Sprint Cup qualifying rained-out again. There is a new post up to talk about the Atlanta rain fill programming on ESPN2.
The weekend starts on Friday with Craftsman Truck Series practice at 11:30AM on SPEED. This begins a long live stretch on SPEED that will cover both Truck Series practice sessions. During the lunch break at 1PM, John Roberts will be along with a thirty minute version of NASCAR Live.
It will be Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip who will be joining host Rick Allen for the NCTS coverage. Atlanta is a great track for the trucks and the action during practice should be interesting. Ray Dunlap and Adam Alexander will be handling the reporting duties from the garage.
At 3PM, SPEED will shift gears and televise Sprint Cup practice. It will be Steve Byrnes calling the action with Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds alongside. Down in the garage area will be Wendy Venturini and Bob Dillner.
This will be the only TV coverage before qualifying and with the battles underway for both The Chase and for some teams simply to remain in the Top 35 in point, there is going to be a lot on the line for qualifying. That will be on ESPN2 at 7PM.
This post will serve to host your comments about the daytime NASCAR TV coverage on SPEED. There will be a new post up for the Nationwide Series at 4:30PM and the later Cup qualifying.
To add your comments about the SPEED coverage, 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.
30 comments:
Thanks for putting the tv schedule for the whole weekend. I love having it all in one place.
However, judging from the weather report, all we'll be seeing is rain, rain, and more rain.
*sigh*
Looks like lots of rainy day coverage today, if the networks stay with live coverage.
Any bets on which network stays with it,and which "partner" bails?
I just looked at the weather for my area, and it seems like rain may be moving out of Hampton in about 2 hours. That means there's an outside chance the 1:30 Truck practice could still happen.
By mid-afternoon at the latest, they should be able to dry the track.
Has anyone noticed that Wendy is the BEST female reporter in NASCAR? She is also better than many of the guys. No dumb questions or stupid comments from her.
It is unbeleiveable that 30% of this year's races have been affected by rain.
I know that this is a bit abnormal for NASCAR, but maybe they could get some notes from the PGA. They don't seem to have nearly as many weekends effected by rain.
I guess that rain is inevitable sometimes. I know that it is really frustrating many times to see the rain like this, but we ahve definitely needed it in South Carolina just like the Atlanta has needed it too. I am sure that they will try and get things in as muhc as possible and hopefully qualifying will not be washed out tongiht too.
Kind of another mess. Might be a good time to talk about a new policy for qualifying rainouts on the first day of the weekend.
JD
JD,
Agreed. I hate that they have to be so hardheaded sometimes. If today's was rained out, they could reschedule it for tomorrow morning. No on-track action and clear weather, but I doubt that would happen.
I got this from the AMS web page;
Saturday, October 25, 2008
9:00 a.m. Gates Open
9:10 a.m. Atlanta 200 NCTS Qualifying (All positions)
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Pep Boys Auto 500 NSCS Practice
12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. Pep Boys Auto 500 NSCS Final Practice
1:00p.m. Atlanta 200 Driver Introductions
1:30 p.m. Atlanta 200 (130 laps)
4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Legends Races
Thanks to Speed for all the coverage today. Seeing some of the old race finishes has been nice.
I like what...crap, can't remember who it was...someone on Tradin Paint(?) said they ought to do. Draw names out of a hat if qualifying is rained out. Be a heck of a lot more interesting than points...
stinks the rain.
the good news, SPEED IS HANDLING THIS! These guys are fun and love the sport and do not insult the viewers. I loved the toilet paper test demonstration! :)
I refuse to turn on the four letter network.
I have enjoyed cutting back my viewing and not being aggravated. But I agree, NASCAR needs a thump on the head to give a second chance on saturdays.
@zieke--where have ya been? We've been saying that for years (and here the last 2 years on JDs blog). Wendy and Krista need to skool the bobsie twins.
@glenc--yup Randy Pemberton said that :)
I hate weepy tracks :(.
Yes I wish they'd figure out a way to make it "fair" so that the same people don't have an advantage every rain out. And times like this where you may have 2 or 3 in a row, the same folks (for the most part) have the advantage.
These SPEED guys and gals are a hot mess! I'm crying I'm rolling over here! I would not be doing the same if we were on the 4 letter network :(.
Lining up by points is the fairest way to handle a rainout. As for those that don't get to race, get better. This isn't t-ball were every body bats.
Just my opinion of course.
CARS ON THE TRACK!!!!
WOO HOO!!!
If the rain stays away and they get qualifying in I sure hope we get live TV coverage of it. There's no way I see qualifying going off at 7:00 with practice just starting now. Pre-season basketball on ESPN and college football on ESPN2 at 9:00.... Yikes!
It sure would be nice if all qualifying and practice sessions were on Speed Channel.
The excitement and significance of preseason basketball is too much to comprehend.
cup quals cancelled
Another rainout. I'm starting to think that Mother Nature doesn't want to see qualifying sessions on ESPN. j/k :-)
or Mother Nature is a JJ fan.
May as well just get rid of qualifying entirely if NASCAR cares so little about getting it in when it rains.
Thanks again Speed for the coverage today!
They made qualfying almost meaningless with the top 35 rule and they don't care if it goes on or not. I expect attendance and viewership to drop even lower for the rest of the season.
I cannot believe that Speed and ESPN are happy with all the rainouts and haven't pressured Nascar to come up with some kind of alternative to insure that qualifying happens, whether it's a few hours later or the next day. IMHO, there's absolutely no reason why a canceled Friday qualifying session can't be held on Saturday. I know their mantra is "This year is unusual and therefore we don't need a backup plan", but that's the ostrich with it's head in the sand. Not only are the networks and their sponsors ripped off, but those who are out of the top 35 in points, those who need to qualify, are totally ripped off, not to mention that we, the fans, are getting tired of this.
Sorry, but I cannot agree with the likes of Dave Moody who say that holding qualifying at a different time is impossible due to the logistics of getting people there, setting up everything on the track and on and on. IF Nascar really cared, they would find a way to make things work.
And, don't even get me started on the immense benefit of starting on the front row that canceling qualifying gives the top two in points. It just isn't fair, especially during Chase races.
Why can't NASCAR lock in the Top-35based on points and let the non-top 35 cars qualify if qualifying is rained out. After all, it is only around 10 cars each weekend that have to get in, and they should earn their way in by speed.
"Lining up by points is the fairest way to handle a rainout. As for those that don't get to race, get better. This isn't t-ball were every body bats.
Just my opinion of course."
That is not a fair statement to Logano and Clauson who did not qualify because they only run a limited schedule.
I know they have said they can't do qualifying on Saturday because of tv agreements but why not, either way if they don't have it is just not on. So way not have Saturday in case of ran on Friday and if they run it in the a.m. bump a infomercial or other program if possible. If they can,t bump a program well then so be it at least let them quilify .It was not that long ago we had second round qualifying Saturday ,were you also got a chance to improve your spot but what ever you got then you got ,top 25 locked in then bumping. Seemed to work,if they have to tweak things abit then do it. Then if it rans Saturday line em up by points.
There is a new post up about Jerry Punch and his Atlanta rain fill programming. Just refresh your browser.
JD
The argument they can't change qualifying due to TV contracts is plain bull. This kind of thing happens all the time with no problems. Why aren't they concerned with their TV contracts when a golf tournament goes into a playoff on the next day, or for that matter, if a round is delayed due to rain? The networks don't have a problem with that. I just bet this could be a mandate from ESPN. Their programming schedule is already overloaded so THEY are the ones who wouldn't be able to fulfill their contractual agreements to broadcast qualifying if it were held on a different day.
@geez--I don't think anyone said that everyone *had* to play. Even with quals unless the exact field shows up, not everyone gets to play as it is. What we mean by fair (at least I do) is to "shake it up" a bit. So that Jimmie being the points leader doesn't get to start up front every week (yes there's a chance he might have received the pole anyway if quals did happen), but to allow someone else a chance to start up front or to be able to get the first pit selection pick. Since quals no longer qualify you for the Shootout, all it's good for is pit selection and where you start on Sunday. And for the GOGHers, allow them to qualify the next day. Yes someone is going to go home anyway, and sure it might be the same who would have gone home anyway due to OP, but give them a chance :).
@darbar I agree. The top 35 can start by points and let the GOGHers qualify. Depending on the number of GOGHers and the track, most can be done and out in 30-45ish minutes and Bristol probably 5 minutes...OK...I'll give them 15 :p.
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