The Monster Mile was acting up during the Friday and Saturday on-track activity with both NASCAR series. The Nationwide Series is going to be facing a green track, but Kyle Busch seems to have the field covered by quite a bit.
It will be Dr. Jerry Punch, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree who bring fans live coverage on ESPN2 of the Nationwide race at 3:30PM. Down in the ESPN Tech Center will be Tim Brewer and Bestwick, Wallace and Daugherty will be in the infield studio.
Pit reporters will be Jamie Little, Shannon Spake, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns. Dover is a notoriously dangerous pit road and the Nationwide race has drivers of various skill levels. It should make for some pit action to remember.
Look for the cars at the back of the pack and see how many decide to retire before the first fuel stop. The Nationwide Series is continuing to grow a "start and park" crew at the end of the field. The lap ticker should tell the tale.
Dover is fast and the action is often intense. This should be a test for Punch and company in the booth to keep the energy high for the duration of the broadcast. It is a very good rehearsal for the Cup race on Sunday.
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87 comments:
We definitely caught a break this week. The ESPN2 game ran "only" 11 minutes long, whereas the ESPN game that started at the same time just finished regulation 14 minutes late, with overtime pending. The networks covering the games could have very easily been swapped and we would still be waiting.
2/2 joining Nationwide broadcasts late during 2008 college football season, but thankfully we drop to 1/2 missing the start of the race by catching the lucky break that ECU-NCST was the ESPN game and not the ESPN2 game.
So far...it's all about Kyle Busch and Joey Logano already and we're only 10 minutes into the pre-race coverage. Considering that Logano is now a 'Cup' driver too, I wonder if we'll get ANY nationwide-only driver coverage today.
@ Anon 3:23, that would be NO.
Look up Tim Brewer on wikipedia. Back to you, Jerry.
Does it seem weird to anyone else that ESPN sometimes uses the old NBC/TNT theme music?
I'm not really complaining because it reminds me of how much I loved their coverage back then, but it just seems a little strange.
But if ESPN reads this, keep using the music, I love it haha.
Still weird to see Mike Joy on-camera doing his baseball game on Fox!
@anon 3:23--well they remembered for 30 seconds that Kelly Bires was in the race...I'm sure that's the last he'll hear about him unless he gets in a wreck :(
Did you just see one of the "start and park" set pulling off on the TV camera shot?
ESPN needs to change their call letters (is that what it's called?) to KYLE for race coverage only.
Come on Doc, we're two thirds of the way throught the season you should not have to look to know who is driving the 66 and 99! What is wrong with the man?
Anyone else think the telecast would be better if the sound of the cars was louder? You can't hardly hear the cars while the guys in the booth are talking.
Steve L.
TB in the big box, again.
9 cars out by lap 45....
Dot said...
ESPN needs to change their call letters (is that what it's called?) to KYLE for race coverage only.
September 20, 2008 3:59 PM
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NOno no ! KBJL 1820 gets my vote
JD, I'm surprised that number hasn't reached 11 yet. I figured the 89 and 01 would have been gone by now.
The one thing the start-and-park does do is give us a lot of green flag racing.... though I'm sure, much to Denny Hamlin's chagrin for a second week in a row, NASCAR will conveniently find some debris before green flag pit stops get here.
yeah JD i saw it.
Nothing new at all its been going on since Daytona.
Still remember the Kentucky shot where they did a wide angle down the backstretch and you saw 9 guys peel off for pit road on lap 1
I guess it must be in their script to talk about the outside pole sitter every few minutes...that's why Kelly's being mentioned every few minutes. But I'm sure they'll tire of it since they can't talk about a "name" instead
Yeah, let's wait until there's 20 cars on the lead lap to go thru the field.
Lets see the disappearing start & parks, Doc doesn't know several of the reg N'wides drivers names, TB in big box, SCORE ALERT & bottom ticker
Doc is more excited about promos & Comm'l breaks. Yup a usual #$%^ broadcast. We deserve better
Prediction, debris caution when KyB gets to Logano.
Nice catch by Punch and company. Great decision to hold the break.
Oops, they changed the script on me.
Well there goes the Kelly talk now :(
WOW on way to comm'l showed #47 brush wall & stayed to cover it.
Nice job espn. Cripes, I had to say something twice today.
Hey, the triple-split is back!
@ Gymmie,
Ditto.
Good job ESPN to not go to break.
Reuts tire changer ! Nice report from pit road. +2 for 99 no mention of it - instead only Carl sigh
I am keeping an ear on Mike Joy doing his baseball. You would never know he had not been doing it forever. Strange experience to hear.
Caught some of it earlier JD - he sounded like a regular - if you didn't know him from racing you'd wonder why he wasn't on all year.
Wish he was doing N'wide today!
An interview w/ Kelly ! wow
That's a TRUE sports professional! Being able to "sit in" and sound as if you've been doing it all your life! I knew Mike would rock it! YAY!
Lack of communication with the booth and the pit road reporters??
Did nobody tell Shannon that the tire on Kelly's car blew out ???
"It looked like the car took off on you ... What happened??"
i'll just come right out and say it... espn is schizophrenic
So much for accuracy, before the restart Punch called out that there were 22 cars on the lead lap.
Well, before the caution there were only 19 on the lead lap...and since Bires is out and there was one lucky dog recipient, it should be easy to know that there are still just 19 on the lead lap.
He is boring and he doesn't call much of the action, but if Punch isn't even accurate, what is the point of him being in the booth?
Does Punch still not know the drivers in each car this late in the season? Can't he refer to the driver by name instead of saying the car number? It really kills the flow of any attempt to call the race, which he definitely doesn't need.
His ho-hum approach to a car making a pass on another car couldn't be any more boring.
Wow, DJ was watching the track and not the monitor. He called the spin before it was shown.
ESPN will have to fix the blinds in the booth so that doesn't happen again. ;)
Those boyz need to learn how to back off...they know full well they can't fit all those cars through like that! So many things can happen and we've seen a wayward tire go flying many a time and OTW guys go flying up against the wall after being hit :(.
And Clauson being interviewed leaving the care center! WOW! could there be hope for (gasp) the Cup Race?
Sure would love a recap...
Dot - There's a KYLE-FM radio station in Watertown, Wisconsin ...
There's a KYLE-tv in Bryan, Texas ...
LOL
Oochie on the Navy tire changer :(
The worst pit road in NASCAR strikes again. That should definitely be a major storyline in the ESPN pre-race show tomorrow. Did you guys know that Dover STILL hasn't added a 43rd pit stall, and Bobby Labonte and Ken Schrader will be sharing a pit until someone falls out of the race tomorrow? They've been racing 43 cars since 1998 and Dover still hasn't fixed this pit road. They immediately came out and said the problem would be fixed in the spring of 2006 when the media shined a spotlight on it after Jimmie Johnson had to share a pit. 2 1/2 years and 5 Dover Cup races later, nothing has changed.
@ Rick, too funny.
@ Anon4:45, maybe ESPN can buy them. Do they air the races?
Joey's got a flat and they didn't break out of commercial for it ??
Sliced bread is toast again.
That XM radio car is getting a lot of tv time ... for being the instigator in incidents on & off pit road ...
MRN says 33 has no brakes
Poor Kevin :(
does Tim have to opine and stick his foot in his mouth every time he does a tech center?
Nice one Andy!
YES! next question? ;)
Uhhh, Tim Brewer needs to cut his fingernails. They are longer than most women's nails. Might as well go get a french manicure!
In defense of Brewer, it took MRN a bit to verify that it was a brake issue as opposed to engine for Harvick ...
Wow interviewing drivers from the in-field care center (Nationwide only too), and calling accidents before they're on the screen.
Yay for turning over a new leaf ;)
Im disappointed they didnt recap why Keller is in the 27 and the 11 made a driver change though. This is YOUR series to cover...this is a big story for the "regulars".
What game is Mike Joy covering? I've got the Cubs game here in Phoenix, haven't heard him yet at all...
ESPN interviewed Scott Lagasse, Kelly Bires, and Bryan Clauson when they fell out of this race. Why is it absolutely impossible for ESPN to do the same thing during the Cup races and interview a non-Chaser when they fall out??
@ David, same here in LV.
David,
On Fox, Rays v. Twins. Rays, 2-0 bottom of the 4th.
OK Jerry, 20 to go...crank it up!
You go Morgan. Still in the race with one tire change.
guess they were one commercial short huh?
Bliss needs to jack up Kyle to get the Booth guys excited and throw the whole MO of the broadcast out the window ... LOL
Dot said...
You go Morgan. Still in the race with one tire change.
That is quite amazing when you think about it.
stricklinfan--I've also been wondering what was going on with the additional pit. I remember when Jimmie had to share and it was like folks were falling all over themselves "embarrassed" over it when they weren't "embarrassed" all these years when no-names have had to share.
Caution w/11 laps to go. JoLo gets his lap back. Will we see the debris?
I'm very proud of Mr. Morgan! I loved it during quals when Randy spoke to hm! I also had to LOL when the boyz speculated that Mr. Morgan would be out of his car and skating over to the haulers while the "kids" need to rest and get some water to catch their breaths
@ Karen, yes it is. He must have that saying in his shop about working with less....forget how it goes. Anybody?
Steven & Landon! hard crashes!
That might have been THE weakest wreck called by a booth in the history of Nascar!
Punch didn't even say anything. I think it was Jarrett or Petree too.
This series needs a new broadcast partner. Someone who will actually show excitement when something eventful happens in the race.
I have to rest my Jerry Punch case on that one. Are you kidding me?
If Bliss has any hope, he HAS to play restart games with Kyle. Basically, jack him on the restart lol.
Hard hit by Landon...that steel aint nice to meet.
Impressive rebound by Brad. Bowyer doing nice himself.
15 cars out of the race, Morgan gets a top 25...only 2 laps down. Impressive considering their equipment. Makes me wish someone would supply a car, engine and pit crew (top tier stuff, I know Harvick gave them a car earlier in the year) and see what Morgan can REALLY do.
Penske or Evernham need to give Morgan some Dodge assistance ...
Same with Mr Nardelli ... Help Morgan!!
I think Bestwick has had enough and is just laying Punch out about this "ain't over till its over" stuff. They seem to be teasing Jerry pretty hard here today.
Anybody else besides me think that Andy Petree and Alaska's first dude could be twins?
Karen - I made that connection last month about Petree & Palin ... Gymmie has the pix that are a good comparison (which I sent her) ...
Sure looked like Kyle jumped his own restart ... again ... Was accelerating right out of turn 4
Jerry Punch likes giving all the drivers nicknames (when he remembers they have names and ot car numbers). We need one for him, and I have it.
Kool Aid man.
It fits so many ways, "cherry" punch, never tastes the same twice, gets old quick, and as in "he has drunk the Nascar" kool aid.
Bill H
KB again!
Click!! (TV off)
Steve L.
No emotion from Punch
All cars shown crossing the finish line THANK YOU espn.
Can we have this coverage tomorrow?
This coverage is better than Chase gets.
Doc has got to go. Doc had more emotion announcing the " Kyle 19th win" bit ON THE WAY TO commercials!!!!!
Bill H too funny LOL
KoolAid man it is!
an exciting race for 2nd. Reutimann getting bounced around...and not much made of it except for a replay of the Reutimann thing?
Production is sucking it up for ESPN, personally I think I'd do better play-by-play then JP.
I'd really like to see Nascar run at Miller Motorsports Park ...
Just to hear them trying to pronounce the name of city would be priceless ... LOL
I thought ESPN did some good things during the broadcast today that have been severely lacking lately:
- only one pre-taped driver comment piece
- triple-pit graphics
- not shoving a constant running "points as of now" display down our throats
- interviewing non-points contenders after they fell out of the race
- looking for racing on the track and not focusing on "the script"
The play-by-play position is still an issue and I still don't understand the logic behind the horizontal, 3 at-a-time finishing results display at the finish line. A vertical display would show more drivers and actually update the results instantaneously instead of several seconds after the fact.
Today was good but ESPN still needs to prove that days like this aren't complete flukes. If the same old garbage returns tomorrow, next week, or anytime soon there's no choice but to characterize this day as "a blind squirrel eventually finding a nut".
The choice is yours ESPN. Are you really a blind squirrel that had a lucky day or have you actually figured out how to do this 'NASCAR thing'? Your actions in the weeks that come will answer that question.
@anon 5:33--I backed up the DVR it was Mr. Petree who announced it since he was talking and all Doc did was chime in to say the cars involved and then back to his *crickets*
@anon 5:40--I should send that to the Look Alike Folks (they're part of the LOLCats and growing family) :). They're headquartered up in your parts even :)
I might watch my HH tape later but back to the Rolex boyz while I wait for the Pick 'em Ups boyz :)
Put Allen Bestwick in the booth and everything will be better.
dot said...
"@ Karen, yes it is. He must have that saying in his shop about working with less....forget how it goes. Anybody?"
i'm just now catching up on yesterday so this may have already been answered for you, dot.
the statement you're looking for, i believe, is this:
"we who have done so much, for so long, with so little can now do anything with nothing!"
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