but this just drove home today HOW MUCH RUSTY ANNOYS THE SNOT OUT OF PEOPLE.
Be honest, did ANY of you miss the words "aero loose" ??
Also, Brad DID say a couple times I TELL YOU WHAT But I use that term "sometimes myself". Rusty seems to run any and all cliches or racing terms HE LIKES into the ground. SHEESH.
Well we're about to find out if ESPN was really front loading the commercial breaks to the start of the broadcast so they could bring us the finish uninterrupted. If we don't get the last 39 laps commercial free than that just shows that ESPN has too many commercials.
TOO MUCH SPLIT SCREEN !!!! SHEESH
Do they NOT understand BALANCE and PERSPECTIVE
Rolls eyes
I don't mind the split screen at all. I like to being able to see all of the racing at once instead of being at the mercy of the director to choose for us which race is better to watch.
SophiaZ123 said...
Do they NOT understand BALANCE and PERSPECTIVE
September 29, 2007 6:14 PM
I think that can be debated. some fans like it, some do not.
As for the commercials, I think ESPN would have been commercial free if it had not been for that last caution.
Erik said:
I'd much rather have racing on ESPN, rather than cable networks that hardly anyone gets in the first place.
Yeah...ESPN is doing so much better than TNT, TBS, the old TNN, Speed....and nobody gets those channels.
On our package if you get ESPN classic, ESPN2....you'll get Speed....I know I'd rather see all of NASCAR on Speed. I guess Fox does it best.
People are either going to complain that ESPN is only showing the leaders and not action in the pack, or ignoring the action up front. You cant satisfy everyone.
Another good outing from Brad...
Although I did laugh when he accidentally said "we saw him take a heck of a leak" instead of "lick" after Keselowski's last wreck.
where will Nextel Cup practice air if this race runs long? It is scheduled to start at 6:30 with a football game at 7:30.
I still think that ESPN should have a different team in the booth for the Busch series next season. Bestwick, Brad and Hank Parker, Jr. would be a good mix to me.
Happy Hour is supposed to air from 6:30-7:30, with College Football Scoreboard from 7:30-8:00 and then college football from 8:00-11:00.
The race is going to run past 6:30 so let's hope Happy Hour is still aired in its entirety. I don't expect the football game to be pre-empted but I certainly hope the scoreboard show will be.
Decent show today. Brad is having fun which makes me enjoy the excitement. 2 minute commercials acceptable. The last good Busch race, the following Cup race was awful. Maybe not tommorrow
I'm not saying the coverage is better on ESPN, but any coverage is better than none when races are only aired on minor cable networks whose available audience is a mere fraction of the big boys.
Oh I LIKE the split screen...just overly focused at times. I like more wide shots but NOT the "Google search" :-)
I think Happy Hour will be cut down severely.
Dang, another crash...guess more commercial cramming rather than follow up on some earlier car issues.
To anonymous @ 6:22
I wouldn't count on it. ;)
It looks like happy hour will be late. which means it will run into football. what will ESPN do?
Are there ANY Busch racers in today's race...man,...thats kind of a shame...I have rarely seen SO many CUP racers at the top of the field.
Don't let shrub win.
once again as SOON as the scoring grid is FINISHED, ESPN IMMEDIATELY ZAPS it back up?? Why show it if it's impossible to read.
Sigh
Least Brad did a good job again.
SophiaZ123 said...
Don't let shrub win.
September 29, 2007 6:35 PM
BUSCH wins.
I hope Dr Jerry's 'Excitement' with what was happening on track today was good enough for ya John.. You've been pretty tough on the good doc with the 'he's one tired amigo' comments...
SophiaZ123 said...
once again as SOON as the scoring grid is FINISHED, ESPN IMMEDIATELY ZAPS it back up?? Why show it if it's impossible to read.
September 29, 2007 6:38 PM
I had no problems reading it all the way to 11 th.
A great race and coverage for the ESPN. Andy and Brad are good in the booth.
I love the energy that Brad Daugherty brings to the booth. It definitely rubbed off on Andy Petree and Dr. Punch, especially at the end of the race.
As far as comparing the announce teams of the last 2 weeks, I didn't really notice that big of a difference to be honest. Early on the energy of this team appeared to be lacking but things got much better as the afternoon went on. In my mind Brad-Andy-Jerry vs. Brad-Rusty-Jerry was too close to call. Both were better than the original crew of Jerry-Andy-Rusty though.
45 minutes until football with happy hour just starting. will they cut off the end of practice?
I haven't had this much fun listening to an ESPN race all year!! Wonder why? Way to go Brad D!!
Don't things seem to go a lot smoother in the booth without crusty?
I'll take some of brads ridiculous comments over him anyday.. (DJ is even better)
The football game is not until 8:00. They have a college football scoreboard show at 7:30 but Happy Hour shouldn't be cut off early for that.
Brad CERTAINLY brings a sense of FUN and excitement. I missed his 'big leak' comment but that could've been a simple slip of the word.:-)
He just has a good TIME and it's infectious.
Makes me wonder if Crusty Rusty isn't the one weighing folks down. And was I out of the room or did they SKIP THE DREADED DRAFT TRACKER!!
PLEASE, have RUSTY OUT OF THE BOOTH for Talladega. That "aero loose" and DRAFT TRACKER is like a fetish with Rusty. Sorry Mr. Wallace...as others said, you just don't have 'it' for the booth.
BRAD DOES!!!!! Sorry I was skeptical of his being put IN the booth. He has proven his value in two races imo.
Loved Brad and Andy in the booth today! They both were having fun, and laughing. Punch showed some excitement towards the end of the race today, but he needs to that the whole race!
ESPN gets a B from me!
In my opinion, Brad brings a refreshing enthusiasm to the booth. He also seemed to get Andy fired up. Notwithstanding the network's timing issues and off track coverage, I enjoyed the race broadcast.
Post race comment: ESPN2 rushed to a close with limited interviews to...a previously taped session of happy hour???
Hey,
Does anyone know if the first practice on Saturday aired this morning? It was listed for ESPN2 in my program guide on DirectTV, but when I tuned in there was an episode of Sportscenter so I flipped back to Busch qualifying and assumed it didn't air. Did anyone else see it and was it on a different channel or at a different time?
Anonymous said...
Hey,
Does anyone know if the first practice on Saturday aired this morning? It was listed for ESPN2 in my program guide on DirectTV, but when I tuned in there was an episode of Sportscenter so I flipped back to Busch qualifying and assumed it didn't air. Did anyone else see it and was it on a different channel or at a different time?
September 29, 2007 7:05 PM
It was live on ESPN 2 and SPEED. SPEED could not show the track often, but they did follow all the stories of practice. It ended at 11 and that is when SporstCenter started on ESPN2 and Busch qualifying on SPEED.
It was on at 10AM on ESPN2. My program guide said it started at 11AM but thankfully they mentioned during qualifying that it was actually going to air at 10 and not 11.
Anonymous said...
Post race comment: ESPN2 rushed to a close with limited interviews to...a previously taped session of happy hour???
September 29, 2007 6:51 PM
If they did not get to it soon, the end of happy hour might have been cut off for football.
Happy hour did air in its entirety. Time to prepare for tomorrow's race.
Yeah at the Daytona Busch race, when I saw Aerosmith, I said, "Oh, OK". But now, I'm starting to think that it's about time to play another goddam song!!!
Joe,
Erie, PA
A good finish supercedes any problems with the telecast. Brad, Andy, and Punch showed good chemistry today. I really dont see a need for Rusty. He appears to be a huge part of the problem in the booth. Good race today.
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