Saturday, April 12, 2008

In-Progress At Phoenix: Sprint Cup Race On Fox


This should be an interesting race as the transition from the heat and light of the day into the cool temperatures and the dark of the desert night will be on display.

Phoenix is a unique track for TV as this transition also puts the technical crew in a bind. Starting in the bright sunshine, the crew must continually work on the video from all the cameras as they move into the Musco Lighting of the track at night.

Chris Myers will kick-off the coverage on Fox at 8PM Eastern Time from the Hollywood Hotel with Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Hammond. It should be interesting to see if the ESPN the Magazine story about Aaron Fike and his "high while racing" admission is discussed. The future of Petty Racing will also be on the agenda.

Waltrip moves-up to the booth and joins Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds for the race coverage. Pit road reporters are Dr. Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Matt Yocum and Krista Voda.

Viewers should know that this track is prime for a lot of "Digger" exposure because of the frequent cautions and the location of the camera. Under the lights, the in-car cameras at Phoenix are spectacular. Hopefully, there will be a good crowd on-hand as well.

This single biggest issue with Fox continues to be the coverage of the final lap of the race. Last week, the network had a disaster once again. The live coverage shows the winner as he crosses the line and no one else. The camera zooms into the NASCAR flagman and then cuts back to the in-car camera of the winner even as the rest of the field continues to race to the line. It has been this way since 2007.

Even at the small tracks like Richmond, Martinsville and Bristol the NASCAR on Fox crew has continued this practice of isolating the winner and then replaying the finish of the rest of the field later. It should be interesting after last weekend's complaints from viewers if this practice of manufacturing "drama" instead of covering "racing" continues.

This page will serve to host your TV-related comments about the Fox coverage of the Sprint Cup race from Phoenix. To add your comment, just click on the COMMENTS button below and follow the easy directions.

The rules for posting are located on the right side of the main page, and this is a moderated forum. Thank you very much for deciding to take time to stop by The Daly Planet.

436 comments:

  1. I think I know what to expect tonight as far as race coverage is concerned. What I want to see is how C. Myers and crew handle the 'FIKE' story. And will we see the finish that we all have wanted to see on FOX.

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  2. Anonymous said...
    I think I know what to expect tonight as far as race coverage is concerned. What I want to see is how C. Myers and crew handle the 'FIKE' story. And will we see the finish that we all have wanted to see on FOX.

    April 12, 2008 9:28 AM


    Never to hide from the "anon"
    yes this is Lou Fr NY

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  3. I just don't get the "hiding" comments from posters. I still have no clue about you or your agenda's if you post under Anon or Lou!

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  4. No, it is just nice to associate a name or place with a comment. There is no agenda.. but then again we both are getting away from "In-Progress At Phoenix: Sprint Cup Race On FOX." Yes I know I started it w/the hiding comment.

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  5. well, I can't tape MRN radio as I will be out of the house listening to Cajun music with family.

    I hope I have the good sense to turn on MRN when I get home for the end of the race and have the TV On.

    I can PROMISE ALL OF YOU we will NOT SEE ANY CAR CROSSING THE FLine but the winner.

    The director already has his WWE agenda 'penciled in' his book. Shame. ESPN showed us the real deal with GREAT CAMERA and ticker of who finished where for the top TEN. FANFREAKINGTASTIC!

    I gotta say, the racing at night looks good on TV, though. :)

    If carl wins, look for the MamaCam right after the in car cam, and flag man cam, tne pit crew jumping up and down like boy scouts that just won a tug-of-war game.

    That's just cynical Sophia's prediction. There are TV's above the a couple areas of the restaurant but I am sure they will have a ballgame on mute.

    Oh, and I bet the Fox crew sweeps the Fike thing under the rug. But this story deserves a microscope examination because NASCAR let Fike slip through their fingers. And it was a patrolman at Kings Island Amusement park that busted Fike and his girlfriend in his truck.

    TOTALLY EMBARRASSING. And the focus should not be on the heroin as many take 'prescription drugs' similar to H. Oxycontin can give a similar feeling but is a legit medication for severe pain.

    I wonder if Race Day will touch this subject?

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  6. Friendly reminder to the Fox production truck......

    The Sprint Cup Standings look like this:

    1.) Burton - 1065
    2.) Harvick - 1006
    3.) Kyle Busch - 1001
    4.) Earnhardt Jr. - 978
    5.) Stewart - 957
    6.) Johnson - 921

    They DO NOT look like this:

    1.) Edwards: 3-4
    2.) Newman: 1-6
    2.) Kyle Busch: 1-6
    2.) Burton: 1-6
    2.) Hamlin: 1-6
    6.) Everyone Else: 0-7

    Points are still distributed proportionally based on finishing positions. Every position pays points and each one pays more points than the next, so EVERY POSITION IN A RACE MATTERS IN DETERMINING THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS.

    I certainly hope the comments of myself and many other great NASCAR fans, that can be seen at...

    http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/04/finish-line-problems-plague-nascar-on.html

    ... in case you missed them earlier this week, have made you understand that this is NOT a stick-and-ball sport where there's one winner and everyone else that finishes 2nd-43rd just leaves the track with another notch in the loss column in the season standings. Second place matters, third place matters, 16th place matters, a side-by-side race for 30th on the last lap matters.

    Hey, if you were naive about how things work over here in 'NASCAR Land' that's understandable. That's what the posters here are for, to help you make your NASCAR broadcasts better. Hopefully we have helped you better understand that this isn't a sport with 1 winner and 42 losers every week and you will now show EVERY car cross the finish line at the end of the race.

    You've got either the best or among the best in every on-air position on your broadcasts so they can often make up for what you lack in the truck. The one area they can't help you with is the finish of the race so I hope you can at least figure out how to do that part right.

    It's a simple concept, SHOW THE CARS THAT ARE STILL RACING TO THE FINISH LINE before you start the post-race celebration coverage. THE RACE DOESN'T END UNTIL EVERY CAR FINISHES THEIR FINAL LAP.

    People watch these races to see what combination of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, ... 42nd, and 43rd place the drivers will finish in. By turning the cameras away from the finish line after 1st place is determined, you're not finishing the deal and you're leaving the race coverage incomplete.

    If you need help with figuring out how this can be accomplished please watch last night's Nationwide broadcast on ESPN that you missed while attending that baseball game in Phoenix. THAT is how it should be done.

    Ignorance to how NASCAR works is no longer an acceptable excuse because we, the fans, have carefully explained to you why your stick-and-ball, win-loss mentality of covering these finishes does not work for a NASCAR race.

    I'm looking forward to a change in that area tonight guys, have a great broadcast!

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  7. Once again Strklinfn82. Thank you for your great comment. Yes I agree.
    Lou
    Kingston, NY

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  8. Maybe we need to encourage the on air crew to describe the finish as if they were announcing on the radio in case the cameras continue to ignore all of the finishers other than the winner. At least, we would know what happened.

    Fox should be ashamed that radio "shows" the finish better than live TV.

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  9. Face it, winning is important. Over the past few seasons, NASCAR has greatly tweaked things to give a much greater imphasis to winning. NASCAR keeps on widening the gap between the points awarded for 1st and 2nd. It was at 5 points, then 10, and now at 15 points. Last year, they completely changed the chase, by seeding based upon WINS, not by how well a driver did in races they lost rendering all of those 2nd-43rd place finishes not relevant.

    The difference between winning and being the 1st loser is larger than ever.

    Don't you remember the huge uproar when Kasey Kahne won several races, and was in danger of not making the chase? There were even some collumnists that wanted to making winning a race a requirement in order to be in the chase.

    Fox's emphasis on winning is just followig ques from NASCAR. If anyone has a problem with it, blame NASCAR for placing such a huge importance on winning.

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  10. "I can PROMISE ALL OF YOU we will NOT SEE ANY CAR CROSSING THE FLine but the winner."

    "Oh, and I bet the Fox crew sweeps the Fike thing under the rug."

    SophiaZ123, your comments are very negative. Its almost as if you want those things to happen. And just the way you talk about it shows a "smug" attitude towards the FOX crew that you so much praised last year. Can't we be more constructive with our criticism instead of starting with insults even when the race is HOURS away?!?!?

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  11. Erik, I agree.

    Winning is so important in NASCAR, which is why it should be covered even more. And the emotion behind a win should not be missed just because some want to see a car that finished 15th or worse.

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  12. All this talk about hating the "anons" is just getting ridiculous. "Anons" are people with opinions just like the rest of you. They should not be ignored just because of the "anon" title. Please be more respectful.

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  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. Of course it is those 2nd-43rd place finishes that determine whether a driver finishes in the top 12 and advances to the Chase. All the wins in the world in the first 26 races won't mean a darn thing if that driver's cumulative point total leaves them 13th or worse after Richmond in September.

    You guys are making the point that winning is that most important thing in a race. Well you know what, you're exactly right. The race for first place is more important than 2nd place, which is more important than 3rd place, etc.

    However, CELEBRATING the first place finisher IS NOT more important than the race for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. I hope you understand that is the point I am trying to get across.

    By turning the cameras away from the finish line after first place is determined, the Fox production truck is stating that "no one matters but the first place finisher" which is not accurate when it comes to the fans that root for certain drivers that didn't finish first on that day, for fans that follow the championship battle that hinges on every position battle on the race track, and the general fans that just want to see cars racing each other on their TV screens.

    Until NASCAR adopts the stick-and-ball approach where the championship standings are determined by wins and losses, I will not stand for Fox treating every other crucial race for points paying positions behind the winner at the ends of these races as "not mattering".

    Fox can use a wide shot that lets the viewers see the winner AND the rest of the finishers coming off of turn 4 to the line. They can also wait a few extra seconds to show the rest of the other finishers before they begin the post-race show. The race doesn't end until the last car crosses the line on the last lap, but unfortunately the Fox production truck thinks it ends when the winner crosses the line, and that everyone behind him doesn't matter because "they will leave the track with another notch in the loss column of the season standings", which couldn't be further from the truth.

    You guys are certainly entitled to your tastes though, and if you prefer seeing flagmen and fist-pumping instead of cars racing to the finish line for crucial points paying and championship-altering positions that's your perrogative.

    I just hope you can also respect the opposing point of view that since every position DOES matter in NASCAR that we have a right to see those positions decided on our TV screens BEFORE the post-race show begins. There are hours, days, years, decades, centuries, etc. to endlessly praise and celebrate these race winners. There's only a few seconds to show the live TV audience how the rest of the cars finish. I'm just asking to give us those few seconds of live TV time to see the race conclude before the eternal celebration of the race winner begins, and I don't think that's asking too much.

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  15. stricklinfan82, Thanks for your response. You have some valid opposing points to my earlier argument. There are good points on both sides.

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  16. Personally, I'd rather see the finish line myself, unless my driver is the one coming in first. Though, as I prevously mentioned, I understand where the whole emphasis on winning is coming from and it all started snowballing downhill a few years ago and I've come to accept I'm probably in the minority.

    Many fans don't like drivers "racing for points". They want they to go all out for the win, even if that means taking changes and wrecking and ruining a top 5 finish.

    A fan at a race can focus on anything they want. Though, a TV broadcast is very limiting, with those sorts of decisions being made for us.

    Even showing the line, it can be tough to tell if my driver is a lap down or more down where they finally end up.

    At the very least, they should always have a drop down graphic showing the finishing order if they ever can seem to get the live scoring right, no matter where the camera is focused.

    There are many other things about the broadcasts that get to me much more upset than the finish.

    In the meantime, the thunder rolls in Boston.....

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  17. Yankees / Red Sox in a rain delay ....

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  18. JD,

    Please tell me there is a contigency plan in place for tonight's Fox broadcast. If this delay is going to force the baseball game to run past 8:00 then I would understand sticking with the end of the game, but PLEASE tell me we will be given an alternative station to watch this race live on.

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  19. I watched some of the Nationwide race from Phoenix and they had an awesome overhead camera that could follow several cars around the lap in a tight shot (was it a blimp?) I hope FOX has this shot, I really liked it and it worked well for this track.

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  20. Fox is saying the Boston game is at least a half an hour from resuming. They will be cutting it very close. Yankees are down by a run, top of 8th, with the tying run on 2nd.

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  21. Joe Buck said that heavy rain in about 30 minutes at Fenway and then the jet dryers come out - no wrong sport. -

    should be ok unless game gets tied up.

    My guess is baseball gets moved to FX after 8:30 Eastern

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  22. anonymous said...

    My guess is baseball gets moved to FX after 8:30 Eastern

    ---

    That I highly doubt. #1 - this is the Red Sox and the Yankees, #2 - this is Fox's biggest announcer calling the game, #3 - Fox cable networks no longer has any national cable rights to MLB - those are shared by ESPN and Turner sports (that sounds familiar)

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  23. "My guess is baseball gets moved to FX after 8:30 Eastern"

    FX is not used by FOX for sports to my knowledge. Also the general practice is to finish a sport on its original network, and start the sports that is just beginning on another network. What network that is, I do not know at this time.

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  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  25. FOX has some nice extra pre-race pieces, they are filling this rain delay with.

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  26. Fox can choose to show the Yankees / Red Sox game just in their local markets, with the rest of the US showing NASCAR. Though, this is Yankees / Red Sox, highly unlikely.

    Interesting enough, Colorado / Arizona market may get to NASCAR on time. Their game was shown on a regional basis, and it doesn't look like they will be getting the national game.

    Chris Myers, Jeff, DW doing a preview now. They say they will come back AFTER baseball.

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  27. Erik, It already looks like FOX has taken the Yankees / Red Sox game nationally. I don't know how that can change. what do you know that I don't.

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  28. Fox mentioned Colorado / Arizona will be going to local programming instead of this rain delay filler..

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  29. Erik, thanks for that. I must have missed it. Either way that is just 2 markets that we know of that should be in local programing.

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  30. Erik I may be wrong about FX and probably am but you way off.

    No way will Fox put Yanks/Sox only in Boston and NYC.

    If FX is out and baseball HAS to be national what are other options then?

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  31. This shows us how different NASCAR is from most other sports.

    In the NASCAR realm, Fox's clubhouse reporter at Fenway would be talking to Manny and Jeter and company.

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  32. Jeannie Zalasko covering NASCAR. What goes around does come around. History repeats itself.

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  33. I find it VERY interesting that Fox is sending viewers that were watching the Rockies/D-Backs game to local programming at 7:00 and then to the NASCAR race at 8:00....

    I'm assuming that means they'll get to watch the race in its entirety on Fox while those of us that got the Yanks/Sox game will have to wait for our game to end to join the race already in-progress.

    I sure wish I was one of those guys that got the D-Backs game right now, LOL.

    As I said, this would be unfortunate to miss the start of the race for the end of the game, but I would understand the decision and live with it since Mother Nature caused this and not an unwise programming director.... that is as long as I can watch the race live SOMEWHERE - FX, Speed, I don't care where. Should I not get to watch the race anywhere then my passion for this sport will likely override all calm, reason, and understanding and I'd hate to see how I'd react, LOL. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, give us an alternative station Fox!

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  34. Erik said...
    Fox can choose to show the Yankees / Red Sox game just in their local markets, with the rest of the US showing NASCAR. Though, this is Yankees / Red Sox, highly unlikely.

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  35. do not believe contract with MLB allows that. Again what do you know?

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  36. At least the Fox baseball guys aren't trying to plug t-shirts for the "in the base" camera.

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  37. "No way will Fox put Yanks/Sox only in Boston and NYC.

    If FX is out and baseball HAS to be national what are other options then?"

    I agree that there is very little probability that FOX will only carry this game in those markets.

    I don't know however what options FOX has if the game runs over. Erik do you know?

    Keep in mind green flag is not at 8:00, it is at 8:45. that gives us some extra buffer time.

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  38. Anonymous said...

    Erik, thanks for that. I must have missed it. Either way that is just 2 markets that we know of that should be in local programing.

    --

    There were only two games this day on the Fox Saturday game schedule.

    Actually, the Fox folks have perfect rainfill, a tie game in extra innings in San Francisco, but they decided not to cover it and thus required it be blacked out. (See the crummy highlights off the jumbotron shots)

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  39. "I sure wish I was one of those guys that got the D-Backs game right now, LOL."

    I did get the D-backs game live here in San Diego and this station stuck with the FOX feed and will show the Red sox game.

    BTW the game is getting ready to begin.

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  40. Another line off storms are heading their direction. It may miss, but its going to be close.

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  41. have you looked at the radar - big rain heading towards Boston.

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  42. I don't think FOX has any other option for sports since the FOX cable networks are not involved in the contracts anymore. One option would be to put the race on a digital channel for those of you with HDTV's. it would be on "(YourLocalFOXChannel).2"

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  43. Aprox. game time 7:30 that give us and hour an 15 min until green flag.

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  44. yourlocalFoxchannel.2 will not happen. Here in NYC - ABC and NBC have these sub channels but not on Fox or CBS yet. Any other market have a Fox sub channel?

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  45. unless Yankees tie the game it "should" be over by 8:15 ET easily.

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  46. Its still looking like this 2nd line will get them even if the Yankees don't tie it up right away, unless they get some very quick outs.

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  47. I have been told that any station can simply turn on a sub channel with little notice, as in the station does not need to have one right now, to have one up in minutes. Is that true?

    Also, RE: san Fransisco game. I don't think it was blacked out, it just had no TV coverage if all networks are filled.

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  48. I did get the D-backs game live here in San Diego and this station stuck with the FOX feed and will show the Red sox game.

    BTW the game is getting ready to begin.


    Are you sure you got the entire D-Backs/Rockies game on Fox in San Diego? We all got the last few innings during the Yankees delay. According to Fox's web site the only people getting the D-Backs game were in Arizona, Wyoming, and Colorado. The other 95% (literally) of the country, including San Diego, got the Yankees game, again according to foxsports.com.

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  49. remember that when it started raining in Boston they switched the entire country to backup game - D'backs-Rockes - doesnt mean you got it from start.

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  50. Hey all,

    This could be interesting, huh?

    I am up in Charlotte this week, so the email follow-up might be a little slow.

    JD

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  51. stricklinfan82, Interesting point. At this time I cant help you there.

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  52. It is going to rain in most of Boston in next 30 minutes or so.

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  53. JD anything exciting going on in Charlotte

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  54. No way they get to the pre-race show on time. They'll be lucky to make the green flag at this point, if they stick with baseball.

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  55. too late - raining again

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  56. JD,

    Can you tell us ANYTHING about what's going to happen to the race coverage if we don't live in Wymoing, Colorado, or Arizona?

    Do you have any contact that can help us out? And also, do you know if NASCAR Hotpass will be allowed to cover the race live if the Fox network itself isn't covering the race live?

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  57. nrf,

    Up at Lake Norman, going to do some visiting with the gang when they fly back from Phoenix.

    When the NASCAR gang has Sunday off and Monday to recover...its a lot of fun.

    JD

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  58. It's a tarp!
    (sorry, someone had to say it)

    BTW pretty damn good game on Versus, Canadiens - Bruins.

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  59. not if game is rained out - actually - what do they call it now - its not an official game cause home team has to get their ups and inning has to be completed - no going back to the last timing marker or inning. Baseball can learn a lot from NASCAR.

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  60. Now would be a good time to start pre-race stuff from the NASCAR set because likely once this game will get restarted, it will run over the scheduled pre-race slot. If they can get the content they have out of the way, it'll save them from having to rush and set the stage for the race.

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  61. This next cell looks like a quick mover. I say it will be out in 30 min.

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  62. re- prerace stuff - I thought that too but sponsors want commercials at specific times so it won't happen.

    Same reason you can't start a race an hour or two hours earlier than posted. Can't get networks to give you the time and fans wouldn't know.

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  63. Hotpass will be fine, that is not tied to Fox.

    Ed Goren and Bill Brown, the top Fox executives are in the control room and will be directing traffic.

    Got to love live TV.

    JD

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  64. We finally have a race with no weather issues and now rain somewhere else causing issues.

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  65. Anonymous said...
    not if game is rained out - actually - what do they call it now - its not an official game cause home team has to get their ups and inning has to be completed - no going back to the last timing marker or inning. Baseball can learn a lot from NASCAR.


    Actually if it rains out the game is official since it's halfway completed. The only exception is if the visiting team happened to score the go-ahead-run in the top of the inning the game was called in, in which case the game would pick up the next day at the spot they left off at. And you guys probably just thought I knew NASCAR huh?, LOL.

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  66. In this day of 100s of channels available, we still have these sorts of issues.

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  67. "Ed Goren and Bill Brown, the top Fox executives are in the control room and will be directing traffic."

    That's a good sign. They can usually give the anchors the best information and will know what to do in this case.

    JD, maybe later in the week we would like to know what you did with TV folks in NC.

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  68. So much for having that 7:30 pm newscast I'd planned on.

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  69. Pre-race show is already starting, 15 minutes earlier than scheduled. They promise a return to baseball ASAP so that's certainly not good for us.

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  70. The is nice. FOX now has a pre-pre-race show for those of us with FOX right now. That will be less of a load on what will certainly be a shorter pre-race show.

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  71. "Pre-race show is already starting, 15 minutes earlier than scheduled."

    Well technically, this is just considered a live promo. let hope we will be back after baseball. If baseball goes over, I think the only option will be SPEED, but FOX will be hesitant to use it do to its limited availability.

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  72. a quasi pre-race show - kind of a Fox NASCAR Now show.

    FILLER til 8PM ET.

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  73. sorry meant NASCAR Live -

    wrong network

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  74. another option: If the FOX pre-race show is cut for baseball, we could get an extended Race Day.

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  75. possible but not likely at last moment. Speed may have other priorities

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  76. The Nascar crew is also used to lon delays in ways the baseball crew is not.

    As we know, Hammond and DW can, have and will talk for hours on tv with no actual programming or script. Plus, the drivers appear to be cooperating with th early appearance.

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  77. only if you are a fan of "livin the low life". I'm sure that can be bumped if need be.

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  78. "Plus, the drivers appear to be cooperating with th early appearance."

    I don't see why that would be a challenge. SPEED interviews a bunch of drivers this early for Race Day.

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  79. Why is there no "bug" or scrolling line or whatever saying baseball is in a rain delay?

    We get on ESPN's case whenever they've realigned the schedule or cut away for rain programming and don't explain where they went. The same should apply here.

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  80. Only trouble with early prerace is that some of use didn't realize it and were still watching RaceDay. Clicked on the DVR to try and catch what I could. Too bad they can't put the race on Speed until the BB game is over they are showing Living the low life reruns til 11p

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  81. SPEED Channel just said we WILL see the green flag on FOX. has the game been preempted.

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  82. I am so confused! I just tuned in and saw some pre-race, then they said baseball is in rain delay. So what happens if baseball runs into the race? Did they mention anything?

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  83. Hopefully if the baseball game starts soon NASCAR will delay the starting time of the race like they did in a similar instance in 2005 at Charlotte when a USC-Notre Dame college football game on NBC ran ridiculously long.

    If the rain sticks around for a while in Boston then it will definitely get interesting because delaying the start of the race certainly won't be an option.

    Again, all I ask for is to be given a channel number to find the live race coverage on!

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  84. FOX is now in official pre-race time. Airing an official pre-race show. I find it hard to believe that FOX would just drop out of NASCAR right now.

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  85. Why don't people like Chris? that was a funny joke just now.

    I still don't understand what FOX plans to do right now.

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  86. Now you guys can see the fun of live TV.

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  87. I like Chris. He does his research. I can stand him.

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  88. NASCAR cant delay race much or it will be night in Phoenix and race was advertised to start in daylight. Interesting.

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  89. SPEED only has "livin the low life" on right now. I'm sure that would be preempted if need be.

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  90. JD or somebody... correct me if I am wrong, but couldn't MyNetworkTV be used, since it is a fellow broadcast network owned by NewsCorp?

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  91. Daly Planet Editor said...
    Now you guys can see the fun of live TV.

    April 12, 2008 8:04 PM


    JD, I'm going to have to disagree with your choice of words here. This NASCAR fanatic does not see anything "fun" about the situation we're facing right now, LOL :)

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  92. Alex, I see your point, but no, I do not think it can be used for the same reason FX, FSN, FOX NEWS, or any other fox network cannot carry this programing. If the network is not mentioned in the TV contract, it cant be used. that is my understanding.

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  93. Alex said...

    JD or somebody... correct me if I am wrong, but couldn't MyNetworkTV be used, since it is a fellow broadcast network owned by NewsCorp?

    ---

    That would seem to be at least more plausible than any of the Fox cable networks

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  94. FSN not even on the radar as FOX dont own it anymore-actually never did - they were a partner but now are not.

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  95. FOX will keep us posted on the rain delay in Boston. JD is right, the fun of live tv. Feel lucky I have Hotpass.
    Lou
    Kingston,NY

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  96. FSN couldn't be used anyway as it is a regional network with each region having its own FSN channel with different agendas.

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  97. Guys,

    You are all going to experience this live with everyone else.

    Plans for tonight's possible scenarios are called contingency plans. They are set-up months in advance with the programmers and sponsors.

    Folks in the field already know the possible scenarios.

    That said, someone has to step-up and make the final call live. That is why the Fox execs are on-hand.

    JD

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  98. "Folks in the field already know the possible scenarios."

    JD, Can you tell us the possible scenarios so we don't all have to sit here guessing?

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  99. I vote for and agree with JD

    If baseball gets resumed its gonna be FUN.

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  100. Boston radar showing rain has ended- baseball will likely eventually resume - gonna get interesting.

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  101. Amalie Benjamin says in the Extra Bases blog in the Boston Globe's Boston.com says:

    It appears that the Red Sox are go to try to start this game at 8:25, barring any more weather problems.

    Kenny
    Alameda, California

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  102. Does anyone stream the race live on the internet?

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  103. wow that is interesting. I can't imagine any way FOX can solve this with out putting the race or the game on another network. Again, JD, can you share the contingency plans with us?

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  104. I just hope whatever the "backup plan" is provides live TV coverage of both events. I have a hard time believing they would allow either of these events to go without live TV coverage.

    Then again I remember watching a rain delay in the Texas Busch race in 2000 when CBS told us to switch to TNN to watch the conclusion of the event once the rain stopped... and veteran fans probably remember what happened that day so I guess I've learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to NASCAR TV coverage.

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  105. The scenarios are spelled out on many pages of paper and cover all kinds of things like rain and shows running short and long.

    Ultimately, the execs will direct traffic on the air with the guidelines in mind.

    JD

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  106. Newracefan, If anyone streams it, it would be right off the FOX channel. therefor if FOX doesn't cover it, you may not see it. Hope this helps.

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  107. Amalie Benjamin now reports in Boston.com that the end of the Yankees-Red Sox game will be moved to
    FX.

    Kenny
    Alameda, California

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  108. OK so we are back with baseball. I wasn't listening, did Chris say anything about NASCAR coming back?

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  109. "Amalie Benjamin now reports in Boston.com that the end of the Yankees-Red Sox game will be moved to
    FX. "

    I dont see that happening. If anything is moved to FX it would be the race. IMO. besides the game is already back on FOX

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  110. OMG I've got baseball and they are doing a summary of what happened so far.

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  111. Does anyone else have a feeling that the Yankees are destined to tie this game and send it to extra innings?

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  112. He wasn't clear as to whether they were coming back to Phoenix or not.

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  113. What the hell is the point to showing us baseball?!?!?! The game is playing on FX, why do they need to show it on FOX too?!?!?!

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  114. How about being in Lake Norman and trying to find someone with Hotpass?

    Did I mention that this baseball game will now go to conclusion?

    That could be hours.

    JD

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  115. I wasn't in the room for a couple minutes...

    Suddenly a baseball game is on....

    WTF???

    (looking here quickly, I just saw a post that said the bbgame would be shown on FX, well here, its on BOTH CHANNELS.....

    WTF???

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  116. Awesome, NYY-BOS goes to FX when the race starts

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  117. NASCAR bumped Baseball to cable tv!

    That is a huge decision. Wow.

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  118. Ah Joe says baseball will be bumped to FX for the green flag.

    Apparently that is still in the contrat, even though FX has no baseball

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  119. Wow, they will be coming back to NASCAR for the green flag no matter what. The game will move to FX should an overlap occur.

    Thanks Fox.

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  120. Thanks, Joe Buck for the update!

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  121. DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS CRAP, but at least they've told us the bbgame will go to FX, not the race!

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  122. At least they told us what's supposed to happen.

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  123. Weird. FOX will take baseball until before the green flag, then put baseball on FX(it is actually already on FX) and go back to NASCAR. interesting. at least we dont miss anything.

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  124. Anyone have Fox 5 in NYC or Fox 25 in Boston?

    I'll be interested to see if they actually cut out of this for Nascar or if they switch the feeds

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  125. NASCAR bumped Baseball to cable tv!

    That is a huge decision. Wow.


    Why do you seem upset John?

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  126. this is madness.....





    Dare I say it, I'm actually (after their nationwide success) looking forward to ESPN taking later this year. By then maybe they'll give these guys more front-spliter so we can have some side by side racing.

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  127. I predicted FX and was - oh how do you say it nicely - poo pooed

    I am doing the FX gloat dance.

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  128. They are mid-way through the anthem now. I am listening on Hotpass.

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  129. So, the Fox guys are staying with baseball until the cars are on the track.

    Then, the baseball game that is already being simulcast on FX will end there as NASCAR will take over the Fox broadcast network.

    Give Ed Goren credit for a daggone good decision for all parties.

    JD

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  130. The only thing we miss is a little "I kid because I care"...and I don't miss that one iota!

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  131. BB also on FX here outside Philly so Fox give me back my Prerace show

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  132. I am in NYC market - will keep you advised

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  133. Why are all of you mad? This is a great decision for NASCAR.

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  134. Alright, selfishly I'm obviously thrilled with this decision but I have to admit I'm stunned by it.

    I would have personally stuck with the game until its conclusion and moved the start of the race to FX. I think the conclusion of any sporting event should take priority over the start of another. There will be a lot of unhappy baseball fans today and honestly I can't blame them.

    If anyone has Hotpass you can listen to the Fox feed right now by choosing the "alternate audio option". Invocation right now.

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  135. Good decesion by FOX

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  136. Now that the inning is over I bet Fox goes back to pre-race.

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  137. OK I raced to get home & Baseball11//11// is on WTF???????? Its on FX too!!! Glad NASCAR is so important & fan oriented - not!

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  138. Anonymous 8:29:

    Joe Buck said when the broadcast began that Fox would get back for the start of the race, and the remainder of the ball game would go to FX.

    Geez folks, I had a heart attack and I was just like all of you, impatient over trivial matters that would resolve themselves in a few minutes... Now, after my quad bypass, I'm a lot more tranquil... Thanks for reminding me of what I was like.

    Kenny
    Alameda, California

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  139. No matter what Fox does, they're going to tick off someone, either the race fans or the baseball fans. Not every cable provider had FX. That's what happens when you broadcast a sport that doesn't have a set time.

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  140. Strinklinfan, honestly, I don't get you.

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  141. Jo, read all of the comments above.

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  142. Thanks FOX for both. The race won over BB in this instance. And so we have the race and the game. It was a good contingency plan JD
    Lou
    Kingston,NY

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  143. I wonder if commercials had anything to do with it because I am getting Nascar commercials with BB. If I was paying for them I would want them to be shown to my target audience. Hopefully Fox doesn't try and show us any of the video clips they did for the prerace that were never shown during the race

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  144. Jo chill out until you know the facts.

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  145. Newracefan said...

    BB also on FX here outside Philly so Fox give me back my Prerace show

    ======================
    umm that sounds impossible as FX and FOX both have baseball -

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  146. A race is much more important than a regular season baseball game - especially a game between two teams in non-NASCAR markets...

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  147. Really Jo - CALM DOWN - you won't miss anything.

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  148. Jo, dont come here screaming until you know the facts.

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  149. Personall I agree with Stricklinfan. NASCAR fans are going to obviously going to be upset because they think that their sport deserves a higher priority and every minute of coverage should get top priority on every channel. Live TV happens, stuff conflicts, and I think that baseball should be shown on the network to its conclusion.

    I'm in the Boston market and will post an update at the time of the green flag.

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  150. John. Do you think maybe FOX Sports will think about adding FX into the NASCAR contract again, so they avoid situaions like this? For example two years ago this race would have been broadcasted on FX to begin with.

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  151. OK Now that I've read it - that said why show the ball game on 2 channels? I don't get that.

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  152. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

    If all goes well, it will be a great, gutsy decision by FOX to move BB to FX.

    FOX is between the proverbial rock and a hard place ---damned if they do, damned if they don't.

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  153. Anonymous said...
    Strinklinfan, honestly, I don't get you.

    April 12, 2008 8:37 PM


    I am a NASCAR fan, a die-hard fan at that. I am happy with this decision because it benefits me. I'm just saying that if the shoe was on the other foot and the end of a race was pre-empted for the start of a baseball game I'd be irate.

    I think a good rule is the end of one sporting event is more imortant than the start of another.

    I'm just trying to exhibit consistency so the next time the shoe's on the other foot I won't be called hypocritical.

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  154. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  155. NYY and BOS have huge followings. Fox did them wrong.

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  156. sorry to have offened your delicate nerves have a gentle race nitey nite

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  157. There are only 36 races and like over 100 hundred games a year.

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  158. The reason why this is now a problem is partly because of the change in first pitch time for Joe and Tim's baseball games. Before this year it was about 1:30 PM ET except on the west coast.

    This year the new baseball contract shifted that to 3:55 PM ET nationwide.

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  159. This is horrid! There is no need for simulcast at all, tell the baseball nuts that their damn game is on FX and leave my race alone!

    Who to I complain to at FOX. I couldn't find anything online as far as communicating with them on their website.

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  160. "that said why show the ball game on 2 channels? I don't get that."

    its on 2 channels so baseball fans can go there right now, instead of when NASCAR starts. it is still on FOX because people who dont have FX HD may want to watch BB on FOX HD until the race. Again, we will not miss a lap

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  161. I think the green flag is being held. JJ and Chad talking about how long they have been waiting for the SYE call since anthem has been over for some time. They even mentioned waiting for Yankees game. OK they got a 1 minute till SYE

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  162. Are they delaying the green flag a bit. 8:53 seems a bit later than normal. It would normally be maybe 8:45-8:47.

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  163. You guys always complain about the pre-race show and yet some of you are upset because your mussing it?

    Some of you are so closeminded.

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  164. How did FOX do Boston and New York Yankees fans wrong?

    Game is almost 5 hours long - all bets are off. Especially when another sports has precedence in time slot. Fox is going above and beyond.

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  165. see look! everyone on both sides are complaining. and no one has missed anything yet! You can never please everyone.

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  166. The only reason this is even an issue is because it's New York - Boston. Any other two teams and they would drop it in an instant.

    But there is no east coast bias in sports coverage ;)

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  167. They just started engines. We won't miss anything.

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  168. they just fired engines on the radio.

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  169. They might even be holding them, as the cars have not left pit road yet.

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  170. bevo I disagree - I remember many times FOX covering a rain delayed game to conclusion when Boston and/or NY were not involved

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  171. anon 8:35.....


    Hu?

    And your problem is what?

    Jackarse.....

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  172. I cannot believe some of you are upset. Next time FOX mind as well change the race to FX Since you guys can never be pleased, FOX is trying their best. Get over it! IT IS PREEEE RACEEEE!

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  173. Almost race time !!

    Let's hope for ....

    1) Better coverage of battles "back in the pack".

    2) More split screens during green flag.

    3) Better pit stop coverage; "pit out" camera

    4) Take a lesson from ESPN's Nationwide finish line sequence. Yesterdays coverage was BEST so far.

    5) Finally, I think we all would appreciate better forethought on getting commercials out of the way in an effort to see MORE of the closing laps.

    Have a GREAT brodcast FOX....you're overdue !!

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  174. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  175. THEY ARE HOLDING THE RACE FOR THE BB GAME> THAT IS OFFICIAL the cars are stopped on the track

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  176. In response to a previous comment: why should a regular season race have more priority than the conclusion of a regular season baseball game? I'm a huge Yankees fan (this is true) and if this game is extended and (hypothetically) I don't have FX, I'm screwed out of seeing my team on what should be a nationally televised game.

    I can deal with not seeing the start of a race, because there's still three plus hours of coverage ahead.

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  177. They're on the pace laps and yet we won't miss anything.

    We already ARE missing something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  178. thats right - no Sophia - thought the anger was a bit muted

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  179. OH yea. PAce laps are just thrilling!!! ..... Not

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  180. cars are on the track...

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  181. Oh, boy, Ed Goren is cutting it close.

    Kenny
    Alameda, California

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  182. On the positive side - no in-race reporter conversation because they don't have time! ;-)

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  183. ok, so from my end of the world . . . both fox and fx are broadcasting the top of the 9th right now on comcast outside philly. i'm just adding info and waiting patiently for the last out.

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  184. They are going to do the switch as the green fly's.

    They have to put the race on FOX because of their contract.

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  185. Dont worry FOX will be there for the start! IF not, expect a lot of complaints!

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  186. Pace laps are more thrilling than a baseball game. Especially any game involving NY or Boston. Even worse when it's both!

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  187. Back to pace laps 3 to go, used excuse of blowing off the track this is getting wide. Come on strike the guy out and make the Fox guys heros. OH green flag soming this time by

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  188. Hey JD, if you're still around on Tuesday, holler to me at Winthrop--I'll be glad to buy you that cup of coffee...

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  189. WHAT A HORRIBLE SWITCH OVER!

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  190. That was not clean at all, and they missed the start.

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  191. um....wow. that was abrupt. alright i assume.

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