A refreshed ESPN crew is returning to the Watkins Glen road course after a very long Saturday of live TV. That is the Infield Pit Center pictured above. It may play a big role in the Sunday coverage. Click on the picture to see it full-size.
Already this morning, the ESPN family of networks has presented a thirty minute Outside The Lines program focused on NASCAR and the morning preview edition of NASCAR Now. Up next on ESPN's NASCAR agenda is the one hour NASCAR Countdown pre-race show.
Host Allen Bestwick should have lots of topics to choose from where this program is concerned. Joined by Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, Bestwick can pick from a list that includes Daugherty's future team winning the Nationwide race, Wallace's son continuing his learning curve in racing or the Sunday weather forecast.
Bestwick has been doing a solid job of leading Wallace and Daugherty through this pre-race show since the season began. Now, with the Sprint Cup Series coverage underway, Bestwick has a host of on-air talent that can contribute to this show.
Once the pre-race is over, Bestwick and company will continue to interact with the "upstairs" announce team of Dr. Jerry Punch, Dale Jarret and Andy Petree. These three will face a very different style of racing that has all kinds of twists and turns associated with it. From pit stop strategy to fuel mileage, the Sprint Cup race should be loaded with good stories.
Tim Brewer will also be along in the Tech Center, where he faces the challenge of showing the viewers the many changes in the COT that a road course brings. From carburetors to shocks, Brewer will be on-the-spot when the coverage begins.
The challenge today for the TV crew is to try and tell the multiple stories of the cars throughout the field, not just the leaders of the race. A backmarker playing the fuel strategy game may well become the winner. The normal network focus on two or three cars that seem to be the fastest on the day will not work.
Rain is in the area and Watkins Glen is not a circuit with lights. The race would be run on Monday if things did not reach the halfway point when it was halted. The telecast is scheduled until 5:30PM with a live 90 minute version of SportsCenter following the race. ESPNEWS will have live coverage of the post-race news conference from the Infield Media Center as it happens.
This post will serve to host your comments about the Sprint Cup Series race from Watkins Glen on ESPN. 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.
429 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 429 of 429Anonymous said...
why would drivers be called to the hauler DURING the race? They are still calling the race until its over.
its always after the race.
I believe Mikey spent an entire race sitting in the hauler after he punted Casey Mears. So Now is possible
You know it should not be this hard to watch & get info on a sporting event. I'm listening to TV, MRN & have Raceview up & FoxTrax. If some of the Anons posting in who think I'm ( or anyone else muti tasking for complete coverage) think this is normal or is the way it should be think again. I remember - cuz I'm older - when TV ( espn) gave us good complete coverage of the race on the track.
We complained mightily about TNT last year, and they improved. ESPN didn't.
The ESPN HD signal is in and out. the SD signal seems fine. with COX in san diego.
Anonymous red said...
"well, for what it's worth: earnhardt jr and one of his spotters are "scouting" the grandstands and infield for attractive young women.
some things never change . . ."
August 10, 2008 4:53 PM
I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying the scenery. Think about it...they are a bunch of guys who work around each other A LOT. Wouldn't you want to see some cute girls if you were a guy who spent so much time around a bunch of other guys?
Shoot, I'm female and one thing I love about the sport is all of the good-looking guys both in and out of the cars.
00 pit road, 55 garage Thanks pit command, don't know about the others
I take that back. its effecting the SD channel too. WHATS going on??? with COX in san diego.
NASCAR just tells whoever they want to stop by when their day is done. They really have to sort that one out, someone could have gotten hurt.
By all means give us the "fight" from last year. how about an update on who is where. I think Mikey may fall out of the top 35 with this mess
jo-
I agree 100%. Well said!
you didnt watch "NASCAR Confidential" did you? - my guess is that the trailer is empty til the race is over. They're all in Race Control.
Thanks bevo ;)
I cant watch the race like this! Is the signal problem effecting anyone else???
Give you cable company a quick phone call. No signal problems elsewhere.
Single bad here in Indianapolis as well. My DVR is showing a blank screen, so I had to go to a smaller TV downstairs to watch the end. I figured it was my local comcast company, but it sounds like it could be a bigger problem?
Now lets see the post race!
looks great on my tv, but I'm sure it's ESPN's fault nonetheless! :)
no problem with my ESPN signal at all.
start with the pole and win. pretty easy to do here with only two cuations and this type of race.
but let's get to the kyle busch lovefest again.
stewart has to be pissed but athhe same time reads the writing on the wall or already did after this one.
he's a superior road course driver starting second and just falls WAY off on the restart.
i don't think so.
No problem on DirecTV in Texas
Well at least no reason to watch VL tonight!
No beer cans in sight at least thats an improvement.
The beast part was ESPN view of the finish despite the winner. Now if we can just get the coverage to match the finish camera work we'll be golden
well, for what it's worth: earnhardt jr and one of his spotters are "scouting" the grandstands and infield for attractive young women.
some things never change . . .
My wife is a Junior fan and found this hilarious when she heard it.
Overall, it was better than yesterday. The camera work was better and the infield was more vocal and quicker to pick up the slack from the booth. I think DJ should continue to do the play by play and let Doc pretend he's the color guy if they won't switch him out, switch him up.
Thanks again for stopping by everyone! New column up shortly for your comments on this race.
Monday TV listings up shortly as well.
JD
For the 2nd straight week ... ESPN rushes off the air and denies us post-race coverage. I give them an F.
No TV signal problems here in Dayton (Time Warner).
Despite the winner, I liked the camera work for most of the race.
How about Marcos Ambrose finishing 3rd?
There is a new post up for your comments on the Sprint Cup Series race from Watkins Glen.
Thanks,
JD
No top 35 as of the end of the race, when they gave it to us it was during the red flag and there were substantial position changes after that.
ESPN has made it clear they will not be showing the top 35 in points. Look for it during the hour long Sunday NASCAR Now on ESPN2 at midnight.
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