This is a time of the year that Nationwide Series fans know all too well. This is the first weekend of the college football season.
There is a live college game now in-progress before the scheduled start of NASCAR Countdown at 6:30PM. Please go to our comments section for updates as the start time of the NASCAR TV coverage approaches.
Race coverage is scheduled for 7PM. This is ESPN's second attempt at the "Backseat Drivers" concept. Four of the network analysts, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham and Andy Petree will be in the broadcast booth making conversation among themselves.
There will be no Marty Reid or Jerry Punch joining the group as the play-by-play announcer. Instead, Allen Bestwick will remain in the Infield Pit Studio after he hosts the pre-race show and help the analysts with information and updates after the commercial breaks.
The idea is that these ESPN analysts will be able to relate stories about their own driving careers and experiences at Atlanta to the viewers during the race. The reality is that ESPN did not carry any of the practice or qualifying sessions for this race and that makes it a perfect target for experimentation.
This is the time of the season when all of the ESPN energy goes into the Sprint Cup Series coverage and the infamous "Race for the Chase." In the blink of an eye, the only NASCAR series that ESPN carries from start-to-finish becomes second rate.
Join us as we watch the live race and see how this experiment unfolds. We will also be discussing the transition between the live college football games and the ESPN2 NASCAR coverage.
To join the party, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, so please keep that in mind when posting. All opinions are welcome, we just ask for no profanity, hateful speech or off-topic comments.
As always, you can email me directly with any suggestions, complaints or questions as editor.dp@hotmail.com anytime. Thanks for dropping by on this holiday weekend.
416 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 416 Newer› Newest»@Patrick - I had a local break for the first half of the break. Wonder if that messes with it. (Probably not.)
Martin: K-Automotive only had 1 car set to run a road course. Since the #07 withdrew, the #26 was locked in solid, so McDowell was given the road course car since he had to time in. The #26 had to park since it was not meant for a road course and was missing many parts needed.
Brian had to get back to the #26 and race this weekend to stay in the top 20 in driver points to win the bonus money at the end of the year. He told McDowell the #96 is open to him for the rest of the year if he can't find a ride.
i find it amusing that, this late into the season, fox trax doesn't have a photo of logano to use.
hey look: tightening vickers' air hoses on this pit stop, just as prn reported. those listening on tv: did the booth know what was going on?
Red um NO
David/Martin
I smell what you're steppin' in.
Good grief, not another mistake from Allgaier! I like him, I really do, but he needs to start stepping it up here. And hope the tire carrier is ok.
@Buschseries61 - Thanks for the explanation, I was focusing on owner standings and totally forgot about the importance of driver standings for Keselowski.
Hope it gets dark soon, this one should be good on TV under the lights.
What's up with the start and park set from you guys who are online?
please, someone do some pxp
Evernham just called the #15 "Arnett"...
Good thing Neuenberger is not in this race, Andy would be calling him "Nurenberger".
per prn, keller (#27) has an engine problem: valve issue. waiting for additional info on S&Pers but prn is actually focusing on the race! imagine that.
90, 91, 49, 78, 05, 96 are all multiple laps down all but the 96 are off the track.
So McDowell still trying to gain some points
47 also out
Mike Skinner is on the Truck Series pole tonight.
Think ESPN'll mention it, or even admit the Truck Series exists? Considering that they won't even admit that NBC and CBS show college football games they don't, I doubt it.
Caution for Jeremy Clements, engine trouble
Thanks red,
I was looking at the leaderboard and didn't know why Keller was off or out.
Looks like McDowell is chasing the Gaughn car that is out. Will he try to pass Keller, too?
@ JD
Seven start-and-park cars, Gaughn out, Keller eight laps down. Everyone else is on lead lap or one lap down.
Do the S&P drivers and owners feel no shame that they've just ended Morgan Shepherd's career?
--KarenB
Ouch for Clements.
prn playing a commercail w/ chad knaus that starts "everyone wants their fuel to last longer, especially my team . . ." given the 48 team's history on fuel mileage races, i find that commercial funnier than intended.
How can ESPN not see that dead air over side by side racing is not working for us out here in TVland? Ray at least attempted to give context
AB is keeping things orderly, but shouldn't he just be in the booth?
Im going to withhold comment on the Morgan Shepherd vs S&P thing.
@Patrick - I think Gaughan will return, Keller is out and now with Clements out, McDowell might have to keep going until the attrition stops.
ok, off to dinner: will be back! as one of my college professors used to say "talk amongst yourselves for a moment."
Keller being interviewed on PRN
S&P Stories:
#05 Atwood: If it is a Chevy, 80% of the time they will race. If it is a Ford (Baker-Curb Racing car, they have a partnership) they will park. 31-W Insulation doesn't give much money.
#47 Miller: JTG Racing has 2 people left in the shop with no funding. They are parking for the rest of the year to keep their top 30 spot.
#49 Green: Helps cover the expenses of the #28 of Kenny Wallace.
#78 Lepage: Derrike Cope's backup car, Derrike Cope only races when he has a sponsor.
#90 Chapman: MSRP owned car. Has never finished a race. Waste of space.
#91 Cook: MSRP has only finished 1 race in this car, but it was with another teams car, sponsor & pit crew. Waste of space #2.
#96 McDowell: Pays for the #26 of Brian Keselowski
Bliss now 3 laps down, may have gone to garage, nothing per radio or ESPN so far
@red - The Knaus / fuel comment is about as funny as the timing of the launch of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s GPS unit.
WTF? JD really said "Junior on SPEED TV sounded like a housewife on Prozac. What a sad time for him and his fans" on Twitter?
JD is the Obama loving meth-head who pissed in Jeremy Mayfield's urine so why should he question Prozac laden housewives?
Maybe you should try Prozac and calm down instead of trippin' on Meth.
JR NATION Unite!!!!
too many chatting minutia in the booth...no radio tonight for me. darn it
losing interest...on top of being extra tired today...sheesh...in car cam virus still in full force
JD
are there anymore of these backseat "things" scheduled for the rest of the season or will there be a traffic cop the rest of the way? Hopefully Marty is available for a couple months.
Buschseries, its a ford for Atwood.
Think they are still trying to fix their chevys
@ kbaskins, I agree with you.
Anyone can set their car up to qualify. It's the set up to race that is more important. I really hope NASCAR takes a good look at this issue next year.
@Buschseries61 - Slight correction, #91 is Blaney this week as Cook is in Iowa.
PRN reporting Bliss off track, probably out.
ESPN finally catches up with the Vickers air hose story.
anon 7:50PM,
Did you see what happened?
They interviewed him and he looked at the car to get the sponsor and then answered in one sentence.
It was awful.
As for your weird comment, I am a fan of Junior (as you would know form this blog) and was a fan of his dad?
Thanks for all the confidence.
JD
brad,
It was only supposed to be once, but ESPN is doing NOTHING but the races this weekend.
Since they are only in Atlanta for two shows, why not experiment?
SPEED did a great job today with the same TV team working all day long.
JD
JD to be fair Jr has never been the greatest interview in terms of sounding like the "typical" NASCAR driver. Remember when he won Richmond a couple years ago and forgot to thank Budweiser in victory lane?
Its just Jr.
Being completely not unbiased, I think it's a real shame all the breaks go to the youngsters like Mark "The Kid" Martin instead of Morgan. Tough situation. Sure wish AARP would sponsor him - or Roller Derby.
sophia, mail.
@ Martin: Whoops! Thanks for the correction.
All I see in this experiment is 4 analysts in a booth trying let 1 talk at a time and respect each other. AB gathers things together, reads the promos, recaps the action & updates the garage area. AB is doing half of the play-by-play already, time to move him upstairs.
I'll get rid of it in a minute, but it is kind of priceless.
Wonder how old Jeremy is doing these days? See that ASA driver Gary St. Amant was one of the guys suspended by NASCAR? That was weird.
I knew i recognized that name JD. Weird indeed.
Didn't he run some ARCA too?
This is feeling more and more like an intense practice session and less and less like a race.
David,
I hope Wendy gets a Real Deal with him soon. There is lots of ground to cover.
McDowell passes Clements, Bliss, and Keller, and is up to 33rd.
@David - St. Amant was a longtime ASA driver, but at Bristol he was a crewman on the #99 Tatman Motorsports truck team of Brett Butler.
That would be interesting. Especially after this season.
My ex was a huge Jr fan so I've gotten schooled about the guy over the years, even tho i haven't talked to her in 3 plus years, I get how the guy works with his media interviews and such.
Id like to see a real deal with Jr though. Just an honest sit down with all the cards on the table talking about this season and the future
Time to find battles.
McDowell has parked again, but will likely lose one position to Gaughan when (if) he returns.
Carl foot - dri nk
Just because your talking about the guy does NOT mean you HAVE to zoom in on them!
tx david just answered you
Wow, they didn't even cover all the CUP drivers.
His dad was great and hilarious. Wish he was still around.
- Good Top 13 update. They still have to drop "xxx told me earlier."
- Shannon, if you are tight or loose, you are having a handling problem.
- AB update on rain. Simply the best.
Um, wow. They didn't even cover the full Cup field. And have they mentioned a single NW-only driver tonight outside of mishaps?
Not one word about the race on ESPN's home page right now. Not even a link.
Thing is, hes not his father, and even with great equipment and the fastest pit crews, he still cant get it done. Hes not a good driver.
his dad found his place and seemed relaxed. I kinda think Jr is caught between who he wants to be and who everyone expects him to be
i think junior know he's not his dad. he know what and who he wants to be. He's just simply in a slump. Gordon didn't make the chase a year or two ago. Big whoop. Next year will be much better and he'll be in the chase.
Just needs the help of a PXP guy, we are getting the color but missing the details.
Looked like Bliss on the apron, parking now that he's passed McDowell.
If all crew members are supposed to be drug tested pre season and randomly through out the year how does that do any good for 1 off deals? Off topic but just curios given all the attention drugs have gotten lately.
Caution should be on the way. Take the drama out of GF pit stops.
Lot more to it than that Patrick, a LOT more.
Bliss came back out, passed McDowell then parked.
Will McDowell come back out?
Told ya, this S&P "race" gets more interesting every week. Cup radios are funny to listen to.
....16+ seconds back to 6th.
brad,
In order to race just one time, you must get a baseline drug test. That is how two of the three suspended were caught.
The random tests are for the licensed crews, drivers and officials.
@ David, ticker showed 47 out.
McDowell is in the 96 dot, the 47 has been out for an hour lol
Oops, McDowell not in 47. And I'm not even drinking, just living in the past.
Dang, almost a caution.
man cup guys are dominating the nationwide regulars.
thank you sir. I figured you could give me the answer.
@Buschseries--thanks for the info on the S&Pers. Hate it for Mr. Jesus I hope he's able to come back one day :(.
Have you guys noticed the lack of in-car cameras tonight?
Hi Everyone, watching my Badgers and keeping in touch with the race. Sorry, but my alma mater comes first. Saw a funny tweet by TJ Majors, Jr's spotter "I'm spotting for the 5 tonight. Hope I don't mess that up or else he lets me know in very colorful ways." I think everyone knows about Jr's colorful language.
Dang it, JD. Be quiet.
Daly Planet Editor said...
Have you guys noticed the lack of in-car cameras tonight?
THAT'S what's missing! I was wondering why I was enjoying the telecast a bit more. ROTFL
Kahne pass through for entering side by side
i am half paying attention...I still thought there were lots of untimely in car cams...just because they used fewer for 30 minutes means nothing
cynical soph
Chase Austin....hmmmm.....
Really good broadcast tonite IMHO. Really boring race though.
JD, I know.
Im going to be nice for now though.
TRL,
It is almost like a different director. Fewer close-ups and almost no in-cars.
Should be interesting to see how things shake-out tomorrow.
Ray Evernham has been much more vocal this weekend compared to Michigan. Less in-cars too.
The racing is still pretty bad. Difficult to find a battle & will need a caution soon or else the batteries may start to run low.
How's the "human chicane", aka Steven Wallace, doing tonight? Has he taken out anyone yet?
You know, the race ticker and FOX Trax should not be the only time we see and/or hear about the NW regulars.
Yes, JD, we noticed the lack of tight shots, but we didn't want the TV gods to notice. Now that you've mentioned it, we'll get a boatload of bumper cams. Way to go, JD.
--KarenB
No doubt, JD. I was simplifying my response only to the comments above mine.
I've been finishing up cooking dinner so hadn't been watching just listening. Almost thought I was about to burn the apartment down (got a bit stir crazy and spilled some oil on the burner) so now to relax watch the rest of the race. Good to hear it hasn't been all in car all the time.
Got ya Patrick.
confirmed, Kahne was busted for passing Chase Austin, NOT for speeding.
Hey, I thought I put a smiley at the end of that comment!
--KarenB
Ray Evernham is a different person tonight. Kinda fun and energetic. I never thought I'd say this, but this marriage may do him some good. Then again, the first year (or month) is always the best. From the start, he was making funny comments like the "Frito Bandito". I've never been a fan of his, but I'm liking this new attitude.
JD, if EESPN could not sell sponsorships for all the available in-car cams, would they use fewer in-car cams?
Eleven cars on the lead lap?
J.D.,
I'd like to see more of those steak-skewer ID graphics. I'm old and even with glasses, my eyes can't ID all the cars.
West Coast Kenny
Alameda, California
Nice use of the double video box.
Entirely different flow tonight from the Director.
Patrick, if you hear Ray on SIRIUS during his weekly convos, THIS is the Evernham I have gotten used to hearing. I think he is finally finding his place in the booth. Still think he is best utilized as a Brewer/Daugherty replacement.
Ala Jeff Hammond style
Richard,
We know they have Junior because of the in-race reporter thing.
I thought we would see tons of him and Carl as well..but nothing.
Carl foot - dr ink
David,
I can get behind that. Two birds with one stone. I'll take Ray over Brad and Time any day of the week.
Are you guys chugging?
Should be interesting to see who ESPN decided to bring back in the booth for next season.
This is the time of the year when you make those decisions.
This is very difficult to watch. Stumbling and bumbling. Speaking over each other. Long pauses as they forget where they were in the sentences.
wow 6 cars on lead lap.
I hate the tapered spacer
Burton is 6th 32 secs back. Paging Steven Wallace...paging Steven Wallace.
Batteries beginning to run low. No battles, 6 cars on the lead lap. Atlanta needs a good show tomorrow.
weird combination. Great pictures, but no guidance for these guys. It's kind of unfair.
Rusty mentioned the Truck race - oh, oh.
Off Topic: Did Sam Bradford just break his collar bone? When you win the Heisman, do you come back to the college ranks?
OK, that made up for the lack of car cams. At least we didn't miss any racing.
This car was better of without the tapered spacer.
On the other hand, wouldn't it be great to have 2 seasoned vets like Happy and Shrub battling it out all by themselves for the win?
Patrick,
That is a little bit farther off topic then we usually roam.
It's just an award, you return to college. Tim Tebow?
Jd
Patrick, because if he came out next year its another year experience, plus a shot at being first overall much like stafford was this year...
stuff happens...
left on comment 222 when 12 yr old son went AWOL and got in the tracker volvo to run him down, and in that time we made almost 100 comments! geez, what did I miss?
@ Richard, with only 6 cars on the lead lap, you may get your wish.
5, just about 4
Man, this race is a snoozer, and there's nothing the broadcast team can do to change that.
Bummer. Maybe I'll take a nap until the truck race is on. Then again, I'm considering not watching truck races any more. I'm seriously peeved a Phil Parsons.
--KarenB
way off, i know. got carried away after seeing it.
Showing off the HD goodies again with the beautiful moon shot.
I'm liking the vibe of this racecast, but it really could use AB as PxP. A lot of improvement, but like others have said, disjointed.
JD, Tim who?
Today the problem is not espn but it is the race.
LOL PRN, Goody's Headache Award to the Field except Harvick.
Debris, Steve Wallace hit the wall.
Joey, buy that kid a steak!
Seven cars on the lead lap? Ouch.
Of course Rusty promo'd the truck race, it's at his track. You don't think he did it for the benefit of the CWTS, did you?
--KarenB
JD, its kinda a bummer he is the best college player by far and yet is projected as a tight end as a pro. maybe this last season will get him some more respect as a QB.
single stops, boooo!
David,
with those gaps. 3-way views wouldn't have done much good, with the first 2 leaving their pits before the rest of the field get to theirs.
Tebow, I thought, was a different situation, being a Sophomore at the time. youth vs. experience. at least Bradford is at the new Texas Stadium (surely they have state of the art medical facilities; i.e, x-rays, etc.)
That 11 car is cursed.
Carl foot - dr ink
Charlie, how many is that now?
Ray??? Where did you go?
I lost count af ter about 3
You know Carl's foot is affecting his race. I don't care who you are. Does Carl claim to be fine to keep NASCAR off his back?
hey jd? OT but you have 2 different email addresses on the main page of the blog. which do you prefer for direct email?
prn: "59 laps to go; good time for a full field run down."
espn: gone to commercial.
just sayin' . . .
(and yes, i understand that the demands of radio and tv as far as sponsors and commercials are different but still, have many thru the fields has espn done all night?)
red, i never noticed that. probably why jd never got my link to countdown...
@ red, with 6 cars on the lead lap it would only take them 10 seconds.
Where did Harvick come from?
@dot: agreed. prn actually hit every car in the field: what place, any issues and on to the next car. they were finished before espn came back from commercial and were back calling the race.
missed the pass for the lead and haven't shown a replay.
drink
Carl foot - d rink
Drink up. Don't be driving now.
rusty taking Larry Mac lessons, 'that 33 car has tooken off'
#18 slows down a ton, possible flat tire for the #88 & Shannon Spake interviews Carl Edward's crew chief??
Never replayed the pass for the lead, never updated the #88, suddenly the #38 is on pit road with the right side all scratched up. They are losing control.
@ Walter, I caught that too.
per prn:
pops has told kez he can't go all the way on fuel right now: about 10 laps short.
harvick 11 laps short on fuel.
DJ pretty mute those last few minutes. No throw to commericial???
bradford update: AC sprain, 2 weeks.
@ red, I vote you as the PXP woman during these backseat driver races.
OMG, did Rusty just say, the 33 has "tooken off"?
Tell ya what (Rusty-ism), if you added Bestwick to the booth and used these pictures...this would be a great TV show.
Tooken off. LOL.
I definitely LOL'ed
prn update:
"all up and down pit road" about a dozen laps short for all the race leaders. extended discussion of splash and go strategy.
(thanks, dot. i'm actually enjoying the race by listening to prn and randomly glancing to the tv screen for a visual.)
I simply don't understand why AB isn't the PxP guy. He's done 80% of the PxP tonight and he's not even in the booth!
I agree JD. The director is doing a great job tonight! Is it a different director, or did the usual one get slapped about with a clue bat?
--KarenB
AB regains control & saves the day, again.
both of them go to the same email. The editor.dp@hotmail.com is the easiest. Fewer servers to go through.
@ kbaskins, you're killing me.
brian campe(88 crew chief) says they need to loosen up the 88 and "no way we can make it" so they'll have to do a splash n go.
Though this is very very nice to see ESPN using (mostly) wide camera angles and trying to find the racing, instead of using the "HD toys." Wonder if they saw the negative responses to last week's race and that Frontstretch article?
in re: email address: thanks, jd! figured there was a reason.
I am enjoying the race tonite! Think the booth is good overall & they are actually showing the racing!!!
AB saving grace ...unfortunately, no PXP takes away from best ESPN production of the season
Just a reminder...Atlanta has 'extra' seats. They didn't actually overbuild, they switched the front & backstretch (moved the start/finish line) & built new instead of moving.
Even the "backseat drivers" are doing a better job of it tonight. Unfortunately, I think a race needs to have a play-by-play guy. It just works better.
Having said that, I prefer this format to having Dr. Punch doing play-by-play. Now I have to go have a shower. I feel dirty.
--KarenB
I remember they had the old frontstretch (now backstretch) seats, but they were taken down after a storm did damage.
I was coming here to raise hell about the lack of an update on Brad K and just as i typed "da..." they started talking about it.
Think if i start raisin' hell about Rusty murdering the english language?
@red - Campe is crew chief of the #5, not the #88.
JD,
What's in store for the post-race? Working on a complimentary article or another "Your Turn"?
prn: if we stay green, harvick will be called to pit road with about 12 laps to go: 2 right sides and a splash.
@martin vincent: my mistake. i was listening to prn but watching espn. thanks for keeping it correct!
@NASCAR_Trucks: Green flag will fall at 9:09 pm CT Thinking these trucks will be four wide by about 9:10 pm
Introducing the All New NASCAR Analyst Translator! Having trouble understanding your favorite NASCAR analyst? Does Rusty Wallace, Larry McReynolds, or Darrel Waltrip baffle and confuse you when they speak? Do you have problems understanding the following: "Man, that hot rod is hooked up and its tooken off!" or "Well that there Kes-el-ow-ski is racin with that Jamie Mac Mary hard for 13th!" or even "Boogity boogity boogity, Digger is divin' in that hole cause that 18 car is COMIN!"?
Well lucky for you TDP has the answer! Your personal translator can dumb down even the most broken english into easy to understand terms for your common fan. Rusty Wallace's gibberish becomes, "That car is hooked up and fast. In fact, he is walking away from that other car!" Larry Mac, well "Brad Keselowski (minus the el) is battling with Jamie McMurray for the 13th position" Even DW: "Random gibberish"
Call now and we'll throw in the Kyle Busch antics translator FREE!
Patrick,
There will be another "Your Turn" for the Nationwide Series.
Reaction to that has been great and lots of your comments are discussed and referenced all over the place.
Keeping my nose out of it the first time had proven to be a good move.
It has taken the excuses out of it for so many folks.
We will also be live blogging the Truck Series race starting at 9:30PM.
JD
Hm, my on screen guide says 10pm for trucks
I can't believe how boring this race is. What a waste of all the vastly improved directing.
--KarenB
make my night, speed Kyle
LOL David, where do I send my credit card number?
--KarenB
9:09 CT (10:09 Eastern) for the Trucks
Good idea, JD. I like the unbiased comments. However, I love your synopsis, too.
Bad racing with good camera work is better than great racing with bad camera work.
wow, facepalm of a pitstop
glen, this is true for Atlanta but most every other track is overbuilt IMO.
Looked at the reported attendance numbers this year and last and I was actually surprised. Pocono did over 100,000 the first race there, Texas did 176,300! This year!
I don't know if those are skewed but either someone is lying or tv is deceiving.
@ David, I thought you were going to bring up the NASCAR booth announcers version of Rosetta Stone.
@ kbaskins 9:13, I know, huh?
@wickedj - Setup is listed at 9:30pm and the actual race coverage is at 10:00pm. They're always listed as two different programs on my guide in Canada.
Nah Dot. Some of these guys are beyond help.
Bad move for Brad to try the fuel game imho
whether 'sold' or not, texas has always put the fannies in the seats
Yep. Texas does very well. Surprisingly the fall race does worse than the spring race
Red, think you can chase that car down at speed and dump a gallon of gas in there?
wickedj: with my knees? not so likely but for our guy, i'd give it a shot!
i dislike fuel mileage finishes!!
YAY!! Kevin.
Yeah, i hate them as well. boring as all getout
AP seemed quite vocal tonight ...good comments ...harvick made nice run to grab a well-deserved win
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