It is a very big week for the Truck Series. First of all, the teams are racing on the high-speed Atlanta track on national TV on Saturday afternoon. Secondly, the series has just picked-up a full multi-year sponsorship from the Camping World corporation.
The TV coverage will start with Krista Voda hosting The Set-Up. This thirty minute pre-race show will have a special guest this week. Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis will be with Voda to talk about why the Truck Series sponsorship made sense for his company.
Even better news for the sport in general is that Camping World will continue their sponsorship of the East and West regional NASCAR series that have been so very successful this year.
After the pre-race show, coverage will begin with Rick Allen, Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip calling the action. This trio has found their stride and the reason things are clicking is the performance of Waltrip. Gone is the sponsor-shilling goofball and in his place has emerged a thoughtful and enthusiastic analyst. Waltrip has become an asset instead of a liability to the telecasts.
Look for Ryan Newman to be the possible spoiler in this event. Driving in a "one off" ride for Kevin Harvick Inc., Newman was fastest in practice and has absolutely nothing to lost in terms of points. He is only there for the win.
The championship battle between the popular Johnny Benson and the veteran Ron Hornaday Jr. is once again fantastic and should be the focal point of the coverage. These two have often been the class of the field and Atlanta is just the type of track to put all the teams to the test.
SPEED has perfected the "old school" approach to NASCAR coverage. They present a stripped-down TV package without overwhelming graphics and free of needless distractions. There is no infield pit center and only two pit reporters. The action on the track is the focal point of the coverage from the green flag.
With only a handful of races left in the season, this may be an opportunity for fans to see the SPEED TV crew at the top of their game. With good weather and a very green track, the racing action should be interesting.
This post will serve to host your comments about the Truck Series coverage on SPEED. To add your TV-related 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. Thank you for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.
37 comments:
Can't wait for the race to start... the set-up is the best pre-race show on television hands down!
Watch out for Chad Mccumbee and Erik Darnell on the track today!
Agree, this is the best pre-race show. Fox and ESPN should learn from this
You are correct JD. Without all the bells and no dog and pony show, Ms Voda supplies all the excitment that at times is missing from the NW and Cup(and I enjoy AP and DJ.) Someday she will get her due rewards. Along with Wendy.
Good interview w/Marcus Lemonis, talks like he has a plan. Hope it works. Glad to see he will stay with KHI.
Enjoy the race all.
Mr Lemonis is just the most dynamic speaker I've heard in a long while. He is so enthused, hopefully his ideas for helping the truck races, sponsors & all comes to be. Imagine how much better all NASCAR would be with Brian having that kind of fire & was able to articulate himself that well! And he was well dressed & groomed to boot. No rumpled shirt & messy hair like Brian .
This "little" 1/2 hour pre race show is better than all the "big boys" combined. Krista is great.
It's a shame that NASCAR doesn't admit and won't promote the truck series as the best racing in all of NASCAR... the production of the series and pre race show should be the top rated stock car television show...
Unfortunately the few times they switch the coverage from SPEED to FOX (cali and mville earlier this year) they strip the production from speed's crew to the bland fox production staff...
Well I was asleep at the wheel again and missed Marcus Lemonis (had to cut fire wood) it sounds like he is got a plan for the series from what I read.Good to see the best racing get a good sponsor in Camping World.
just wanted everyone to know this: i emailed camping world yesterday, thanking them for their 7 year committment to the trucks series. this morning, i received a quick email back from their customer service department which read (in part):
"Thank you for your email regarding our sponsorship of the NASCAR Truck Series. We are very excited about the 2009 season!"
to put it into context: i have emailed espn on several occasions, stating my displeasure with their poor coverage and asking for response to specific questions. i have yet to hear back from that organization.
this short email has made me an even more loyal supporter of camping world and i will continue to recommend them without reservation to my many friends who are avid campers.
espn? not so much.
red,
I have never met or spoken with anyone from Camping World. The day after my article about Mr. Lemonis the VP of Public Relations sent me an email thanking me for the article and asking me if there was anything else I needed from them.
Talk about a dynamic new partner for NASCAR!
JD
Awful, just awful anthem. Gosh, where'd they find her?
Camping World seems to be such a great sponsor. Thanks to them for saving the series. I hope the partnership is a success.
And agreed about this pre-race.. I love Krista.
I'm sure the singers for the National anthem do their best.
Thanks to Nascar for it being part of EVERY pre race.
I just wish the singers would have to audition for the honor.
And thanks to all broadcast companies for allowing us to hear it.
These promoters need to be held accountable for these awful anthem singers, it's getting ridiculous this year.
Karen, totally agree. How about when she had to swallow in the middle of singing a word? Don't think she'll be asked back.
On with racing.....
Re: the Anthem. That's why there's a mute button on the remote.
@red - I did that last night emailing CW customer serv. Haven't checked email today & its the weekend.
I figured if I can email & write to complain I better be able to say Thank You. I hope alot of truck fans do to.
And I never got a response from espn either.
Add me to the list of not hearing back from ESPU.
I noticed that there are already 2 trucks off the track. No word why.
No reason to give start and parks television time...
UGH! Stupid Blogger ate my comment!
I had to *giggle* when they showed the "arguments" montage! I don't remember seeing it last week, but if your driver is in a spot that he shouldn't be, just pick him up and carry him away! *giggle*
Yes, I also hope that "singer" is not invited back!
That's great JD! I'm glad that they found out about the article and sent you a note :).
I look forward to what CW and Mr. Lemonis does to help grow the sport. I've really liked him. He'll be like Mr. Nardelli and Mr. Butler where we "know" them because they're up front and visible and aren't "hiding".
I meant to check out FBN yesterday to see if they still have NA$CAR Friday and if they mentioned it or had him on again. I know they've done some changes to their format. My friend Tom used to host the 2 hour show that starts at 10 eastern, but now he's on the 1 hour noon show. He also has a radio show that was local only to Sacramento, now it's being carried nationwide :)
I'm sensing some 'Cup Creep' here with Hamlin and Newman joining KB in the trucks this season along with JJ and I think one or two others. I hope they don't turn into 'truck torlls' and that this will be a good thing for the trucks to help get sponsorship and more media attention. However, I don't want to see a bunch of seasons wasted working out the kinks associated with having cup regulars regularly in trucks!
jd, it's early in this relationship, to be certain, but i have a feeling that the entire camping world organization is on the ball when it comes to customer service. that alone will be refreshing.
perhaps, during the off-season, you can convince mr. lemonis to take questions directly from TDP bloggers about the series, his plans for CW's participation in it and talk to us about what he sees as the future of the trucks. and maybe he can use his obviously professionally saavy team to promote this series!
regardless, i am encouraged.
@ Anon 2pm, I agree. This is the main reason that if you are not competitive, you shouldn't even show up. I'd rather see fewer trucks/cars in the race that are serious about racing than S&Ps.
I really wish that ESPN could emply the same element of coverage that Speed provides with the truck series. I like the addage the less is more.
one of the many aspects of speed's coverage of the trucks that i enjoy is that the pit reports give us solid information with every report.
also, in this format, i find i actually appreciate mike waltrip's voice and experience. he keeps the goofiness to a minimum and also provides solid information, based on his own experience in the trucks.
finally, in comparison to the cup announcers, it actually sounds as if (1.) these guys really look out the window at the race frequently and (2.) they are enthusiastic about the sport they cover.
it's such an obvious difference from trucks on saturday to n'wide on saturday and then the great downward spiral into cup on sunday.
Is there really debris? Or a pity caution since JB was ready to go a lap down?
There is a new post up for the Nationwide Series race from Memphis on ESPN Classic and on SPEED when the Trucks are done.
JD
Thank goodness for the DVR mine should be smoking today. I'm already behind with the Trucks and now NW is about to start add being On Call so frequent pauses but having fun so far.
I will miss the Memphis race but will read about it here later.
Soph
Lookie Kevin!
Congratulations Ryan!
Hornaday can't be too pleased with Newman. The loss of those points to Newman could mean the difference in the championship.
But Newman's being paid to win...
Another great job by Speed, good call of the finish and showed the other trucks crossing the line!
The best coverage of racing by any network hands down.
WTG Ryan. Nice work by Speed crew on race coverage - Thank You!
Thought Kevin was gonna go nuts at the end - lol- both his trucks 1,2 - nice day for KHI
Nice effort again by SPEED but certainly wish we could have heard the team Harvick radios on the final laps.
JD
Funny Ron just questioned the caution that came out when he was behind JB getting ready to lap him.
Will Speed stay with the trucks till 4 or will they jump to the NW race sooner? It's almost like they are using up all their commercials and then will switch
I'm glad Speed is showing the Nationwide race, but I don't think they did the truck series justice. Short post race, when there were a lot of stories with the point leaders, and possibly Kevin.
bryanh
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