Dr. Jerry Punch gets to carry the combined load of hosting the pre and post-race shows along with calling the action of the Nationwide Series race this Saturday night. Allen Bestwick and Brad Daugherty have the weekend off, so the Infield Pit Center is officially closed.
Punch will be joined by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree to form the team that will call the next seventeen Sprint Cup Series on ESPN and ABC. This night race from Gateway should be a good warm-up for the action at The Brickyard next week.
Saturday night from St. Louis, Punch and company will be joined on pit road by Dave Burns, Mike Massaro and Shannon Spake. Jamie Little will enjoy a weekend off.
Continuing on the vacation theme, it will be NASCAR Now regular DJ Copp standing-in for Tim Brewer in the Tech Center. Copp has worked hard with his TV career, and his plain-spoken and unassuming manner has been a hit with the fans.
ESPN2 offers qualifying coverage at 5PM and the NASCAR Countown show starts the night race coverage at 9PM ET. With the Infield Pit Center closed, Punch and company will handle the pre and post-race shows from the announce booth.
This is the final weekend for ESPN to get the house in order before making the change to cover both of NASCAR's top series for the rest of the season. Hopefully, the Nationwide Series gang will put on an exciting show and send the network off to Indy on a good note.
This post will serve to host your comments about the Nationwide Series on ESPN2. To add your TV-related opinion, 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 again for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.
77 comments:
Interesting. Qualifying by ESPN2 is taped delayed and they still skip over drivers that are trying to qualify.
Nothing is as intriguing as seeing a Carolina fan (DJ) in a Duke Blue shirt.
Well, I thought JP sounded tired and it's just the beginning of the evening. Oh well maybe he'll perk up later.
vicky,
Sometimes its almost like there is something wrong with him. I hope he is really OK personally.
JD maybe he'll have a couple of cups of strong coffee before the race and will be on his game.
It sounds like Dave Burns is hosting the pre-race show from pit road. Is this the case?
Nice job by DJC explaining the cooling system for the front brakes
J.D.,
Is there a technical reason why a four-shot composite has to have a frame? They look about the right aspect ratio. I'm wondering because four larger images would be better than some fancy frame which doesn't even have sponsorship on it.
Kenny
Alameda, California
Well, they want the images to be framed properly for both 4:3 and 16:9 viewers. I imagine that the frame helps make that possible, despite the fact that it's a detriment to us 16:9 viewers.
Kenn Fong,
Spring Rubber has it right.
I guess someone from Nascar hasn't turned the lights back on yet!
might have been a good idea to talk to djc about the effect of no lights on pit road on over the wall guys instead of just asking petree.
Stupid TSN in Canada is showing a football game. The race is supposed to be starting now according to the program crawl, but there's still more than 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter of the game.
I hate TSN.
I guess I should be happy they're even showing the race on their regular TSN feed. For the last several weeks they've been using their alternate feed, which I don't receive.
Did I mention I hate TSN?
--KarenB
Thanks, Spring Rubber and Anon. 9:52. It looks like a lot more area than would be necessary to accomodate both 4/3 to 16/9, but then I remembered that smaller diagonal conventional sets lose some of the frame that I see on my 37 incher.
Kenny
Alameda, California
Every time I see that Elliott Sadler commercial with Sunoco, I just think to myself I hope he got some big bucks for that.
Karen,
aw come on. The commercial isn't that bad. I bet they had fun making it.
karen-
Elliott is on Sirius every week, he said he loved doing those commercials so much he would do anything Sunoco asked.
I don't think the dollars hurt any though ;)
JD,
Are the power problems at the track causing any grief for ESPN?
still checking...
Thanks. Tell them they could save some electricity if they wouldn't turn on all of the radios on restarts :)
I wonder if they get a bunch of tow trucks and point their headlights toward the track and get this race going again.
TSN is still showing the football game in Canada.
I hate TSN.
--KarenB
vicky d said...
I wonder if they get a bunch of tow trucks and point their headlights toward the track and get this race going again.
that made me laugh: i was thinking the exact same thing! i'd seen that done on saturday night at my local dirt track until they could get another generator out there. it has taken on the look of a local track, hasn't it? must be tough on the spotters . . .
KarenB - did you say you hate TSN?
Pretty cool commercial there for NW series with Brad Coleman
nice toss to djc so he could talk about the impact of poor/no lights on the pit crew! what i appreciate is when he adds to our information: the concrete throws shadows; the brake dust obsured the studs; even with lights, the exhaust from the air gun can make it hard to see the studs so the tire change has to do it by memory. it's that sort of information that adds to what we see and adds to our appreciation of the work those teams do every week!
Vicky D said...
KarenB - did you say you hate TSN?
Daggone, Vicky D. You beat me to it.
Sounds like Doc has McDonalds on the brain... "Golden Arch,...I mean Great Arch.
"I mean Great Arch."
He said 'gateway arch'
KarenB=
Does your ISP provide access to ESPN360.com?
Vicki and The Other Karen:
TSN shows the ESPN stuff in Canada. They just finally joined the race at lap 90 because they were showing a football game.
I hate TSN. NASCAR is way down on their list of sports to show. I always dread the TNT and ESPN portions of the schedule, since neither of those channels is available in Canada and we have to rely on TSN for race coverage. Fortunately the FOX and ABC races are shown on the Seattle networks as well as TSN, so I can always get see those races.
--KarenB
The race has only had 2 incidents so far, and after this latest wreck with Brad Coleman, Jerry Punch slowly exhaled and sounded disappointed there was a delay in the race coming to a quick finish. How about some excitement in calling the race, Jerry?
Man, I have been trying to hold my tongue, but COME ON JERRY!
Is he even at the same race?
JP was really sounding tired during qualifying he's a bit better for the race.
Why were they talking to him after the wreck, shouldn't he be in the care center?
Bevo
Who you talking about?
Bliss?
Bevo was talking about Bliss. This race will be over really late tonight. Maybe next year Nascar will reconsider having a truck & NW race in the same evening.
When I think about Indy two words come to mind....Allen Bestwick.
Daly Planet Editor said...
When I think about Indy two words come to mind....Allen Bestwick.
July 19, 2008 11:25 PM
I'm getting to the point that those two words are "Not Punch".
daly planet editor said...
Man, I have been trying to hold my tongue, but COME ON JERRY!
Is he even at the same race?
i have to agree, jd. it's been really tought tonight to listen to the good doctor and it's a shame b/c he's very talented but is just in the wrong place. to date, the n'wide races have been wonderful except for this single, glaring misstep.
and sophiaz: i have no idea why bliss didn't immediately go to infield care after that wreck. maybe they ran out of ambulances!
sophia-
They were talking to Bliss and he was sitting on the inside wall. He didn't look right - just wondering why he wasn't getting checked out. It's mandatory.
He is such a nice guy but really in the wrong place. His lack of commentary during that accident left me yelling...."say something!"
Bevo,
I thought that's who you might have meant...just now, I thought Reed still looked a bit "stunned" in his expression. Ouch of a wreck.
JD
I hear you about AB.
Honestly, you all have a history with Dr. Punch but one HAS to wonder...is his health ok???
Just sounds like he'd rather be elsewhere and if he is under the weather and not wanting to be forthcoming, that is CERTAINLY his business.... but I hope he gets a vacation if he needs one.
AB could easily handle things for a bit.
Well I don't particularly like Shannon either. I think ESPN should make some different choices for the broadcast team soon.
Nice haircut on McMurray's crew chief :)
J. D.,
Do you think the reason Jerry Punch isn't very excited comes from his other gig as an emergency room physician? If he gets excited, that would alarm his colleagues and patients.
Kenny
Alameda, California
This has been a tough night.
Doc is really struggling, I love the DJC info, he really explained the pits needing lights and all the tech stuff.
I realize there is no Cup race tomorrow - but could ESPN plug anymore shows?
ok...since Vicky brought it up first :)
Ditto to the Shannon comment.
You know, between the Anti-Monkey Butt Powder commercial and the creepy X Games promos...this is a weird weekend for sports television.
kenn,
Jerry has not practiced in well over a decade. We just continue to use the title.
JP has more enthusiasm announcing the Motorsports calendar than calling the action on the track.
vicky d said...
Well I don't particularly like Shannon either.
i can't say i dislike her but c'mon, shannon! asking "are you going to pit again?" when everyone is outside the pit window?!? and i REALLY felt for bliss, having to answer the same question 3 different times for her. the man should have been at infield care, not on that wall and her continuing to ask the same question of him had me yelling "he already answered that! either ask something else or leave him alone!"
anyone else wondering why this red is so long?
JD,
I think us old folks aren't in the target demo for the X Games ;)
I have to admit I do tune in here and there to watch it though my back hurts every time I watch them land a jump
Looking forward, is there word if Allen Bestwick will be in the booth for Montreal again or if they'll instead send Marty Reid if he's available?
spring,
I think it is Marty because AB is the new Suzy Kolber. He is in that box with Brad and Rusty for every race down the stretch now.
At this rate the race should be over just in time for the F1 race :)
No NHRA the weekend of Montreal
I think ESPN should have shown us some of the work being done at the tracke during this "red" flag. Is it me or do the stands seem empty.
JD,
I doubt they'd drag the studio across the border the weekend of the montreal race? esp. with there being a Sprint Cup event on ESPN the same weekend? but for that reason I'm guessing AB will stay with Cup, and Reid for Montreal
Between Dale Jarrett and Andy Petrie I sure do get my fill of drawling southern accents. Kind wears on you after a while.
One interesting thing. ESPN is putting Ray Evernham as an additional panelist for the Indy pre-race show.
That is AB, Rusty, Brad and Ray for NASCAR Countdown. Hmmm..
JP's voice sounding raspy
daly planet editor said...
One interesting thing. ESPN is putting Ray Evernham as an additional panelist for the Indy pre-race show.
That is AB, Rusty, Brad and Ray for NASCAR Countdown. Hmmm..
"hmmm" indeed! 2 current and one future cup owners on the pre-race show? isn't there anybody in this sport available for pre-race work who DOESN'T have an owner's stake in a team? this is becoming a bit ridiculous. then again, i don't generally watch the pre-race so . . . whatever.
Bevo at the rate this race is going - it might be over just in time for the Indy Race tomorrow!
vicky-
You might be right :)
Thankfully this is the last F1 race on Fox this year, I hate the tape delay. I'll have to watch the live ITV feed on the computer in the morning. Should be fun with showers in the forecast.
Well, I am not fan of adding "more voices" before, or DURING the races.
Enough different yipping how it is. Especially if we could pick our faves, it would be nice just to hear THOSE voices through out the race..though I am sure we would not all agree on the choices. :)
ok, i haven't said anything so far but . . .
hey booth guys! the name if the #88 driver is NOT " kes-Lau-ski"! his name is pronounced kes-el-OW-ski." it's pronounced just like it's spelled.
shades of bp and jamie "mac mary"!
let's see how short the post-race is going to be.
red said...
ok, i haven't said anything so far but . . .
hey booth guys! the name if the #88 driver is NOT " kes-Lau-ski"! his name is pronounced kes-el-OW-ski." it's pronounced just like it's spelled.
shades of bp and jamie "mac mary"!
Hate to disagree, Red. When he was in the booth a couple weeks ago during a rain delay, he was asked how his name was pronounced and the second "E" is silent.
and for those who were "concerned" about toyota in n'wide: top 10 cars show 2 toyotas, 5 chevys, and 3 fords.
Glad to see JP got excited by the back flip
Well, the cars were spread out but we saw the top 9 or so.....there they go, showing us the finish.
Still miss the DROP DOWN as opposed to the slide in thingies..
But still beats the HELLO out of FOX and the IRL endings.
:)
karen said:
Hate to disagree, Red. When he was in the booth a couple weeks ago during a rain delay, he was asked how his name was pronounced and the second "E" is silent.
i stand corrected. i was going by what his owner had said . . i should have known! thanks.
(and my apologies to the booth guys as well.)
Sigh...JP gets more excited about the PROMO's, once again, moreso than the race.
?????????????????
Jerry Punch sounded VERY excited to get the heck OFF THE AIR !!
There is a new post up for your comments about the Nationwide Series race from Gateway on ESPN2.
Thanks,
JD
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