Saturday, July 19, 2008

From Kentucky: NCTS Race (6PM) On SPEED


The evening of NASCAR racing begins with the NCTS qualifying from Kentucky Speedway. It continues with The Set-Up pre-race show and then the race itself.

Qualifying comes along at 3:30PM, right after the mid-season recap show. Rick Allen, Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip call the single truck action on a track that has proven to be a handful since the teams arrived. Ray Dunlap and Adam Alexander will cover pit road and the garage area.

After a short break, things continue with Krista Voda hosting The Set-Up at 6PM. She will have Randy Moss alongside talking about his new involvement in the series. Parsons and Waltrip will talk about the season-to-date and there will be a fun feature about some announcers trying their hand at driving "race" cars.

This will be a one hour special edition that leads directly into the race coverage at 7PM. This track is great for the trucks and an enthusiastic crowd often makes this one of the best NCTS races of the season. It certainly does leave one to wonder what the Cup cars could do on this oval.

The entire gang returns for the race coverage and this time Voda gets to continue on-the-air as she will join the telecast as a third pit reporter. If SPEED could continue to add this additional reporter as the series heads down-the-stretch it certainly would help the overall telecast.

For the past several seasons, the NCTS on SPEED has been the most consistent NASCAR TV product on-the-air. It is not sliced-up among three networks like the Cup Series, and does not suffer from the program conflicts that have mangled the final three months of Nationwide Series coverage on ESPN2.

SPEED has time to devote to this coverage and has provided an "old school" NASCAR telecast that lets the action on the track tell the story. No one on these telecasts, including Waltrip, speaks as if they are superior to the drivers, owners or crew chiefs. Parsons does a very good job of keeping everything in perspective.

While the mid-season recap show is a good step, SPEED would perhaps be wise in considering the addition of a weekly show to update the stories of the series and profile the many new faces who begin their NASCAR careers in a Craftsman Truck.

This post will serve to host your comments about the NCTS coverage on SPEED. To add your comment, just click on the COMMENTS button below and follow the easy instructions. The rules for posting are located on the right side of the main page. Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.

49 comments:

  1. I guess getting to see 2 trucks qualify between commercials is better than no qualifing at all.

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  2. Please tell me I did not just see an ad for Monkey Butt powder.

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  3. YEP you did.
    It's about as regular as the "V" commercial.

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  4. Yes you did, they have been running all day

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  5. Wow. Not quite so sure of what to say about that one. I had hoped it was a joke.

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  6. Too funny. The Anti-Monkey Butt website has t-shirts and hats for sale. I am having Digger flashbacks.

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  7. Nice BIG roof flap over the bed of that truck. I don;t think I've ever seen that, are they designed to do that?

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  8. Did you see Randy Moss in the pre-show? Not so sure he really is too clued-in on what is going on.

    Still have not figured out what he is doing in the series. Should be interesting to see.

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  9. Wondering how long RM will show up for the races - that will be a clue to see how interested and involved he is in the series.

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  10. Nice to have Krista back on pit road.

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  11. I really prefer when it's just RA and PP in the booth. Something is different with MW this year.

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  12. Tough to find a role when there are two drivers in the booth. I feel the same way about Kyle and Wally.

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

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  14. I don't know if they really need a third in the booth even if it was a former crew chief.

    I just like the feel of the Truck races without a dozen people piping in during the telecast.

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  15. And I just posted on the other column for the NCTS race wondering if this race might run longer and interfere timewise with the Nationwide race on the other channel.

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  16. They put some time between them, I think the Nationwide green flag is 9:40PM. 30 minute NASCAR Now up first. But, ya never know.

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  17. Why run both series on Saturday evening though? Why not have one run tomorrow or have the Trucks run Friday night?

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  18. Too funny. The Anti-Monkey Butt website has t-shirts and hats for sale. I am having Digger flashbacks

    The Monkey Butt Powder people have been associated with racing for at least a couple of years. I remember looking up the entry list for an ARCA race and seeing them as sponsors for a car. My husband kept threatening to get a t-shirt, but never did. Quite honestly, I'd rather that than a Digger t-shirt. At least the monkey is cute and funny and useful, unlike Digger.

    This is the first time they've run commercials, though. I would assume it's a little easier to explain monkey butt than erectile dysfunction to children.

    --KarenB

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  19. I could not agree more. One rain delay with the Trucks and you have two series competing again each other. Friday would have made a lot more sense. Just run the ARCA race earlier.

    The NASCAR guys are freaky about the Hoosier rubber being on the track, but what the heck.

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  20. The problem with running both the ARCA race and NCTS race on the same day is you can't shake down attendees for parking, food and drink for two days. I assume gate receipts constitute only a small part of the profits, if NASCAR is like any other sport. Holding both events on the same day would substantially cut that profit.

    --KarenB

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  21. I've watched NASCAR for over 30 years and have never heard the term "Romeo Window".

    They used the term 10 times in a 4 minute period and wouldnt you think they would explain it ?

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  22. Ken-Michigan said...

    I've watched NASCAR for over 30 years and have never heard the term "Romeo Window".

    They used the term 10 times in a 4 minute period and wouldnt you think they would explain it?


    That's why I waited a couple minutes to ask the question. I tried googling it and didn't find much.

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  23. Well the Shakespeare passage in Romeo and Juliet about the window talks about the sun breaking through the window, the sun representing Juliet, so maybe it refers to the sun setting during the race???

    Dunno, but that English Lit might finally pay off :)

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  24. And my hubby is getting really exasperated at all the SAME commercials. And he has never heard it called a romeo window either - with 3 of them in the booth - can't one of them explain it?

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  25. bevo said...

    Well the Shakespeare passage in Romeo and Juliet about the window talks about the sun breaking through the window, the sun representing Juliet, so maybe it refers to the sun setting during the race???


    Saw something on google about tinting, but mostly a guy named Romeo who had a window company. But, Bevo, your explanation makes sense. Your Eng Lit teacher would be proud.

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  26. Just Googled romeo window - didn't know there were so many companies named Romeo Windows

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  27. Finally found it in the archives at truckseries.com:

    The second red flag of the session is out for a track inspection. One of the teams reported losing a Romeo window off their truck somewhere around the speedway. What is a Romeo window? It is a piece of triangular plexiglas that runs alongside the downtubes from the roof to the bed of the truck. Teams must run one on the left side, and often times will run a second one on the right side.

    --KarenB

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  28. karen-

    Thanks but somehow I have a feeling I might be over thinking it :)

    The only reason I remember that was because it dealt with her virginity, made a big impression on juniors in high school back then.

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  29. JD,

    Why would NASCAR freak out about Hoosier rubber on the track? It's not like it always rains overnight. Or do they scrub the track (or something) after the ARCA race?

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  30. I have come to notice that the "romeo window" is a triangular piece that fits between the rear window and the roll bar on the truck bed panel.

    But still, a description would have been nice.

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  31. kbaskins-

    Thanks - good job!

    I'll never play the Shakespeare card again. I promise :)

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  32. am19psu-

    Different compounds for the "rubber". IRL had the same concerns last weekend.

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  33. Well I thought it couldn't possibly have been anything to do with old Will but I wonder where the name came from. Time is running short on this race too.

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  34. Bevo,

    Right, I understand that, but I guess my question should be: what do they do to mitigate that problem now?

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  35. Been seeing those MButt commercials for weeks, JD...first time I saw one thought it was a fake.

    I am out of touch...had no CLUE NW was racing until I read this blog. THANK GOD for this site!

    (was out listening to the Dixieland band for dinner hour)

    This truck race was red flagged when i came in the door....

    I have never heard of romeo windows either, but Bevo, I am glad the Eng Lit paid off. :)

    This truck race has been something else.

    I thought everybody had the weekend off...turns out it was just CUP and I was asleep at the wheel with my reading the last couple of days!!

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  36. So now they show the darn romeo window. *sigh*

    bevo, go ahead with the Shakespeare. I was clever, even though it was wrong. :-)

    --KarenB

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  37. it was clever...

    Darn it.

    I wasn't trying to say I was clever. Really. I need a proofreader.

    --KarenB

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  38. Love that finishing line shot! That's how it should be done...

    --KarenB

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  39. am19psu-

    Well they got some Goodyear rubber down today with qualifying but other than that I don't think anything.

    I don't believe it really makes a difference.

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  40. kbaskins said...

    So now they show the darn romeo window. *sigh*

    bevo, go ahead with the Shakespeare. It was clever, even though it was wrong. :-)

    Bevo, I think you sure had the right idea though. Probably related.

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  41. Excellent race.. two of my favorite people in victory lane: Johnny Benson and Krista Voda.

    Man 4 wide pass for the lead.. that was awesome haha.

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  42. Another great job by Speed! Other than the dynamic with MW in the booth this year I can't complain.

    Rick Allen is this close to Mike Joy in my book for best play by play.

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  43. karen-

    At least my Shakespeare thing will provide comic relief for folks :)

    Shakespeare and NASCAR - just like peanut butter and jelly!

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  44. Bevo
    I don't know about "this close" for Rick Allen...I am still irked he said, earlier in the season.

    "Stay tuned for the ARCA race coming up next on SPEED and see how so and so won the race." ???WTH? He gave away the ending...:(

    But other than that, he usually does a good job.

    Not that I hold a grudge or anything.

    :)

    Just a good memory SOMETIMES!!

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  45. Hello Folks,

    "bevo said...
    karen-
    Shakespeare and NASCAR - just like peanut butter and jelly!
    July 19, 2008 9:41 PM"

    I would like to submit the above entry making the comparison from 'bevo' as the quote of the week...! : )
    Marybeth

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  46. Watched a great truck race (with the tv on mute,mikies voice is like fingernails on a blackboard)
    glad to see Johnny win.
    Tks.JD Ron IL.

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  47. currently watching NCTS Setup again. Yes, Ms Voda is on spot. The excitment she brings is great. The blank in the K-blugrass aside(ok w/me BTW). What a pleasure it is to enjoy the level and expertise she brings to the series.

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