Saturday, March 21, 2009

Nationwide Series On ABC And Charity Race On ESPN2


The Nationwide Series gets some additional exposure on Saturday afternoon at 2PM on ABC Sports. Bristol racing is a great product to put on the larger broadcast network.

Allen Bestwick will kick-off the coverage with NASCAR Countdown for thirty minutes. He will be joined in the Infield Pit Center by Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty.

Once the on-track action gets underway, Dr. Jerry Punch will call the action with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree alongside. Jamie Little has the weekend off, so it will be Dave Burns, Shannon Spake, Vince Welch and Mike Massaro patrolling pit road.

Tim Brewer will be along in the Tech Center and coverage of the race will re-air on ESPN Classic at 8AM Sunday morning.

On this particular Saturday, the NASCAR on ESPN gang will shift over to ESPN2 at 6PM for coverage of the first charity race from Bristol. This should be a fun event with heats, celebrities and also some NASCAR legends.

This post will serve to host your comments about the Nationwide Series event and the charity race. TDP is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

113 comments:

Daly Planet Editor said...

Seattle and Portland fans, stay tuned as your stations are again covering the pre-race show with kids programming.

Race coverage starts at 11:30AM your time.

JD

kbaskins said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Daly Planet Editor said...

Great to see Harry Gant on the air. Another missing link to the past. What a great shame that ABC does not have any Harry Gant historic video to show while they talked to him.

JD

Anonymous said...

I guess Rusty is really competitive about this charity race. He picked Evernham as his "celebrity" and Ray was racing all last year in some small regional dirt track series with his nephew Willie and his girlfriend Crocker.

Dot said...

What's the weather forecast? Saw blue sky and then clouds in the shots I've seen.

Daly Planet Editor said...

How many folks are flipping back and forth between NASCAR and the 12 Hours of Sebring on SPEED?

Dot said...

Nevermind.

Anonymous said...

That's a shame JD :( it would have been great for the "new" fans to see him in action especially since either he or Mark Martin seem to be the answer for 99.99% of the trivia questions :).

Anonymous said...

Plenty of fans dressed up as gray alumninum bleachers

Anonymous said...

I would but my TV is dead :(...watching the race on one of the internet channels.

Daly Planet Editor said...

Gymmie,

Time for that Vizio from WalMart!

JD

Anonymous said...

Plenty of fans dressed up as gray alumninum bleachers

..just like at every Nationwide/Busch race for years.

Daly Planet Editor said...

Some of the stand-alone races have been sellouts at the tracks that do not see the Cup series.

Tough to almost always be the stepchild.

Daly Planet Editor said...

2 cars off the track before lap 8? Wow, let's see what they say about that situation.

Dot said...

Slow camera work for these guys too.

@ JD, I thought I saw someone going to pit road before the caution.

Daly Planet Editor said...

Seems that the crowd online for this race is as small as the crowd in the stands.

Nan S said...

J.D. thanks for the remind of Sebring.

Daly Planet Editor said...

Karen, did Portland and Seattle both join the race for the start?

Sebring is the only place to see many former NASCAR drivers...hehe.

Anonymous said...

@JD--LOL! Yes that is definitely on my list! I had been eyeing it for quite a while and was putting off buying until I moved, but my TV had other ideas!

Daly Planet Editor said...

Those Vizios are killers and the price is right.

Dot said...

Kyle's trying to ruin the script.

Anonymous said...

JD -

I'm not Karen ...

But, Yes ... Fisher Communications DID join the broadcast at 11:30am ...

Jessica said...

Maybe its me but it seems like something is missing from the broadcast. Excitement maybe? Too many cooks in the kitchen? It just seems off...

Daly Planet Editor said...

Thanks for the info. KarenB is usually our West Coast reporter.

Dot said...

Do we know how many are on the lead lap? Seconds/minutes behind?

Daly Planet Editor said...

Jess,

They are trying but this is like playing third fiddle to the charity race at 6PM and the Sunday Cup race.

I wish we had some Nationwide regulars up pushing the big boys.

Dot said...

Finally, some #s.

Jessica said...

It seems like at a place the size of Bristol that it would be hard to just show one or two cars but ESPN seems to be trying. Is there really no benefit to a wide shot at Bristol?!?

Dot said...

Poor Brennie.

Anonymous said...

JD -

I'm the one who emailed you about Fisher Communications ... the last 3 years ...

The Loose Wheel said...

vizio=cheaper version of sony.

Great to see Gant on the broadcast...you can tell he is happy doing what he is doing now and is at peace with retirement which is neat. dont see that much anymore. you also get the impression he still knows he can beat up on these kids if he really wanted to also lol.

So far its been a decent race by the ESPN folks...good stories midpack with new teams that have just started.

that sucks for brendan =(

Newracefan said...

I'm trying to catch up on posts and the race, I still am trying to figure out what took me so long to get that DVR, sounds like I need to watch the prerace show, I'm guessing this interview with Harry Gant was better than the one on NN.

Dot said...

Good one, Jessica.

The Loose Wheel said...

Gant was actually in studio at the track with Alan and Brad...it was cool hearing him talk about how the bump stops are a new experience for him and how this is really the first time he's actually been to a race since retiring

Anonymous said...

Anybody else getting a slight jerking on the video? You can tell it easily by watching the ticker. Only ABC HD doing this on my TV. Strange and annoying.

-Ben in NC

kbaskins said...

Karen, did Portland and Seattle both join the race for the start?

Sebring is the only place to see many former NASCAR drivers...hehe.


Yep, KOMO in Seattle switched to race coverage at 11:30. I posted about the delay earlier, but you had already beat me to it, JD. :-)

And I'm one of the viewers switching back and forth between the N'Wide and ALMS races. I'm watching Bristol green-flag laps, then switch to Sebring during cautions and commercials.

--KarenB

Jessica said...

does anyone really think Brad Dougherty watches Desperate Housewives? Keselowski is "stirring it up just like on Wisteria Lane"? J.D. wouldn't make sense to have these guys plug ABC shows that at least kind of match the demographics? Look I'll draft some "S. Wallace seems LOST",,,,I guess that's it, ABC is full of chick shows;)

Newracefan said...

He's married right? Perhaps Brad's wife controls the remote

Dot said...

@ Ben in NC, my low tech TV is fine.

Anonymous said...

PRN is lagging behind ABC ...

It seems longer than normal ...

Anonymous said...

PRN's announcer thinks "Kenny Hamlin" is in the 81 car ...

Who is "Kenny Hamlin" ?? It's Kevin Hamlin ...


And one of the guys has his voice going out ...

Daly Planet Editor said...

Wow, tough to stir up any excitement on this telecast.

Glenn said...

Oh barf,
What was that KB promo?

Glenn said...

Yep, PRN folks do get a little confused now and then. Overall I think PRN has done a better than normal job today.
I noticed the lag also, but I think they have caught back up to the normal 23 sec. behind.

Newracefan said...

I still don't quite get the full throttle concept, just what I need 43 (or so) voices in my head at one time, I have enough trouble with one. Not a lot of passing being seen today and it's the usual NW wreckfest. No one seems to be too excited today.

TexasRaceLady said...

It was nice to see "Handsome Harry" -- I think he could still kick a little butt. LOL

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who feels there is no excitement in this race. It's just "blah" --- ZZZZzzzzz

TexasRaceLady said...

Forgot to add ---

The shirts may not be "disco blue" like yesterday, but that maroon shine isn't a whole lot better.

Newracefan said...

Finally a pass and we're at commercial

Newracefan said...

Ok it might get exciting now, camera on Kyle watching him try to pass everyone, hope no one else does anything cause we won't see it.

Anonymous said...

Kylie's not going to be happy there

Dot said...

@ nrf, ditto.

TexasRaceLady said...

Great camera work catching that tire roll away from the wall.

Newracefan said...

And there they go

Anonymous said...

Poor Mr. Jesus, Bristol has not been good to him today :(

Glenn said...

Well I can't comment on ESPN's narration of this race, I'm listening to PRN. (tv is on)
As for that this has been a very good race on radio. They have followed racing all over the track. They have called a lot of passing, two and three wide. Plenty of battles for position, plenty of updates of position. I don't recall any of the crap smalltalk/ interviews that usually occur on radio. Pit road updates without interfearing with the race. I'll say again, this, to me, has been one of PRN's best races.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Happy :)!

Dot said...

Typical Weed. I'm glad Kevin won.

Glenn said...

They interviewed the top 5 finishers. Excellent

Anonymous said...

The crowd was still larger than Atlanta's cup race...tomorrow will be the story if we see a lot of empty seats

The Loose Wheel said...

LOVE this intro to the saturday night special

red said...

anyone know if the ticket to the n'wide race today included this legends race tonight?
picks are open: i'm sticking with cale!

The Loose Wheel said...

yes ticket prices included this race as well as the race before this

PammH said...

What is with the echo during the Legends race?

Sophia said...

My TV has an echo on the audio (NOT stereo, not surround sound, old-fashioned tv)

But this is so cool to see the LEGENDS!! :)

The Loose Wheel said...

the echo is the result of the ESPN telecast also being aired over the track PA system

Newracefan said...

I think the echo is because the sound is also coming out the speakers at the track

Newracefan said...

Do we only get to see the Legends and not the media guys who were running before to determine starting spot?

Newracefan said...

Fox won't let DW race but Speed has no problem letting Spencer race and he needs to get there earlier than DW on Sunday. Things that make you go hmmmm.

red said...

it is so wonderful to see and listen to gentleman ned. i can forgive espn one forthcoming bad race broadcast just in gratitude for bringing us this moment.

Newracefan said...

I just hope we don't get the echo when the race starts it's getting somewhat annoying. Hopefully NN will have highlights from the media race, I'm betting it was pretty funny.

Daly Planet Editor said...

Let's just hope everyone stays safe.

Anonymous said...

I'm bummed about not seeing the celebrity race.

red said...

wonder if we'll get a ticker and intervals?

by the way: many thanks to the folks who have worked tonight in the production truck, on the cameras, handling the audio and walking pit road so we can enjoy the race. your work is appreciated.

red said...

alright! david akers wins his heat! way to go -- fly, eagle, fly!

Newracefan said...

I guess the media guys had different cars, good thing Rusty would have been pretty PO'd when Ray wrecked his car. Looks like it would have been fun to watch

Dot said...

I was the under the impression that we were going to see both races. Maybe we could have if they didn't have 25 mins of pre race.

Newracefan said...

Red it's that big foot kicking and gas pedals who knew.

red said...

ok, now THAT'S racing -- just take the damn hood off all together! gotta love it!

Daly Planet Editor said...

Be nice if they posted the celebrity races online.

Anonymous said...

@newrace fan.

How do you know Ray wrecked Rusty's car? I'm not near a tv, did they show it?

red said...

nrf: copy that! i admit i was "startled" when i read that akers was going to partner with gant: didn't know akers was a race fan. he has once again "done philly proud"!

Newracefan said...

OK where's the Craftsman garage, no hood- better racecar?

Dot said...

I love Ned in the booth. I wish he didn't tire easily and could be up there all the time.

@ JD, it'd be nice if we had a ticker for this race.

Lou said...

Lol, yellow flag to save harry a lap down.

Newracefan said...

Diane, they showed some highlights from the media race and Ray was racing Andy really hard and crashed into the inside wall.

red said...

anyone have a lineup anywhere online?

Newracefan said...

Red fox doesn't even do the NW races anymore so I doubt they have this

red said...

this competition yellow would be a great time to remind us of who is running what number and where they run, doncha think?
man, this is fun!

Newracefan said...

Red I just realized there is no top ticker so I'm guessing there is no ticker anywhere. I think Jayski had the list of who is in but I don't remember if car numbers were included

Dot said...

Is it such a sin to mention that a driver is a champion from the Busch Series? Or Busch Grand Natl? That's what they were called back then.

Glenn said...

Your right Red.
Thanks to the network for the broadcast. Thanks to all who are working to make this possible for us viewers.
It is hard for this newbe to keep up with who is who.

Newracefan said...

So much for resetting the field

Lou said...

Sure is nice to hear Ned on tv again.

Newracefan said...

Go Harry passing guy's 1/2 your age (or something like that) and no hood to boot.

Daly Planet Editor said...

This has to be driving Rusty insane!!

red said...

agreed, lou. and can i just say how great it is to hear the "old" dr punch once again?!?

Newracefan said...

Rusty must be fuming, too funny. Would have liked to see every car cross the line, did I miss it or was it really not there.

Newracefan said...

Oh my Andy's team beat Ray and Rusty. Oh to be a fly on the wall

Daly Planet Editor said...

Thanks everyone for stopping by, we will be live for the Sprint Cup race on Sunday afternoon.

Hope they get a good crowd!

JD

Sophia said...

The old race went by WAY too quickly. Hope we get to see the legends from back in the day do this AGAIN!!

Newracefan said...

My sister was there for the race, can't wait to hear what she has to say.
Cale is such a class act and it sounds that they want to do it again

Unknown said...

if theydon't interview JD Ottinger..I am going to be so mad

Newracefan said...

Sam they heard you

red said...

isn't tracy at bristol this weekend? maybe when she gets home and can catch up on the comments, she can add some inside info on the media heat races for us!

Newracefan said...

Red That's right I forgot I won't see my sister for some time but Tracy said she would let us know, hopefully she stayed for this race too.

Unknown said...

good, I don't have to be mad..Daly Planet gets instant results..lol..

seriously though, that was awesome, and i hope they do it again sometime.
(though with the people who stayed around in the stands i am not too sure)

Sophia said...

Sam

glad you got your wish! :)

Lou said...

I really enjoyed the last hour. I thought it was fun to watch. I think AB really enjoyed it also, as did the drivers.

Unknown said...

I was at the race. I think it was between the Nationwide and the Special, but they announced that tomorrow was a sell out. I think anyway. All I heard was the tail end of something about the 54 consecutive sell out.

Anonymous said...

watched the NW race on DVR - did ESPN EVER use that official cam they previewed up front?

Thought JP did a good job even though he is from the EEEE SSSS PPP NNNN school and still stumbles on words. Instead of after this commercial it was after commercial (or something like that) but a solid job otherwise.

Stinky that ESPN did not interview Spencer or Parsons after the race. More Fox vs ESPN rivalry? When will this childish behavior stop? And Fox/D Hill are to blame also.

DW should have been there and raced Rusty and Sterling up front. Very sad.

Anonymous said...

Yup, I hate ABC's coverage of races because being here in the Seattle area I never get to see the prerace coverage due to kids' programming. You would think that with the few races they do air they could make an exception for the prerace coverage superceding kids' programming but of course not.

Karen said...

I thought the legends race was OK, but really think the celebs racing would have made it much more interesting. I especially wanted to see Brad D getting in his car. Good to see the old guys, but I was not impressed with the race at all. Sterling Marlin is a current Cup driver. Terry Labonte is, too. Too bad Spencer wrecked Junior Johnson. I bet he would have been competitive otherwise. Harry Gant looked unbelievable.

Mary said...

We had to go out last night so I missed the race live and watched it at 6.30am this morning. I really really enjoyed the whole thing - loved to see Ned and DJ in the booth. Lets hope they do this again.