Krista Voda leads the troops back on the air from the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The TV production team for the Camping World Truck Series has been the most consistent and fan-friendly group for many years.
The Set-Up pre-race show airs at 1:30PM with the race coverage starting thirty minutes later. The NASCAR on Fox crew produced the last CWTS event, so the SPEED team is just now getting back into action since their Daytona debut.
Rick Allen will call the race with Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip alongside. Ray Dunlap and Adam Alexander will cover pit road. There are lots of stories to go along with this event, including some drivers who will be racing at Atlanta for the first time.
Tires played a role during practice and the teams are worried about the same type of wear problems they have been plagued with in the past at this track. Several top teams continue to be unsponsored and are fighting for their lives to get TV time and stay in the top ten of the season standings.
The CWTS TV presentation is stripped of any bells and whistles. There is no Hollywood Hotel or infield pit studio during the event. The focus of the broadcast is on the drivers and teams once the green flag flies. As you may have noted, there are only two reporters on pit road.
This is going to be a dangerous event and that is a theme running through the garage area. The diversity of the drivers in the field and the inexperience of many running on one of the fastest tracks in NASCAR has everyone on edge. It will not only be the drivers who are "up on the wheel" for this entire event.
This post will serve to host the in-progress comments during the CWTS event. Just click the comments button below to join the TV-related discussion. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Comments may be moderated before they are placed on the site.
Thanks again and welcome back to the CWTS TV team from SPEED.
101 comments:
Weather looks a little iffy today.
The sky looks blue behind Krista. Btw, 11:00 is the perfect start time for a race.
Amazing.. they actually talk about racing before the race on Speed.
Fox should learn from their little brother
Looks like a good crowd is on hand. SMI knows what they're doing.
I hope they talk about the truck regulars and not KyB all day.
The first couple of laps are going to be interesting.
Dot
I agree..I hope they talk about all the other racers and not the carpetbagger guy.
;-0
the problems with the bumpstops and transmissions were interesting in CUP practice...did not hear of any issues with the trucks. Should be the best race of the weekend. :)
Good News and Bad News...tried to go to the TiltedKilt website but it was down.. but hopefully because of a surge in web traffic (hopeful thinking)...
I think that even if you don't like the way TV is covering NASCAR, a good fan of NASCAR will at least go to websites for new sponsors to our sports..its just the smart and nice thing to do.
Also, I haven't been on the site in a while and I am sure others have posted it already, but isn't great to be able to watch a race and not see Kasey Kahne and the same 4 commercials with his desperate housewives over and over?
Things got spaced out real quick. See how soon they start to lap.
Sure does feel strange watching the trucks on a Saturday afternoon. I prefer Friday nights. Is there any difference in ratings between Friday nights and Saturday afternoons?
Not too happy with the flashing blue and red lights behind the split screen. That's interesting.
10 trucks 1 lap down or more.
Who was it that had the smoke behind the split screens either last year or the one before?
I'm with you JD. It's taking up a third of the screen.
JD
DThat blue and red light is headache inducing (well I have one but it's triggering vertigo)
SPEED please STOP the FLASHING lights on the split screen...Mercy...bloody annoying
Do not gunk up the truck races :( DISAPPOINTING change.
STOP the split screen already on KB...isn't this overdosing? Wow..must be the FOX guy directing the truck race today JD?
@ Bevo, SPEED. I would always think there was a wreck going on.
Nope, it's Keith and the truck guys. Just a new season with all the things that brings.
One friend told me this was 50% truck teams and 50% ARCA teams. The closing rates are huge.
Gabi actually tried to get other drivers into her truck during practice but they would not fit in her seat. She never ran in ATL and like lots of others, this is only the second or third truck series race.
Wow, like that new split and the brown background.
Thanks Dot. That's how it looked to me too.
JD, How small is Gabi? She must be pretty small. Most racers (men) aren't all that big.
Yea, those flashing lights have to go. Good idead but it is not working.
can someone tell me who that was that butchered the National Anthem? I just caught the end of it, and that is not the way to sing it.
@ Bryan, probably some local singing sensation.
JD
what brown background? I am still seeing flashing color lights.
Also is it just me or we are having LOTS FEWER wide shows and too many in car cams. Not sure I can sit through this.
Never thought i would say THAT about a truck race.
but those flashing lights on split screen are nausea inducing... :(
I think all anthems should be instrumental myself.
The local singer sensation du jour/or even celebs can't pull it off. Granted it's a most difficult song to sing...but I guess they do it for good P.R. having the singer du jour. Be nice to have a military band version.
way too much on busch so far
Thanks Dot.
Too bad there isn't better racing going on. Or, are we not seeing it?
Dot
we are not seeing it.
MOST DISAPPOINTING for a truck race. I am taping this for my brother to take to my mom's later but it doesn't not seem worth it.
I am out to sit on the patio for some VITA D and will check back later...I can't sit thru the fLaShInG light things and horrible camera work.
darn shame.
Sophia,
The brown background is behind the triple-video split on the pit stops. It was nice.
They time the anthem and it was clear she really slowed things down. The plane came over long before she finished.
I really wish in these tough economic times they got good singers who just belted it out nice and loud like it was written
Bryan - singer Megan Peeler will perform the National Anthem prior to Saturday's American Commercial Lines 200
They have a guy crouched down out of camera site telling the National Anthem performer to either speed it up or slow it down based on "where" the flyover is located ...
Today, it's apparent, someone wasn't doing too well on the timing ...
20 second lag between 1st and 10th. This doesn't bode well for the Cup race tomorrow.
and again another minute with kyle
17 trucks on the lead lap. Let's have an injury free caution to shake things up. Just as I was typing.....
i do like that brown background
NASCAR has to get rid of this stupid pit rule
hey gang! sorry to be late to the party!
have we found a site that carries the truck live leaderboard?
@ Bevo, ditto. I would think having to pit twice is a recipe for disaster. More chances for crews to get hurt and drivers to get penalized.
The flashing lights are annoying for sure, but not as much as the cartoon rodent.
Missed the Set-up today was out at the Sebring track watching the Historic races.They had about 12 ex Busch and Cup cars racing.
Frank in Sebring
OK, not what I wanted. KyB wasn't in it.
Good replays
@frank in sebring: i believe i am seriously jealous.
hope carmichael can get that truck back out there.
Frank, saw those guys in Daytona a while back. Awesome restored cars.
Funny Bass Pro Shop comml.
I want that chair for my living room.
What an amazing crowd.
ya know, maybe it's b/c camping world "bailed out" the truck series but for some reason, those CW commercials w/ray just make me smile. maybe it's ray, maybe it's the nod to nascar -- dunno. just know they don't make me want to scream.
thanks camping world!
We're missing a wad of trucks racing to show KyB?
Pet Peeve of the Day:
It's Dennis SETZER, not seNtzer! And make that my Pet Peeve of the YEAR - the announcers have been mispronouncing the poor guy's name since last season.
Wonder how'd they like Mikie Waltripe or Phil Parsonses... C'mon announcers, you're not new at this!
How long before we have our first report of someone having a seizure from the flashing lights on the split-screen?
that was a sweet, subtle move by harvick on young mr busch: just enough to get him to squiggle and then move him over -- all without a wreck. THAT'S great racing right there.
They had about 200 cars there. The historic races are the most bang for your buck. $60 for 4 days and you can just drive into the paddock. The 3 hour enduro starts at 8:30 in the morning. Be home in time for the Cup race.
Frank in Sebring
Re the National Anthem today - it was a slower rendition than the pace car.... Almost put me to sleep! Not a bad voice, just wish she had picked it up a little in the corners and on the straight stretch...
Anon 3:20,
Imagine how Rick Hendrick feels on Sundays. Between Jimmy Spencer and Kenny Wallace they butcher that guy's name every week.
Maybe we should copy this comment section and send it to all of them! Of course, that's making the assumption that they can read...
or think of how bad spencer says patrick carpentier or david gilliland
I don't WANT to watch Kyle! Enough already....
bevo
about the seizure from lights...why I am avoiding watching race. Been years since I had a grand mal but let me tell you, you never forget..and flickering/flash/strobe lights can induce one.
I just came back from outside but it does not sound like the camera work is improving..too bad to hear about Ricky Carmichael
And enough of the Kyle B show.
Even though the show is at the front of the pack, it is time to go back and let us know who is racing where as far as possible.
@ JD, ditto. Who's out and why would be nice to know, too.
Sophia, I know what you're saying. Flashing lights sometimes trigger my migraines. No fun for either of us!
Of course, stress doesn't help me either, so have to quit thinking about the actual race coverage now and just concentrate on all my favorite truck drivers! LOL
Did anyone catch the fact that "Wrecked" has started to air on National Geographic Channel?
JD, I'm posting as Anonymous because although you like my identity, you don't recognize my password. Is there a way to find out what I've forgotten?
I watch Wrecked all the time, but never pay attention to what channel it's on - I'm one of those Guide surfers.... LOL
Is the debris real? Will they show it?
this caution is THE ideal time for a full field run thru, dincha think?
JD, I indeed noticed that.
NatGeo is also owned by NEWSCORP which also owns SPEED. So, I wouldnt look to much into it.
Bummer for Benson.
Anon 3.33
Yea I have a weird headache to start wtih so using tv as 'radio'. Shame. The truck coverages is usually my fave.
I hope they change the flashing lights...some of us have to close our eyes to the camera movement and strobe graphics as it is...no fun missing the race.
Has anyone heard the air temp for the race. 78 in Ohio and BREEZY.
ok..what is the deal with the bromance with Kyle B. If michael jordan went back to play with college kids and got the most points, would folks be impressed? Not a great analogy.
I heard earlier on practice there have been more pit road penalties in these first few races of the season than ALL of NASCAR last year...didn't know if DW was talking CUP or across the board.
JB has penalty...too fast ...they really need to put in a speedometer since in NAS PERF or TWIN Chad said that today's cars COULD HANDLE ONE...sigh..
this should be a wild run...
13 laps to go but this race is scheduled until 4:30? Wow...long post race or off the air early?
JD
you weren't kidding about the wild run! What a wreck.
too bad it wasn't the 51.
meow
see, THAT'S why all tracks should be required to have safer barrier all the way around on the outside and inside or lose their races. period. cost is an unacceptable explanation when driver safety is put at risk. braun is one lucky camper.
Well, darn those old gears anyhow.... LOL
red
DITTO!!
I don't even want to think about how that wreck would have ended without the safer barrier!
love to have terry cook win this one...
busch is done
i LOVE the excitement in the voices of all the booth guys! this is how a race should be called! GREAT job!
randy moss doesnt drive. he owns the #5 car driven by mike skinner
anon 3:50: welcome to the best racing in nascar! if this finish doesn't hook you on the trucks, nothing will.
Thanks for stopping by everyone!
There will be a new column up later tonight and live blog for the Cup race tomorrow afternoon.
Have a great Saturday.
JD
so much for Kyle B being done.
*sigh*
well thats just disappointing
so here's the thing: take the personality out of the equation and just look at the racing and you gotta admit that young mr busch did one hell of a job there. that was some awesome racing!
I'm not happy, folks....
To the Kyle fans, congrats...
Hope there isn't more of the same tomorrow.....
ok hornaday just needs to shut it
I love truck racing, but I hate that KyB stinks up the show every week. Who pits his truck? Is it his CUP/NW team? I'd love to know. They are just TOO good all the time.
Great finish. I liked the camera angle of the start/finish line. Saw everyone cross. Hint, hint to BSPN & FOX.
@ Red, you are correct. I just wish KyB wasn't such an a$$.
anyone know how many truck races busch is running? please dont tell me its the whole season
One of the weaker presentations from Speed which usually has the others beaten by a mile. The coverage at the end saved them but the rest of it left a lot to be desired.
Replays were great. Coverage of the rest of the field was horrible, not much information about anyone not named Busch.
Need to get rid of the flashing lights on the split-screen.
Hope this isn't an omen for the rest of the season for Speed.
@Red
yes, but it's hard to take out 'that personality' but you are right bout his driving.
@Bevo
agree..not a great presentation.
Thanks JD..off to see me brother who got me into NASCAR at my mom's...I am going to have a hard time giving him the tape without a smirk on my face.(Mom's doesn't have SPEED)
Later folks
I just saw the entire finishing order. All trucks finished the race. I don't recall if they mentioned that during the race.
This Truck Series TV crew continues to be the best on NASCAR TV, in my opinion. Enjoyable pre-race show and perfect finish line camera work with a vertical real-time drop-down of the finishing results.
I'm left wondering again how many fans were watching their TV's shaking their heads in disappointment and saying "Boy, this TV coverage is okay but it would be so much better if there were screaming and dancing cartoon characters covering the screen all race."
The only unfortunate thing about the Truck Series is this ridiculous new rule that doesn't allow changing tires and fuel at the same time. DW and Jeff Hammond spoke out about it at California and Mike Skinner and Ron Hornaday did today and I couldn't agree with their criticisms more. This rule doesn't save team owners money on tires (teams aren't going to lease fewer tires for the off-chance there's a green flag pit stop, and any extra unused tires have to be given back to Goodyear at the end of the day anyway) and team owners still need to pay Cup pit crews to win races off pit road. All this rule does is put drivers in danger by not allowing them to change tires during their scheduled green flag fuel stops, create extra danger on pit road with more yellow flag pit stops, and make a mess of these restarts with all the varying pit strategies. I just don't see any positive effect of the rule, and hopefully it's done away with immediately before someone gets hurt.
JD, I know the start-and-park topic has been among the favorites of this blog the last couple years. Kudos to NASCAR for taking the iniative to make sure this doesn't happen in Cup this year and kudos to the Fox announce team for bringing this "unspoken dirty little secret of NASCAR" up on the air in practice today.
Larry Mac had the perfect analogy relating the future enforcement of the "no start and park in Cup rule" when he mentioned NASCAR's one-engine rule. I brought up the same exact thought on this blog during the spring Bristol Nationwide race last year as a matter of fact:
stricklinfan82 said...
My point on the start-and-park guys is that they should have to show a NASCAR official that they have a legitimate failure that has caused them to withdraw from the race. If they can't do that and they are truly "parking" for no good reason then they shouldn't get to collect their purse money.
NASCAR teams need to show evidence to NASCAR when they want to make an engine change so they should have to go through a similar process when they go to NASCAR and officially declare that they are retiring from the race.
March 15, 2008 5:20 PM
I guess better late than never that NASCAR's finally doing something about it. Now if they would just take the same initiative in the Nationwide and Truck Series.....
Start & Park Stats:
7 Trucks ran 44 laps or less.....5 of those ran less than 20
vibration..drive shaft...rear end..brakes...engine (reasons on NASCAR.COM finishing results)
I missed the race live but the telecast on dvr looked great. Missed the anthem as I was in a hurry to watch the race so was ff. I'm glad the broadcasters mention the sponsors, especially with Todd. I checked out Tilter Kilt and there's one location here in Houston so maybe we can run by there sometime this weekend. Exciting ending nice that favorites had pretty good finishes.
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