Monday, May 25, 2009

Live Blogging Monday at LMS


Note: If your Fox local station leaves the NASCAR coverage, please go to our comments section and tell us your city.

Things change in a hurry in TV land, so this Monday is going to feature two TV networks scrambling all day long. SPEED is first with a one hour edition of RaceDay at 11AM ET. This will serve as the pre-race show, since NASCAR starts all rain delayed races as close to the top of the hour as possible.

That means when the NASCAR on Fox gang comes on the air at 12PM, they will be able to say hello and then the cars will hit the track. The full Fox crew returns led by Mike Joy in the announce booth with Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds.

The Hollywood Hotel may or may not be back, but my guess is Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond should be on-board as usual. Myers dropped his comedy act on Sunday and led the TV team through some great discussions of NASCAR topics in the news. It was an eye-opener for those fans who argue that he is most effective in his assigned role as the class clown.

LMS has taken a lot of water and that normally means that the grassy area inside the frontstretch dogleg will be very damaging to the COT cars should they spin into it. We may well see careful racing because NASCAR is obligated to run the full 600 mile distance unless weather shortens the event after halfway.

No doubt there are some tired TV crew members on both the SPEED and Fox teams. Once the race is over, SPEED has some decisions to make. Originally scheduled for 8PM but taped in the early afternoon is This Week in NASCAR. Fox pit reporter Steve Byrnes is the host, with drivers Michael Waltrip and Marcos Ambrose as the panelists this week.

Also on tap is the Victory Lane show where host John Roberts interviews the winning driver and crew chief with Jimmy Spencer and Kenny Wallace. That program was scheduled for 11PM on Sunday and is not TBA in terms of air times. Perhaps, SPEED may be forced to put Victory Lane into the TWIN spot this week and just move on.

Fox is a broadcast TV network, not a cable outfit like SPEED. Most probably, the decision to show cartoons as standby programming during the rain delay and not NASCAR programming was driven by that issue. Some wonderful programs like Behind the Headsets and the SPEED broadcast of the All-Star race would have fit the bill, but the Fox local stations are used to cartoons in that timeslot. As previously mentioned, some West Cost viewers got to watch infomercials for two hours.

Monday is a new day and optimism is high that the race will be run. This post will serve to host your comments on the Fox broadcast of the rain-delayed Coca-Cola 600 and the RaceDay pre-race show. To add your TV-related opinion, just click on the comments button below.

TDP is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thank you once again for taking the time to drop by.

913 comments:

  1. LMS is about to get slammed with some rain in about 20-30 minutes.

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  2. Yep, I just checked the radar, rain has formed south of the track and is heading north... I'd estimate less than an hour away.

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  3. Somebody at Sprint is asleep. I can't get RaceDay on my phone.

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  4. Nobody is in the stands.

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  5. Nate Ryan on the Morning Drive said there were cars lined up along the road, with fans sleeping in them. But I'm sure alot of folks had to head home..
    Rain is definitely on the way. Should have started this sucker at 10am

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  6. Why are the walls still yellow? Normally, that is reserved just for the All-Star race and they get repainted. I'm sure there are some painters that could have used the work in this economy.

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  7. I'm glad that I check TDP everyday. I didn't even know RD was on. Thanks JD.

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  8. Anon, they are supposed to be gold in honor of the 50th anniversary of the race, but to me they still look pretty yellow as well.

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  9. Anon, the did repaint the walls after the All Star Race, they were Sprint yellow, these walls are gold in celebration for the Golden anniversary (50 yrs.) of the 600 rae,

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  10. Rain in less than 15 minutes, and more cells are popping up behind the first one... we're gonna be in for a long day folks

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  11. Riggs out, Skinner in with Patrick C. Wow.

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  12. Wendy just said that it looks like rain. Also, Tommy Baldwin just announced Scott Riggs is out of the car after this week but they are putting Patrick Carpentier in it?

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  13. Thank goodness for Wendy Venturini. That woman has a great TV presence and I think she gets overlooked sometimes.

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  14. Now I know why Skinner isn't going to do the Redbull/Speed deal like he did for AJ. Good for TBR, Skinner seeems to be the go to guy when a program needs to be evaluated, bet he helps PC too.

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  15. Jayski has the Tommy Baldwin story as well.

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  16. Nrf,

    Whenever I hear Mike Skinner, I think of how much fun NASCAR Wives would have been with his wife Angie in it. She is just as big a character as Mike.

    JD

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  17. Why did they not start the race earlier this morning?

    Anyone know if hotpass will be available for the race today since it was delayed?

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  18. Anon, Hot Pass is just some in-car cameras this season and it should be available.

    NASCAR sets the time taking into consideration all the time and weather elements involved as well as the TV and radio issues.

    It should be interesting to see if all the Fox TV stations remember to switch to NASCAR on a Monday holiday when most stations are virtually empty.

    JD

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  19. Oh Lord JD don't even go there, and if it happens to me expect a visit

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  20. OK did anyone else get a weird painpatch lawsuit commercial and then jump to Wendy with Carl mid sentence

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  21. The real problem is on the West Coast, where a Monday 9AM sports feed is unheard of for Fox.

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  22. I was wondering the same thing, a 10am start as in years past, and they may well successfully be past halfway by now. If this goes till tues/weds, they may well regret this decision

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  23. They need to get those cars on the track to create the vortex and DW talks about!

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  24. And Elliott's sunglasses are awful!

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  25. Vicky, there is a reason they were free :)

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  26. Most certainly they should have started this at 10AM. All the teams reside within minutes of the track, so they really don't have an excuse. Just checked weather.com and there's a cell moving right in on the track... we need the vortex, although that may not even work.

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  27. The real interesting question is just how long Fox will fill if the rain is continuing?

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  28. JD - we don't need anymore of those cartoons on Fox if the race is red-flagged for rain! Folks will leave in droves.

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  29. Whoops, going to commercial just in time to miss the anthem...

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  30. So much for the invocation and anthem.

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  31. Vicky, I think they will just turn it back over to the stations and check in on the half-hour.

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  32. Weather looks like a small cell and then clear a long way out. Hard to tell just how far since I'm not sure how many miles from city to city.

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  33. There's mostly junk shows on my FOX channel between 9am-1pm. They should show the race.

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  34. They don't usually do the invocation or anthem for a postponed race, do they? I can't recall any other race.

    My first Cup race at Pocono in 2000 was postponed, started at 10AM Monday morning and the only thing I remember was the command to start engines.

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  35. Didn't expect an anthem and invocation since they did it yesterday.

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  36. I'm looking at the radar, and the rain was supposed to be over the track 10 minutes ago but nothing, but then Hermie just said it's begun raining.

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  37. @ JD, didn't they do the prayer/anthem yesterday?

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  38. 9AM sports feeds are quite regular for Fox. Thats when their NFL pregame show starts. They air Cotton Bowl with a 8am kickoff.

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  39. so much for a 12:01 green flag, and *sigh* I guess we can't rely on FOX for a reliable update

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  40. Well at least the weather keeps getting mentioned here and they are speaking honestly about 'hoping hoping to get the race in.'

    Then again, after Fox's nonsense last night trying to string us along, they learned a lesson. I KNEW when i saw a cam shot with Mikey W and very dark gray clouds, that rain was coming.

    Just a shame NASCAR on Fox kept Tweeting "any minute now we will go" on Twitter. Does NASCAR force them to keep lying to us?

    I can think of a BOATLOAD of topics to address in the meeting tomorrow (that has absolutely nothing to do with Jeremy)

    Oh boy. not likin the looks of the day. Of all days for rain out but Mother Nature happens.

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  41. Well they had an invocation and anthem today too, which I heard on the radio broadcast, it happened during SPEED's last commercial.

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  42. WOW black cloud as I hit publish. Fox SPORTS logo coming on. They are on now in SW Ohio TW Cable

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  43. Smooth switch over on my Fox affiliate in Eastern NC

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  44. Well I'm surprised, I'm in LA and FOX has just switched to the rac.

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  45. Can someone explain the line through the 45 on Kyle's hat? Is it just showing his displeasure towards his dad?

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  46. Coke paid a lot for the sponsorship. They had to get on the air, much more than the invocation and anthem. Money still rules.

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  47. Looks like the guys will be logging some official laps under yellow to try and get this thing toward halfway.

    Competition caution lap 40.

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  48. Rain's in the forecast and here we are in the Hwood Hotel.

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  49. Hollywood Hotel is back, something that may be there because of the significance of the event?

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  50. Jack Kyle's son Adam drove the 45 and was killed during practice at NHIS, the blacl line is in memory of.

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  51. I think DW looks super in his red white & blue outfit.

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  52. Probably because it just needs to drive up the road to Dover. Be different if Cali was next maybe.

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  53. Guys, thanks for the responses on the 45, however it was until last year that Kyle just wore the black #45 hat with no black line through the number. I believe it was last year that there was a line going through the #45. I'm just wondering if the line has to do with his displeasure of Petty Enterprises (now RPM) and the direction they went. Thank you though.

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  54. Lots of those fans must have slept in their cars. Now, that is hardcore.

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  55. So Kyle says NOW, but he hasn't always worn that band...he started recently when the controversy about his job began.

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  56. Raceview not working today?

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  57. JD, that's why NASCAR fans are the best of any sport. Dedication.

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  58. Must be the fact today is Memorial Day and Most people do not have to work

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  59. Looks like the sun is trying to pop out... that's encouraging.

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  60. Gotta love the technies at NASCAR.com's Scanner, where they're feeding tone on all the channnels.

    And I pay for this?

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  61. snlfan, most are from out of town and did not come with the cash for a hotel. The only thing they have is a ticket and a parking pass.

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  62. Wow, going green. Must be testing the vortex theory.

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  63. interesting comment about the start and parkers, think i see some rain drops on the turn 2 camera :(

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  64. They talk about Newman starting on the outside row to get a better start and they never showed it.

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  65. Hey, tell me what is going on with the NASCAR.com stuff and I will email them.

    What's up?

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  66. huh, NASCAR.com's scanner feed is down...

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  67. JD - the Nascar.com scanner isn't working

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  68. RE: NASCAR.com: The "Scanner" feature has nothing but tone on every driver channel as well as the Official's channel instead of radio communications.

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  69. Since I'm happy with Nascar's Live leaderboard, that's all I need - well besides TDP.

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  70. Is that scanner feature part of Trackpass or different?

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  71. Anyone else getting an SD feed on an HD channel?

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  72. It's a subscription feature of Trackpass.

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  73. It's a subscription feature of Trackpass.

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  74. JD just goes to the standby page, Trackpass is loading...
    It doesn't even get to the status/progress bar


    caution for rain :(

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  75. OK thanks, I will alert the head honcho over there.

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  76. Anyone else having problems with Fox RaceTrax or is it just my computer?

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  77. We'll be under caution through lap 40.

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  78. JD IT's fixed now are you a miracle worker

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  79. RaceTrax not woring here either.

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  80. @ Strick, I was too. I'm on NASCAR.com now.

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  81. JD- the scanner seems to be back on.. everyone is a bit slow on the uptake today...

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  82. Im tired, guess thats what i get for going to sleep at 3 am pacific

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  83. Man Harvick cannot catch a break this year.

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  84. JD random question, asked it last night too. When was the last time this race was run on Memorial Day?

    Cant believe Gil didnt bring him in?!

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  85. Message in the top comment area on RaceTrax:

    Our apologies for the technical difficulties with the leaderboard - we are working on addressing them and hope to have things fixed ASAP.

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  86. Hey, I am the last person media types want to hear from!

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  87. Humpy used to brag that he made a deal with God for good tickets so it would never rain.

    Not too sure if Marcus Smith cut a deal with the big guy.

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  88. Everything I've heard or read says this is the FIRST time it's ever been run on Memorial Day.

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  89. That open face helmet on Clint just looks wrong and it makes him look like his face is all puffy

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  90. JD Based on the Mulhern piece, Bruton/Marcus doesn't stand a chance

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  91. The track cleaners should be that fast all the time.

    SDDD smells electrical problem. My race viewing just got better.

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  92. @Dot

    This is so snarky but I have to say my viewing just got better,too thanks to the SDDD comment..unless he is trying to fake others out.

    Like the time he lost a gear and still won a race.

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  93. Settle in folks, we are going to be here a while.

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  94. @ dear Sophia, Yeah, I know he could be faking. Just like Kenseth used to do when he was leading. Always crying that something was wrong. Then he would win.

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  95. Raceview still has issues, tried both the free 10 min version, and my account, now it just gets to 2% unpacking resource 1/100 and freezes, the thing has become a dysfunctional joke since they started the free 10min things, they're definitely losing this 3 year old customer whose been subscribed since it debuts when my current year expires

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  96. Dot, sometimes SDDD says he smells something or hears something yet goes on to win a race. Or the time I heard him say his car was junk YET he was leading the race at the time.

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  97. I hope I still see Mikey in commercials when he gets out of the car.

    AND they keep him on TWIN.

    He just makes me smile. And he's easy on the eyes. I have heard that in person he is extremely handsome!

    And tall :)

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  98. I'm sure this has been asked and answered before...but. Why does trakpass scanner have a fifteen second or more delay when they transmit the swear words and crappy comments ANYWAY...just fifteen seconds later?

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  99. RI its a satellite/web delay. Just takes that long to get uploaded and streamed. It is not a filtered item. SIRIUS streams just as far behind if not a little more.

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  100. SDDD = Kyle Busch. They dont like him very much lol.

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  101. Ty David

    and not who but what does SDDD stand for?

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  102. Loose translation Shrubba Dubba Ding Dong

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  103. I am watching on the computer with the sound turned off. What's wrong with Ambrose's car?

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  104. Ok..somebody has to say it..Joey did not ask for this but HOW MUCH HYPE and promo is HOME DEPOT going to get this kid?

    Everybody I know still stunned HE made the All star race but I digress.

    Seeing rain specks on camera and bipolar clouds/sky on my tv..not sure which direction is which.

    Guys in the booth sound nice.

    still gonna miss this booth even if Fox itself can drive me nuts.

    So much nice than the BSPN booth.

    SDDD is Shrubba Dubba Ding Dong = Kyle b

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  105. Shruba Duba Ding Dong. Courtesy of hotaruraganbaby6. Thank you David.

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  106. 2nd time Kyle has had that problem and 2nd time that was the fix.

    Interesting...

    No start and parks guys...take back those nasty things you said before?

    It did irk me that they mentioned they didnt have ANY yet they dont talk about them when they do...

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  107. ah yes, the TDP comedy club I forgot ;)

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  108. And as soon as I said that...

    Interview! I demand it!

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  109. Exactly why does Dale Jr feel the need to wear skeleton gloves? is it a promotion for something?

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  110. @Dot

    I knew the nikname of SDD came from young lady with H in her name but my Swiss cheese mind could not find it in my mental dictionary.

    Merci beaucoup!

    I need to go out and feed birds/squirrels. Wheres a caution when I need one.

    is it me or less commercial's today?

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  111. great audio mix today, love hearing the cars.

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  112. Missing pass for the lead by guess who :(

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  113. is it me or less commercial's today?


    Sophia, it's you. I'm really missing side by side with Indy 500.

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  114. That side-by-side really added to that race yesterday.

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  115. ri88girl said...
    Exactly why does Dale Jr feel the need to wear skeleton gloves? is it a promotion for something?

    May 25, 2009 12:47 PM

    *************
    I think part of it has to do with visibility if he waves to the car behind him. That white shows up much better.

    Part of it could be his Addidas sponsorship, too.

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  116. How come no talk about JR? He's 35th as JD mentioned.

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  117. And Mr. Hendrick doesn't think a change is needed at the 88 camp? I don't know about that one.

    Then again, didn't he ask DW about Jeff Gordon in 1993, and DW said he'll never make it?

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  118. ty TRL
    wish they could do something with the pit board. How about a lifesize dummy with a rodeo outfit on?

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  119. Loving the new audio mix. Making the announcers talk over the cars like the old ESPN days.

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  120. Jack,
    The black across the 45 was Austin's idea for his dad when Adam was killed. It was to honor him. When Kyle drove the 45 that was in honor of Adam. Now that the 45 no longer runs, it's Kyle's way of honor and in memory of Adam.

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  121. Knowing someone that works for JRM...there is quite a defensive reaction when it comes to criticism on Jr. Change is needed, I dont know how anyone on that team can't see it though. They really missed out on Darian Grubb...

    DW lookin out the window!

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  122. Good shot and sound of the cars next to the wall.

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  123. Hey JD,

    No NASCAR here in Hawaii. They are deciding to show it tape delayed at 10 am local time (4 pm Eastern)...they think that their morning news, Regis & Kelly, and Martha Stewart can't be bumped

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  124. That isn't Marcos' tire in the grass is it? Didn't see anyone getting it.

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  125. did the 26 and 1 only take 2?

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  126. Dot I think they said it's the 5 car's tire.

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  127. Word is Riggs left because he would not start and park. Wendy only had half the story.

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  128. A brief shot of the weather radar would really be beneficial right about now.

    Weather is one of, if not, THEE story of today's race... radar should be an added element.

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  129. Frontstretch reporting they have lost the track, this is going to be a long day

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  130. Thunder shower. Yikes.

    Glad the guys can kid about it in the booth on way to commercial. They have had a LONG WEEK/weekend.

    Thankfully we have Mike, Larry, DW and others for rain delays. Hope Fox will stay with it and let us hear from drivers if things get really wet.

    I still remember seeing inside Harvick's RV a few years back with all sizes of Dogs..and Biffle's boxers..

    I mean the DOG type on my Biffle comment.

    :)

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  131. I'm glad that Fox has adopted the split screen for yellow flag pit stops so we can see the overall perspective of pit road. I just don't understand though how a single box on the left side that shows a couple seconds of 3-4 different stops is considered an improvement over the conventional method of using a triple-pit that would show those 3 stops in their entirety.

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  132. Drivers out of cars oh my I wish my son was back with those Hotdogs

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  133. No offense Fox but don't show me Jimmie Johnson driving his car when his car is realy on pit road covered up and we are in a red flag. That is WRONG!!!

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  134. Fox seems to be hiding fact they are parked and red flagged

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  135. yeah JD thats what i gathered on Riggs. Spencer really tried to make it sound like Scott got fired but it sounds more like Scott is walking away with his pride intact. Can't blame him either when you hear how people respond to the S&P's in NW and Cup.

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  136. @anon@1:07 and bill h: curious, no? guess fox thinks we're all still watching only their broadcast during a race. sure makes them look . . . silly.

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  137. Per N.com, Riggs is 3rd right now. I hope he is savoring the moment.

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  138. Let's hope that 2 tires for SDDD works out for him. NOT

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  139. The line through the #45 reminds me too of drag racing. In drag racing, drivers often slash out the numbers after the death of a competitor.

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  140. stricklinfan...e...g...o...and not the waffles.

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  141. This won't be restarting for awhile, PRN is off until 2PM.

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  142. So are we going to get 2 hours of rain fill or Christina's Court and Judge Joe?

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  143. How did Riggs get up to 3rd?

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  144. Labbie,

    You just asked about an SD feed on an HD channel. You just reminded me (I'm at work, so I am not watching the race) that the local ESPN Broadcast Network affiliate just jumped on us with HD. With two laps to go at Indy, they switched to SD to broadcast a warning. It stayed HD until a minute or two past the checkered flag.

    That is the same affiliate that in the 1990's held up NASCAR races on ABC into midnight tape delays or didn't show them at all.

    They freeze the Sony game shows that are in HD and show warnings in SD all the time, sometimes making a crucial part of the game placed in SD.

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  145. Dot said...
    Think they'll talk to JR?

    hey dot! word on the boards is that mr h and a "wide variety" of hendrick guys are on the 88 pit box today. my guess is that dale won't be available to anyone thru out the day as they work to figure this out.

    and can i just say: an A- to hendrick is just flat out wrong. the consistency is missing, in my opinion, and i'm starting to worry about the 48 of late.

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  146. Robby Gordon leads, Waltrip 2nd, Riggs 3rd. I imagine they stayed out.

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  147. @Dot or whoever it was, please type Jr for dale Jr..i think JR is John Roberts on SPEED, lol :)

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  148. Can I go OT for a moment?

    Regarding tickets for the race. Let's say I had a ticket for yesterday, but I couldn't go today. What happens to my seat? I know I don't get my money back. Can/does the track sell walk up tickets? How does that work? Does my question make sense?

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  149. Nice of the boys to stay on the air. See how long they hang.

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  150. Something is up at Hendricks and I like Jr a lot but feel a change is needed on the team.

    I know that offends many but so be it. Can't be blind about a driver you like when struggling. Jr doesn't seemed focused either. . .

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  151. @ dear Sophia, maybe JR (John Roberts) would do better in the 88 :).

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  152. Lots of squabbling in the booth. I'm curious how long it should take to dry the track - not grading Hendrick Motorsports.

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  153. i think you have to give shr the top marks so far. yes, they are a hendrick satellite but they certainly have run far better than most anticipated and i think they're great for the sport right now. newman's team is now bringing it to the track and smoke appears to be handling the owner/driver pressure well. in fact, he seems to be smiling more lately than i can recall in a long time.
    i say that shr is one of, if not THE most, balanced team right now.

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  154. @Dot

    JR in the 88!! Now that's a MEOW HISS!!! Phhffft.

    (She's just kidding Jr...Dot's a card and needs to be dealt with)

    :-)

    uh oh..near bottom of the hour...NOW they go to normal tv and I missed Young and the Restless..well I usually watch that on SOAPNET at night.

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  155. Daly Planet Editor said...
    stricklinfan...e...g...o...and not the waffles.

    May 25, 2009 1:11 PM


    That's what bothers me the most about Fox JD. In general their production truck does the 'hard stuff' pretty well, as covering 43 cars spread out over as much as a 2.5 mile distance is no easy task. It's the 'easy stuff' that they can't handle. I don't understand this unecessary need to be different on things like yellow pit stop and finish line camera work. I'm all for innovation when it works, their green flag pit stop coverage with the on-track leader remaining in one box at all times is a great example of a positive innovation. There's just no need for innovation though when you are taking things away from the viewers, like not being able to see a single yellow stop in its entirety or not being able to see the races to the finish line because the cars are nothing but colored blurs in a tiny box that come and go in a millisecond.

    You would know better than I, so if your speculation that this is a result of "ego" and not a simple honest mistake in judgment that's a terrible shame.

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  156. @dot in re: tickets: ethics aside, i don't believe the track can "re-sell" your ticket b/c they don't know that you're not going to attend.

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  157. Red said it for me.

    HMS gets an A- because they set the bar SO high with their history its hard to live up to that.

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  158. Make that if your speculation is accurate JD, that would be a terrible shame.

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  159. @ red, I get that. But they have to know some fans can't come back.

    @ dear Sophia, I just love you.

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  160. On raceday thay said they were selling standing room only tickets, so would suppose that SRO tickets would let you sit in the empty seats, so yeah they are reselling them but not in so many words

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  161. I think they have big ganads thinking they have the right to grade anybody or anything. What FOX needs to do is open up a fan vote and let us grade them. I'm thinking their grade would be much lower than they think it would be.

    I do not believe the networks have the right to try and persuade policy and rules, their job is to report NOT regulate. IMHO they create more controversy than they solve because they're influencing fans opinions.

    FOX how they handle the broadcasting, C- at best.

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  162. red, took us two years to get them (or him) to show the field finishing.

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  163. if this gets cancelled, do they start the race from the lap they stopped at or do you start the race all over again like you would a rained out baseball game?

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  164. Now it's starting to rain again. Dot, when I see JR or Jr I only think of Earnhardt it never crosses my mind that you could possibly be writing about John Roberts.

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  165. david (et al): there are several factors that i look for in "grading" a team. one is balance between all the cars in the stable and another is consistency in performance by all teams. since those are part of my standards, i don't think the A- grade is accurate for hendrick motorsports.

    expectations -- from media, fans or even by team members -- are a minimal part for me. and yes, wins can factor into this BUT sometimes, the best car doesn't win and/or a single car in a stable is performing and the others aren't i.e. jgr right now.

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  166. @dot

    back at you xoxo

    btw, how did I earn the "dear" in front of my name?

    Nosey wenches want to know :)

    I hope they keep the fox guys on longer. Love the conversation.

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  167. bozo: I believe that since it's already started they'd resume right from where they're at, no matter how long it takes to get it in.

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  168. @VickyD

    During RaceDay folks refer to JR all the time as the co-host. Thus when they talk about JR and Jr on Raceday, lower case r on JOONYER keeps old ladies less confused.

    :)

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  169. Now there rambling on about conduct grades. This is just painful.

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  170. Getting wet in TV land. Maybe 2PM for a hand-off to the stations?

    Reporters are saying rain has started again.

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  171. Red, the rest of HMS is so good though. Maybe argue consistency but the rest of the organization aside from the #88 is pretty solid.

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  172. ok Pockrass just tweeted it's raining again.

    LOOK behind Chris!! Sky looks like out of Wizard of Oz before Dorothy and Toto Went over the Rainbow.

    oh boy

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  173. The chemisty is good and the back and forth of the booth and hotel is like sitting in someones livingroom. I think we all are asigning grades whether we admit to it or not, and we all know who the weak links are.

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  174. I've been keeping track of the radar via my desktop app (set it to the area of the track). Saw green.

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  175. @ dear Sophia, just you being you. I can't remember exactly what you said at the time. I always enjoy your comments. Now, send me some chocolate chip cookies :).

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  176. Does anyone know why they didn't start earlier with rain coming for the afternoon? Was it TV/network-related or something else?

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  177. I worry about making a mid-day handoff to affiliates particularly Fox affiliates on a holiday, even though I figure it is coming up around 2 pm as well.

    Some of the affiliates are still really small operations and I hope they don't bungle the exchanges.

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  178. Sorry guys, been more entertained by a burning tree down the street

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  179. Yes, radar shows a lot of green coming from the west and south. Don't think they'll get this in today.

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  180. I think they have big ganads thinking they have the right to grade anybody or anything. What FOX needs to do is open up a fan vote and let us grade them.

    No way.

    Fans would inevitably vote their favorite drivers and/or teams doing well and their "enemies" doing poorly.

    There would be no objectivity at all.

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