There were over five hours of pre-race programming on ESPN2, SPEED and TNT. Now, it is time to race at Pocono. Bill Weber, Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach take center stage for the next six races.
TNT is throwing a ton or resources at these broadcasts. In addition to Larry McReynolds holding court in the infield with his trendy stage and cutway car, TNT is once again offering RaceBuddy.
This season, the Internet application will have new features. They include PRN's Jim Noble as a designated online reporter, embedded messaging from sources like Twitter and text messages directly to RaceBuddy users from pit road about the teams.
On the TV side, ESPN's original NASCAR Director Mike Wells returns this season for all six races. His directing style is evident right from the start of the first race. Wells uses wideshots and follows the best racing on the track regardless of where it is happening.
Petty has changed the tone of these telecasts with his good sense of humor and his ability to poke fun at himself. Down on pit road, local TV station sports reporter Lindsay Czarniak surfaces for these six races with her enthusiasm and nose for news. Veterans Ralph Sheheen, Marty Snider and Matt Yocum round-out the pit reporter corps.
Weber has come a very long way since his NBC days and seemed to gel with Petty right from the start. He hosts a thirty minute pre-race show and then calls the race in his new role. Since fans have not seen him on NASCAR TV since last season, Weber is the wild card in this mix.
This post will serve to host your comments about the TNT coverage of the Sprint Cup Series race from Pocono. To add your TV-related opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting.
Thanks for taking some time out of your weekend to stop by The Daly Planet.
668 comments:
1 – 200 of 668 Newer› Newest»Let a new year of critiquing begin - weber whats up with the baby powder blue suit? Why does tnt feel they need a "song" and have to tell us it is a new one for this year, did they think we was expecting Hinder?
I think they missed something in that explanation - the waved-around cars. They line up behind the penalty cars, right?
Mike Helton has props! too cute
I have heard it explained a few different ways and what I get out of it is, caution comes out, lead lap cars pit, if lapped down cars stay out they will be waved around and get one of their laps back, as long as they don't pit. Does anyone else read it that way?
I worry about things they "figure out on the fly"...
Did they give helton a short seat?
Are the last 20 laps still single file?
@BillH - I think that's what they mean.
@Dot - Nope.
Who's counting the Closer commls?
Per Robin Pemberton -
“When the caution comes out, the field will be frozen as it is today. The free-pass car will be identified as it is today and it will be the same format. As the cars are gathered behind the pace car, the pit road is opened for leaders, the second time by it will be open for the lap-down cars, and that is how it is today. And when we come to the one [lap]-to-go [until the green drops], the cars that have elected not to pit that are lap-down cars that will be in front of the lead-lap cars that have pitted, will be waved around to join the field at the tail end. The lineup will be on the double-file restart, lead-lap cars to the front, lap-down cars, … then it will be the free-pass car, then it will be the cars that have been waved around and then it will be the penalty cars."
@dot - I am mentally
I still think there will be unintended consequences.
@ Bill H, get a piece of paper, you'll need it.
I love the Closer but dread commercials...sigh.
Helton not asked about guitar incident. Script does not contain that scene.
I am still confused over rules for new restart.
Music a little rocky for me.
I more concerned about camera work.
TNT saying they will address Kyle's incident later. I wanna hear Petty's take.
Sound seems a little muffled on TNT versus the others or is it just me?
Verification: winke (cute)
SrRaceFan said...
I worry about things they "figure out on the fly"
--
is gonna be like "actions detrimental"...?
@BillH - I think so Mike Helton is not a short guy. He looked like a lil kid at the table LOL
I get the feeling that Kyle's actions will be dealt with in Countdown instead of this show.
jojaye, kind of like that Rule Book they keep referring to... LOL
@Bill H- muffled for me too, DirecTV SD.
How come its ok for FOX to have the "lets go racing boys" music, Meyers we kid cause we care comments and those stupid intros into commercials the drivers did but when ESPN and TNT have rock music its a bad thing.
Guess it would be ok if they played "Sweet Home Alabama". maybe for Talladega but alas TNT doesnt do that race.
Great interview with Dave Marcis. I'm glad I got to see him race in the 90s.
I've gotta say, this is a much more serious pre-race than we saw on FOX all year. It feels like actual journalism and reporting, not wacky antics. Larry Mac is criminally underused, though, he should be in the booth during the race.
seems that Helton had topics that couldnt be touched both on RD and TNT - um what do they call this hour show again?
1- Busch and guitar
2 - Mayfield lawsuit.
others?
So the new rules for double file restarts also changes the rules for the trapping cars on the tail end of the lead lap situation?
That actually changes race conditions and pit stop strategy far more than the double file restarts. The whole pitting out of sequence to get fuel on a caution flag to trap the good cars a lap down process will change.
@anon - think the music bumpers on any network are stupid. If there was a nascar theme of song all the networks used it would be fine, but just playing music cause someone is trying to sell an album is wrong
Anon 1252 - Why if you are so put off by all/any comments are you here? Just wondering...
RaceBuddy is already up and working.
Anyone else wonder what Dave Marcis would have said about SDDD's antics? :D
This pre-race has the kind of feeling that AB has on some NASCAR Countdown shows.
You guys have RaceBuddy going?
RIGHT ON Kyle P.
Thank you, Kyle Petty!! Your comments about the guitar bit and Busch NOT being a rock star are spot-on.
I'm sure Larry Mac's FOX contract prevents him from working in the booth for another network. I think that's why he is used this way by TNT.
"That's personality right there."
Larry McReynolds on Kyle Busch smashing the Nashville trophy. (TNT)
@DalyPlanetEditor
I think Mark Fein has been watching Bestwick in the off-season.
Anon, Larry works in the booth all season long for SPEED and did so this weekend.
Figured out the sound issue on TNT - forgot they turn down sounf of broadcast so you hear commercials blaring at ya
RaceBuddy is nothing short of incredible already. Online reporter just kicked in.
Petty is right.
Shrub didn't think about what he was doing.
He seems to have a problem thinking before he does anything.
What's the URL for RaceBuddy?
SPEED is owned by FOX so Larry MAc working for SPEED doesnt count.
I agree - Believe he is prohibited from working booth for other then FOX and SPEED
sorry JD
@JD - Speed and Fox are one and the same, so Mike, Larry and Darrell would be allowed to work the booth on Speed. Maybe their contract prohibits it on non-Fox-owned networks.
TNT apparently needs some working audio level meters.
@JD - Well, that might have something to do with Speed being owned by News Corp.
@Anon - http://www.tnt.tv/sports/nascar/racebuddy09_live/?
race buddy
http://www.tnt.tv/sports/nascar/racebuddy09_live/?
Race Buddy is working beautiful on Firefox here. No problems, fired right up. Sound is good. Clear picture.
I wish TNT had rest of season just for RB & pre race show w/KylePetty
Let me help you with that one. TNT told me they wanted him at the cutaway car for demos.
Also, it would be good if Marc stopped telling us how good the TNT people are and how hard they work.
Boy, Lindsay just stepped right in and took right off this season.
Isn't there a scanner feature on RB?
Anybody else see the irony of running a commercial about peeing during race coverage?
Isn't that what most men do during commercials?
@JD - Ok, that makes sense. He's definitely better than Hammond or Brewer with the cutaway cars.
I'm behind again but I have realized that I need a bigger laptop screen for all this stuff. Racebuddy is up and going. The test for TNT is if I am going to watch the TV or Racebuddy hopefully it's the TV with RB for commercials.
Hendricks...why Kyle?
Mark Fein sounds kind of thick-tongued to me
why is it so hard to find the "Live" TNT RaceBuddy page?
@ bevo, at least men get up off the couch, I hope.
TNT seems to be taking their promo commercials and streatching them to get wide screen - everyone looks short and blocky. the rest of the broadcast and other commercials are fine
Lindsay does a lot of great pre-produced features throughout the year on NBC 4 in D.C. Its a good thing its a talent TNT recognizes.
@Anon 1:10 - http://www.tnt.tv/sports/nascar/racebuddy09_live/?
Guys, just go to NASCAR.com for RaceBuddy. Click on the logo, it is free.
What a technology crunch. Kyle is Twittering during his live show and sending pics. RaceBuddy is online and texting directly to fans. Sites like this have their chats going.
All for one sport.
so, will the nascar.com leaderboard remain up right beneath the racebuddy screens once the race starts? it's be great to be able to not have to open another screen to keep an eye on lap times.
Contrasting Fox and TNT's pre-race shows:
Featured Element:
Fox: Digger & Friends
TNT: Pride of NASCAR
Studio Guests During the Year:
Fox: Michael Strahan and a box full of Subway junk to decorate the set & the singer that made the Digger Theme Song
TNT: Mike Helton
Letting the Viewers Be Heard:
Fox: "What does a blue flag mean?"
TNT: "What are your guys' opinions on what Kyle Busch did last night?"
So far give me TNT every day of the week... and twice on Sunday.
Racebuddy is the beautiful thing that have ever happened.
Andrew
Thank you SO MUCH for the RB link.
I thought Kyle Petty spoke up well on the shrub situation without being overly heated like some of us.
Larry mac, my question to you is,
If Kyle B would've taken a HAMMER to a Martinsville clock in VL, would that "just be some personality that NASCAR needs?"
No thanks.
TNT and TBS use stretch-o-vision to make everything 16:9 format - you will never see 4:3 content on a Turner network.
@ Strick, ditto.
@ dear Sophia, ditto to you too.
yeah, RB looks good already. KP's explanation about the guitar was great. I hope Kyle Busch doesn't win any more races at Nashville, so he won't have a "nice" guitar trophy hanging in his trophy room to show his grandkids when he's talking about all his Nascar wins!
Didn't KP use to ride a Victory?
This Race Buddy is so cool. I remember bad mouthing this new tinker toy when JD announced it last season.
I could not have been more wrong!
I loved it last season.
OMG! Raising Rutledge off the ground. Kyle singing that is a HOOT! Now THIS is fun. :)
I know Larry works in the booth for Speed, but Fox owns Speed. Most of the guys on the Fox broadcast also work in similar capacities for Speed. But its not the same thing as also working for ABC or TNT. As an example, Fox would never allow DW to work in the booth for ESPN during their portion of the season. Each of the separately owned networks like to have their own identity for broadcasts. They do allow pit reporters like Yocum to work the sames positions on broadcasts, however.
red, what the Turner guys wanted to do was cluster everything online so fans could have one windoe and be watching TV.
I told them, the only thing they left out was TDP!!
also, is anyone else getting a bird singing on the RB application? sounds like a robin to me. . . .
WOW JD - this RB this year is better than last year.
And now Rut & KP lol
I probably won't fire up MRN today. or for the next 5 weeks
Thanks TNT, could you please leave it for rest of season? Think of it as a public mental health service.
Dot if you have Depends in the house, don't need to leave the couch..just sit there all day and drink beer.
YIKES!! Not my kinda man..unless it was a TRUE medical condition of course.
But if it's just being a slug. "Hey Dot honey, bring me another beer! I don't need no stinkin' potty break"
:)
@ red, yes, I am too.
Daly Planet Editor said...
red, what the Turner guys wanted to do was cluster everything online so fans could have one windoe and be watching TV.
I told them, the only thing they left out was TDP!!
yeppers! i was just going to apologize in advance for not blogging as much today -- i'm such a RB geek!
(an no, the bird song isn't from outside! it only happens when the RB app is running -- and i also looked outside before i posted!)
@ dear Sophia, too funny. Nothing like squishy Depends.
Yep, the bird is on the audio from the Battle Cam (now showing pit road).
Who is the alternate feed (Racebuddy)pit reporter (talking to Paul Menard right now)?
oh boy can it get any better on racebuddy...an interview with Paul Menard.
@red
Yes I hear the bird....sounds sweet.
I need to listen to my bird sound cd. :) sister gave me one weeks ago and haven't done so yet. LOTS of birds on it for my area.
Ha, you guys are too funny!
PRN's Jim Noble is doing a second stream of interviews on the RaceBuddy pit road plus cam.
This is a great innovation. Remember, we opened chat three seasons ago because nothing like RaceBuddy existed back then.
I really like it, hope the telecast and the racing lives up to the technology.
That explains why he sounded familiar and didn't look familiar, he works for PRN!
while we wait for the green flag:
i should know this but i don't so i'm turning to the planeteers for information. long pond is referred to as a "tri-oval" by nascar types. but it's really just an isosceles triangle. anyone know when/why a triangle became a tri-oval?
and does the track still have "turn 3/4" painted on in one of the corners? what's that all about?
Found the scanner feature.
@ red, for those who don't their triangle shapes. Also heard it called a roval.
@ red
The Nascar types who call Pocono a tri-oval are not correct, it only has three turns, is definitely a triangle.
And its been that way since they used to run the 500 mile IndyCar race there.
hooking up my laptop to the big screen is absolutely incredible, long live racebuddy, and let's get
FOX/ESPN on board!!!
Also means commerical-free coverage... switch inputs during TNT breaks, and watch racebuddy w/ MRN, than switch back!
Yeah, I don't like the light blue suit either.
@anon 1:31: agreed about the triangle nature of long pond. the question came up b/c the RB page declares long pond to be a tri-oval and i always wondered why that terminology came to be THE way to refer to the track.
laughing with kyle petty: "drivers know nothing! i said it before: they stick their head in a bucket and go out and drive!" and that's why i like having petty on the broadcast.
That bird is probably perched near the camera/mikestand... it's not canned, I'm sure. When they're not running interviews, you just hear the birds, the white noise of the crowd in the background, guys yelling farther away, sound of a backup alarm. It's awesome... just like being there. Who needs TV? RB rules!
All I Wanna Know - is Bill still stuck with the tiny cocktail table like last year?
Dot said...
Found the scanner feature.
?? "scanner feature"??
Turner couldn't find a sponsor for Countdown to Green? Wasn't it the Bank of America Countdown to Green and the Discover Card Countdown to Green.
Oh right, credit cards and banks.
I'm having multitasking overload, but in a good way.
@ Jo, yes he is. It looks kind of cramped where they're sitting.
@ red, click on the "in car". Don't know who it will be.
I think Allstate sponsored the Countdown To Green at some point too.
@dot: copy that -- thanks!
Love to see if they show us driver intros.....
Scanner feature?? where is that?
Need to turn DOWN the music in interviews, tho
JD ? Driver intros are over
Am I the only one who thinks there is TOO much pre-race this time of year.
I can barely stand RD's two hour ruckus.
BTW if you appreciate RaceBuddy be sure to click on the Coke, Army and Burger King logos and pay them a visit.
All you techno geniuses--is there sound on Race Buddy? If so, what do I click? Thanks
Lance earning chug points there
is that Ryan newman in the Truck with shrub? poor ryan
Lucky Ryan got to ride in the truck around the track w/SDDD. Didn't hear any boos.
I continue to be ecsstatic about racebuddy, at first I was little worried where swapping from mosaic to one of the cams led to a 15sec commercial (possibly resulting in missed aciton, if you switch to catch something) however it seems they've fixed that already, and the commercials occur on a return to mosaic.
massive kudos to TNT!
Depending on who the in-car cams are, I may try RB out.
For volume just mouse over the upper right corner of the video screen
I love how for Wally's "a good spotter" line they used tape of one of the greatest race strategists of all time, and the new owner of Saturn, Roger Penske.
I like the new Wally's World.
Just turn on your computer speakers. RaceBuddy has natural sound and also a designated pit reporter just for computer users.
He is on the pit road plus cam.
nrf, I meant are they going to playback Kyle when he is introduced.
The fans were chanting anti-Kyle stuff during the drivers meeting and a NASCAR official had to quiet them.
Do they still have that lame segment?
Some things never change.
Battle Cam, showing pit road right now, just gave us a glimpse of the drivers... hitting the Port-A-Potty before the race!
Anonymous said...
All you techno geniuses--is there sound on Race Buddy? If so, what do I click? Thanks
click the mosaic option and when you get the four screen mosaic up, hover on the upper right corner of the top right screen. there's a volume control there.
hope that helps! right now, it's ambient sound like crowd noise and the sweeper engines.
I continue to be ecsstatic about racebuddy, at first I was little worried where swapping from mosaic to one of the cams led to a 15sec commercial (possibly resulting in missed aciton, if you switch to catch something) however it seems they've fixed that already, and the commercials occur on a return to mosaic.
massive kudos to TNT!
Watching JJ wait in line for the portapotty was pretty funny. Couldn't figure out why the one person had their suit down to the waist and then realized he was a she, might need to rething 2 piece suits for team members
Might not want to interview Gordon next to a 747 next time :)
What is the high pitched tone on RB?
heard it LOUDLY on TNT interview with Jeff G
Never understood the complaint about "too much prerace"--if you don't like it, turn on the TV later!
Do we have to pay to listen to the drivers? I'm confused. I thought last year it was free.
"True emotion". Right. Uh-huh.
However, it's nice that TNT, unlike ESPN, is actually addressing this issue head-on.
KB, "what controversy?" wow, unbelievable the arrogance, and all for beating up a bunch of busch-leaguers in a league he shouldn't be in
Kyle thinks he's a genius.
So expect more of his childish behavior.
anon 1:55- That's EXACTLY what I do!
The PR machine sure got to Vile Kyle, didn't it?
@Sophia - Sounds like a jet dryer.
K Busch is an IDIOT.
certainly not a rock star.
It IS a controversy
Thanks for the help on the audio. Got it working now. And boy, haven't they sanitized Kyle on the guitar comments!
Talk about kb obsession. Seems like the folks here can't stop talking about him. In other words, his plan has worked.
Weber just snuck in a BP reference, very nice
@sophia: that sound is the jet engines of the sweepers. just unfortunate that the interviews are happening near-by.
and we have our first bill envall sighting. bill h: you have a count on the closer so far? or is that just for during the race?
@Dot - Guess so. I'm betting that NASCAR.com didn't like RB cutting into their paid features.
One very irritating thing about recebuddy is every time you click to change camera you get another commercial
Kyle's arrogance just made me dislike him more.
Just when I thought he couldn't be more arrogant.
looks as if we might luck out and get the national anthem on a trumpet today!
@red: sorry fell asleep about 45 minutes ago, hope it is not indicative of how exciting the race coverage will be
Um. Are we missing the anthem or invocation with this voiceover?
Flyover gonna happen during prayer?
Clark lewis? he looks like an old will ferris
WOW! He's got a fantastic voice. Great anthem.
racebuddy is a couple seconds ahead of TNT. interesting
@ David, I noticed that, too.
@Andrew - I thought the same thing, until he got stuck on "freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"...
Love that guy!
That anthem was waaaaay too opera for my tastes. We were all laughing.
TNT must schedule its summer premieres to occur on the night after the return of NASCAR on TNT, I don't think I realized it was that well planned.
@David - I was thinking the same thing!
Looks like a good crowd. They can't hide the stands on RB.
Is the trophy for today's winner also a guitar?
wonder if they will or did mention robby winning the baja?
sorry, i tune out pre-races these days
i'm liking the pit stall locator in the pit road recap!
also, anyone know if lindsay os going to pick up her nascar blog this year?
SrRaceFan- no.
(someone asked the same question on Yahoo Answers)
Who is Dexter Bean?
ARCA driver i believe. family owned car
just watered flowers. Great anthem
funny hearing command echo from RB:)
Bill H--But the blue suit sets off his tan so nicely. ;-) And, is it me, or does it seem like Weber and Hammond are making a serious run at the Tannest Commentator in NASCAR championship this year?
So Sam Bass only does the guitar for the Nationwide series? That seems strange....
who does the ones for trucks and arca?
@SrRaceFan - The Nashville trophy is a guitar because it's...well...in Nashville!
I like the Closer but not promos. I hope they are not making that show more violent. Most disappointing as it is NOT NEEDED. great plots and CHARACTER driven show.
rate combo today
Ryan Reynolds is married to Scarlett Johanssen (sp?).
@ Sr, it's because the NW race is in Music City.
race last night in Nashville
Country music - thus guitar -
Today in Pocono - home of honeymoons so no guitar.
Is there a way to mute the RB audio?
My bad! Need another cup of coffee for sure!
Wow, an honest weather update...
Weber doesnt look as tan as he has before...
ok sound with talking on RB competes with Tv. Confusing to have both on.
Two things. Loved that TNT showed the pit stall selections. One little tweak that would make it even better is if they could put the pit stall number in there somewhere.
Did not love that TNT did not show the invocation, singing of the National Anthem and flyover. Not good TNT. This is tradition, part of the raceday routine-for those at the track as well as those of us watching on t.v.
Anonymous said...
Is there a way to mute the RB audio?
you can either turn down the audio on your computer or hover over the top right screen, right side: a volume slide will appear and you can set it all the way down.
Yeah, I know how a PC works.
Can the RB audio ONLY be muted while leaving Scanner up?
Anon at 2:13 - I saw all the prerace on TNT including Anthem, etc. Maybe your cable provider did commercials instead?
in car i have no audio
Did not love that TNT did not show the invocation, singing of the National Anthem and flyover. Not good TNT. This is tradition, part of the raceday routine-for those at the track as well as those of us watching on t.v
Yes, they did. I saw it.
Good luck to the TNT crew, great pre-race shows today.
Anon
i heard 2/3rd of anthem and saw flyover
interesting that sometimes RB precedes tv by a few beats and other times it lags. not a complaint or even an observation. more a "isn't tv fun?" sort of statement.
Now I know why Ryan was in the truck w/SDDD. Race line up.
anon
meant to add i came in from watering flowers to catch the rest of anthem ..so it was shown.
Anonymous said...
Yeah, I know how a PC works.
Can the RB audio ONLY be muted while leaving Scanner up?
no offense intended; the specific nature of the question wasn't clear.
i don't believe you can mute one and not the other. jd, any insight?
@ David, get out your credit card.....
FML Dot. FML.
I got SIRIUS too...just dont have the right power outlet to set it up in the house.
At least i can listen to the race on racebuddy, but NOT see the cut away car
so, one RB feature i think i'd like: the ability to minimize one or two windows and still keep the others up. for example, if i don't want pit road, minimize it and the remaining three windows fill the screen.
@Dot Yup, I have scanner via Pit Command=$ and Pictures with RB=Free, Pit Command is also Nascar.com
@ David, blonde moment here, FML?
and there's the mention of gordon winning the baja 500 last night!
Poor Diva, aka Hamlin.
Okay, let's see how much SDDD love they give today. Hope it's minor.
Actual comments on Hamlin's problem! Holy cow, we're getting exciting fast.
Methinks Weber is a wee bit confused about the significance of this yellow
dot its a newfangled youngin speak. means f my life lol.
dunno if its family friendly so if it gets deleted i understand.
ya know: i'm not thinking this double-file start isn't as complcated as everyone is trying to make it sound. yes, there are parts that will be unclear initially but it's really pretty straightforward.
how do you change the size of the windows, someone said they could close certain ones out or something to that extent
@ David, sorry if my age was showing. I'm guessing I could be your mom's age. I do try to keep up with the youngins since my daughter is 18. She moved to CA last year so I'm out of the loop.
No comml? Good for TNT.
im 21 going on 22...do the math lol
loving these overheads that show the double file work!
On RB, down pit road looks super with all the pit signs lined up.
Fuel pump cable broken on the 11.
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