Due to the low number of visitors on this college football weekend, we are extending this post to cover Happy Hour on ESPN at 7PM and also your post-race N'wide Series comments. Just click the comments button below. Thanks.
NASCAR Countdown will lead the way at 3PM to set-up the Nationwide Series race from Dover, DE. We are once again in the scenario where college football will probably run past 3PM, so this program may begin on ESPN Classic.
Allen Bestwick, Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty will be in the Infield Pit Studio for Countdown. Tim Brewer will be nearby in the Tech Center. ESPN has Jamie Little, Shannon Spake, Vince Welch and Dave Burns reporting.
Once things get underway with the 3:30PM race coverage, it will be Marty Reid calling the play-by-play. He will be joined by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree in the broadcast booth. These three are still trying to figure out a good racing balance on the air.
Jarrett and Petree work with Jerry Punch on the Sprint Cup Series who provides absolutely no leadership or commentary. Here on the Nationwide trail, Petree and Jarrett have to figure out the energetic and honest Marty Reid who embraces the traditional role of a play by play announcer. So far, this combination is not working out.
Reid was far more effective with Randy LaJoie and Rusty Wallace. These three had fun despite their diverse personalities. Wallace worked an entire IRL season with Reid for ESPN and is clearly comfortable with him. LaJoie takes great pleasure in poking fun at Wallace about the struggles of his Nationwide Series team and adds just the right touch of personality that this series really needs.
Jarrett and Petree sound tired right now and who can blame them? It has been a long season and even with some early vacations, double-duty never works out well.
Dover has two bridges over the track that the TV director has to cut around. The coverage needs to keep ahead of the cars, showing more headlights than tail lights. The best camera shots are from Turn 1 and Turn 3 as the cars head down the front and backstretch. That is where the passing occurs.
In-cars are tough to use live, but great for replays. This is especially true after accidents, where in-cars can often tell the tale of who is to blame. Using the in-cars live forces the TV viewer to miss so much action it is almost unfair. Martin Truex Jr. is the in-race reporter for ESPN today.
In this race there is no Chase to deal with, but there is the temptation to focus all the coverage on the eight Sprint Cup Series cross-over drivers. As the season begins to head to a close, it is going to be important for ESPN to feature the drivers who have competed in the Nationwide Series regularly, especially if they are having a good run.
This post will serve to host your comments on the Nationwide Series race coverage from Dover on ESPN2. 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. Thank you for taking the time to drop by.
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Start of the 4th quarter and Countdown starts in 15 minutes. Think it'll be ontime?
What is the green flag time? Things may get very interesting.
I think it is 3:37PM. Almost time for the NASCAR Countdown switch over.
Uh oh, that makes overtime a real possiblity.
People will be tuning in to a commercial break now looking for NASCAR Now without an announcement of a switchover. Very poor timing. Usually they say they're switching on the bottom ticker well before it happens.
Whew, talk about NASCAR being pushed to the back burner. That was just embarrassing.
NASCAR Now Live on Classic...
oops, NASCAR Countdown I mean...finally the announcment.
It's on Classic now.
Funny not having Classic now and being in the "without" group for NASCAR.
Wow, ESPN showing the radar, with rain moving into the area.
Enough about Carl's foot! Nobody cars anymore! Talk about beating a dead horse. I've just about had it. I'm going to vomit, be right back.
All of a sudden we don't have Classic on our channel lineup. Boy, I'm disappointed now.
When I looked earlier, the rain was supposed to continue til about 1pm EDT tomorrow in Dover ...
Did they move it to Classic? I don't have access to Classic at the moment.
There is still 8:57 left in the football game. O boy! I think everyone knew this would happen.
We have it on a Canadian feed. One advantage of living in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean LOL
I guess there is always good and bad about NASCAR having a network. The good, we won't have to worry about college football. The bad, it'll be as widely picked up as ESPN Classic, at least initially, for cable companies.
So what is AB talking about, come on people..we need help.
This is going to be a fun day, I can feel it.
I have never watched ESPNU since it was added to my system.
I could hear the sigh and disappointment in AB's voice when he said the race will be "right after football."
Carl Edwards / Kyle Busch talk in the studio. Now talking about Hamlin, with vince interviewing him now. Sticking with the #%^@ Cup guys script.
Carl vs. Kyle rivalry. DeBenedetto wrecking Hamlin's car.
Just FYI, ESPN Classic in Canada is doing a hockey replay. Of course the racing is on TSN.
Carl's foot again. can he overtake Kryle, talking to Denny Hamlin now, but they did interview BK!
Not much Rusty's doing all the talking/yelling.
Interviwed Denny Hamlin - thinks he can win don't they all
Yeah, but what with the same stories (ie CUP DRIVERS) we may not be missing much.
Don't I say that every time this happens?
I actually watched a game that just ended. STILL don't see what the fuss is 'bout.
Yea, that poor young kid wrecked Denny's car in practice. Ouch..
Next up S. Wallace and Lil Gator. Then Martin Truex at his home track. Rain about 70 miles away. Could get in 100 laps maybe.
AB's talking about:
Rain on the way ... Carl's foot ... Carl's win 2 weeks ago ... Denny's car getting wrecked yesterday ... The race there earlier in the year with Kyle in the wall courtesy of Joey ...
Brad's way too excited ... about the track itself ...
Rusty's stuck in the middle ...
I've about had it. Just about out of Crown, rum, and vodka. I am going to need some more in order to make it through countdown, let along the race. Horrible, pathetic. ARRGGHHH!!!
I read on my weather desktop app that there's supposedly an 100% chance of rain tomorrow.
Ouch!
anon 3:12- DITTO!
I don't watch ANY of the pre-race for NW/Cup.
Didn't I see a tweet from you, JD, that said NO rain?
Yeha, the only good thing was they aren't hiding the weather.
Rain's already east of Annapolis
A couple of green patches before the front of the system ...
System looks like it might hit about 5:45pm EDT
What? Brad excited? That's breaking news like Carl's foot!
Now on Scott Speed
Same ? as during qualifying
Karen, I passed along one from Pockrass and another from the NASCAR weather guy. Worthless!
Sunny and about 900 degrees here in South Florida. So, that is Autumn!
Watching "Moments of Impact" on the Discovery Channel since Comcast yanked Classic. But it's pretty exciting. Ouch, an off road truck racing crash!
I just sent an e-mail to ESPN. There is a chance that they are read, because I did get an appropriate albeit form-letter response about the Twitter policy.
AB and DJP deserve a heck of alot better. I hope they both decide to quit if there ever was another option.
Welcome to Snarkytown, JD ... LOL
Okay, Brad seemed more excited than usual ...
Do they hot wire his chair & give him a jolt right before he starts talking?? LOL ;-)
Just announced only the top 5 will speak at banquet. Talking to Wreck'em Stephen now, then Bliss.
We talked about this problem back in 2007 when we started. We were told we should be lucky to get the races on TV and should just shut up.
As usual, not gonna happen.
JD
Steven wants to finish ahead of Allgaier
Bliss compared the 11 car to an old girlfriend
Steve said NASCAR already said after 100 laps and it rains, they're calling it. They need to step it up.
Brewer talking about springs
That's the new Truck and Nationwide combo banquet.
Just the top five from each in Orlando and then go home...or is it the Hardrock this year?
Tim Brewer re: inspection height of a spring.
Here is a link for streaming video of Countdown.
http://www.justin.tv/nascarfansforever
Brad thinks Bires is a "tremendous young talent" ...
Guess he thinks that about every driver out there ... LOL ;-)
JD,- I believe it's not here this year.
They used to do the NW one at a hotel at Universal Orlando... close enough to where I live!
2:14 left in the game. 36-33. Could be tied. Starting prerace ceremonies now.
Happy Saturday JD and Planeteers :)
@Karen--yes that poor kid. I was half paying attention yesterday when it happened he just seemed so dejected after that :(. Since I wasn't paying attention I didn't know who they were chatting about.
@JD--LOL! re: Brad being excited breaking news!
I know they were having a devil of a time deciding who would carry it. ESPN has N'wide and SPEED has trucks. I told them to run it twice.
Brad D - I agree that his presence is getting a little old. It also seems like ESPN gives their on-air personalities a page of phrases to use. Brad, Rusty & Jerry Punch have a tendency to repeat the same phrases every week.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events will be combined and held at the Loews Miami Beach on Monday, Nov. 23
First down Michigan, that should be the ballgame.
Forget the opening ceremonies. I was just repeating what AB said.
Brad is the scene out of "Bull Durham" where Crash is trying to teach Meat what to & not to say during interviews ... LOL ;-)
Glad they are showing the cup guys so much! NOT
Tate Forcier again. Michigan takes it.
OK, should be on shortly....if not for an interception, this game could be tied right now.
It is wasn't for that horrible call, we could have had overtime.
Michigan screwed up the coverage 2 weeks ago ...
Very professional, seemless transition though.
Well, good to know they could not get ESPN Classic in the Dover media center so all the reporters watched the college football game.
Thanks for the updates by the way.
I hate when they read the prayer :( Coach needs to do the Prayers
I liked that rip-roaring good time by the minister.
Samantha has Jerry Seinfeld's puffy shirt! Awesome.
OUCH - my ears are hurting now!
That was....interesting.
Carl Edwards mom....still creepy...
By comparison, she was good.
Oh great!! Maybe I'm just late to find out, but DirecTV has moved ESPN Classic to the expensive sports package!!! I just called and complained and tried to ruin some flunky's day.
And with no Versus, I just might be switching over to ATTUverse. HotPass isn't really worth the free price anymore!
Dang! Starting the Anthem in such a high key?
Reckon only dogs will hear at the latter parts? :)
Nice shot of the jets & she stayed on key. WOW. She has one high voice but did a decent job.
regarding A Bestwick, I'm getting hints his ego keeps him from getting the main job on ESPN (in the booth) but that's just feedback I'm hearing so what do I know.
I am just biding time...ok, Classic just switched to ESPN! 3.34
If anyone can find out how many homes ESPN Classic really has these days after the big Sept. switch, drop me a line.
I couldn't find it...
Miss Delaware ... NOT very good ...
Ann - we had Classic just a bit ago and have you noticed the nasty message on Versus channel?
@Ann O
go to Indyrace.com if you have broadband for FREE Indy race streaming!!
Marty just cracks me up!
Best part of that anthem was the crown....
http://www.indycar.com/
OOPS! wrong link Ann. SORRY@!
What did it say vicky??
Lord, that worked out well....NOT!!
Carl's Foot
I enjoy Marty Reid alot!
Sophia - I met AB a few years ago ... He's a very humble & polite man ...
And Miss Delaware did not stay in one key ... :-(
I am beginning to hate the word 'foot'.
JD - there's a message on our Versus channel that says because of Comcast's demands for outrageous fees DirectTV will not submit to these unfair higher fees for their customers. OR something to that effect. But it sounds like a throwing down the gauntlet to me.
the only problem ESPN has with Bestwick is he still has NBC stamped on him in their eyes.
That was one specific mailbag question. Either the guy e-mailed it to ESPN this morning or ESPN needed to think of a good question to ask.
Got it, Vicky. DirecTV told me Comcast (that owns Versus) has something going on and this is on purpose.
Versus has a very weak programming line up and is basically a network struggling to be legit.
There is always problems when pole climbers (Comcast) try to run cable TV networks. They just don't get it.
JD, thats a bit immature of ESPN to view him in that light.
Ask him to handle so many different duties and be the face of NASCAR on ESPN but then let him sit on the bench for the single position he is MOST qualified, suited for, and proven in.
My husband just called DirectTV to register his complaint about not having ESPN Classic anymore since they moved it to their $12.95 "sports package" (more money to watch a channel that's not even broadcast in HD). Their reply was they could change the channel lineup in their packages anytime they want. With no Classic or Versus we could be shopping for a new channel provider.
Hear JP say yesterday how excited TS is to be the in-race reporter tomorrow? Brother!!
But JD - we also lost our ESPN Classic Channel when we lost the Versus channel too. But we did pick up Universal sports channel (only for a month) but it only has lots of bicycling stuff on it. I guess it all boils down to them wanting us to pay more for their service.
Welcome to the Kyle & Carl show!! Carl battling with a broken foot & Kyle with radio problems. ESPN has picked their story of the day.
thanks for the info on the indy races. Now if I can just remember when they are on...
This whole DirecTV vs Versus reminds me of many years ago when I got DirecTV. Time Warner or Tuner cable (can't keep it straight who it was since they keep on merging) and ABC got into a fight over how much ABC was charging for ESPN. So ABC quit letting the cable company carry the local ABC affiliates and gave a big rebate on antenas and satelite dishes.
Race started. TV in other room :)
NorCalFan, Dish Network is running a special right now. Might be worth checking it out.
Tell em about it Marty. What a difference from JP.
Gotta love Marty Reid with his humor, excitement & Start and Park updates.
Already S&P'ers. Thanks for the updates Marty.
Sparky your name's still broken :(
Such a shame JD if they're doing that :(. Allen is a good man and could carry the broadcast singlehandedly if he had to!
Just remember, every time ESPN has made a change they did it during the off-season. We will see...
Marty's tone about the S&P is what I most enjoy though. You can tell there is a low tolerance for it.
I can't quite see Mark Martin doing any Go Daddy commercials next year. Guess we'll see.
If ESPN was smart, they would combine Reid and Bestwick during the season until September, then let Marty take the Nationwide and Bestwick take the Cup races.
But....ya know....
Yeah, common sense.
Its just a shame that if Daytona hits and things are a mess, this is what we get stuck with for the entire season more often then not. Credit for trying backseat drivers and bring MR in, but too many things get left to be desired. That being said, Im enjoying this race!
Are they really replaying Kyle Busch waving to the pits?
I presume they are doing the tighter shots since the stands don't seem to have many fans in them. I thought the cup drivers bring out the fans?????
S&P teams so far: 05, 92, 91, 90, 02, 47, 49 and 41.
Other possible teams to join: 87 and 52.
Looks like #31 Tim Andrews and #07 Jarit Johnson might go the whole way.
Vicky, once things got rolling they started zooming again.
I bet Marty is talking to them about that in the break.
Nemechek had pulled the #87 in. The #52 should not park, they have a sponsor.
So it took 28 races to finally get a regular radar update?
Wouldn't it be nice if all the in-car cams did not work.
Would that make the race as seem on Tv better or worse. I vote Better.
With all these S&P's, Morgan Shepherd might have a top 10 at the end of the race.
07 off
Love to see these guys skip through the field real quick.
The director has not left the top 10. Marty is trying to say something about the other cars as they get lapped.
Well JD ----
After a year and a half of suggesting that they should show the viewers the weather radar when rain "could" play a role in the race... ESPN has come through with the radar !!!
So, allow me to send a compliment to the production truck and the producers.
Showing the radar is a good move !
Whew... it took several complaints, BUT they have heard us JD !!
wouldn't take much to get a run down of those 15 cars on the lead lap.
Glad they updated us on the #62. Finally, a runthrough the field.
If this goes further than lap 100, KyB could lap the field. Now, that would be amazing.
oh man, is ESPN racing to get all the commercials in before the rain?
NorCalFan, I did get $10 off my DirecTV bill for complaining.
Looks like the speed of the storm (rain not kyle) has slowed down ... Looks like it'll hit about 6:30pm EDT
Gymmie - I know ... and I tried to fix it a week or so ago (but it didn't work) ...
Well, the good is Marty, the weather and this rundown.
The bad is DJ and Andy are awful. The camera shots are too tight and the field is a mess.
Should be interesting to see when it rains. Florida Gators play football on ESPN2 at 6PM.
Two media notes for you guys:
I am the featured guest on Michael Knight's weekly online radio show. Should be fun.
Also, former Yahoo! Sports writer Bob Margolis has been dragged to Twitter. He is @nascarwriter. You guys should really sign up for Twitter, everyone from NASCAR is on there all the daggone time. Lots of drivers and reporters as well.
This series needs some work, fast. The competition has been really bad lately.
Dover Stats:
S&P's: 12
Cup drivers: 10
(K Busch, Edwards, Speed, Bowyer, Reutimann, Newman, D Hamlin, Kenseth, Sorenson, Truex Jr.)
Remaining Nationwide regulars: 21
I am the featured guest on Michael Knight's weekly online radio show. Should be fun.
JD, where do we find that?
Karen, I will put the link on the main page tomorrow.
The link to his Spin Doctor 500 website is on the main page on the right side under the sports media links.
We go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back.
JD
lost signal
Oh boy, who didn't pay the electric bill?
Uhhhhh.... meltdown time?
I see we've lost the feed from the truck and now commercials
sheesh! now ESPN looses the race signal with green flag pitstops starting!!
The deuce died.
oh wait, back now. conveniently for kyle busch's stop
Michael Knight ?? PR GUY w/ CART from years back ??
Hope weather is not going to play a factor, but I see the aerial shot is still up.
Nice of Marty to speak up right away.
I think CAT Power provides the trailer mounted stand by power but maybe Nascar didn't pay their bill. Marty has been a breath of fresh air and hope he doesn't go on vacation anytime soon.
If the entrance to pit road is so tricky, why don't they show a car or two having problems.
Yep Ken, go over to his website, he has all the media and PR scoop.
ok heard the tv go quiet.. puttering around the house am hearing WAY TOO MUCH Kyle's name...
glad I am not getting emotionally involved.
AND THE SUN FINALLY CAME OUT HERE! Woo hooo. (been a week of darkness, rain, & clouds ...so dark and low you could reach up & touch them)
Good comment, Charlie - why don't they?
@jeff_gluck You know Phil Parsons and his MSRP Motorsports make an entire business out of starting and parking. Bugs me every week.
I won't waste my time on Knight's website.
Nothing good to say about the man.
Marty is doing a great job, just cleared up all my questions
Anyone else think the 3 pit stall rule is dumb? The car isn't going to restart that quickly & the crew is in more danger pushing the car in the opposite direction of traffic.
Ken, that was a long time ago. You should update on what he has been doing. I try to be open minded in this world.
Marty just did his own race recap like the radio guys. Wonder if he did that on his own?
Well that 3 stall rule, with only having a pass through penalty makes me wonder...if the car doesnt restart after 3 stalls, just keep pushing the car. you'll lose alot less time pushing it straight through and doing a pass through than you would pushing it back and doing it all over again...
#96 McDowell off the track.
I am missing Randy LaJoie on this telecast.
caution for what?
Where is the debris?
'Debris' caution. Guess we won't get to see it.
Was that Brad howling in the background???
Aw Marty, that is weak! It's either debris or another show caution.
At least they get to try the triple split.
Mark Martin calls them "show cautions" as in Don't stink up the show
Once again... SDDD is RUINING my Saturday. >:(
JD - a bunch of us are missing Randy today. Funny comment from Rusty - he said if KB gets his radio fixed it'll really help him. He's leading!
hot, are you the major Gator fan?
I really like Marty and would find him an acceptable replacement for Jerry ifn they won't give us AB
Breakaway cell from the system rapidly approaching the Dover area
Hey all! Just got in from the atrocious USF @ FSU game. A few notes.
- Of the two games that ESPN2 could have shown, they definitely picked a more interesting one for those of y'all who don't have Classic.
- You know how ESPN could get things moving faster and show Countdown? Show less commercials during football games! They stretch nearly every 30-second timeout into a 2-minute commercial break. Not only does it make the programming harder, it kills in-game momentum.
- If I was a casual fan walking in and turning on ESPN2, I would think that I was watching the Cup race. I don't think I've heard a mention of a single NW regular for the last 20 minutes since I got home. I certainly haven't seen any.
Why is there a caution?
How long are they going to yak about that radio?
if they can have Kyle key up the radio, use that instead of hand signals.
Ask the right questions, they can get his car adjusted.
Dunno why they are stuck on hand signals.
C'mon Marty, what's the caution for?
prolly about to jinx us...but so far no tech center...
Are Tim Andrews and Michael McDowell out of the race for good? No intervals and status shown since lap 87.
#31 Tim Andrews off the track. He was having a great day today.
I'm sorry, but if NASCAR lets two 'debris' cautions stand while the 29 mysteriously takes the lead after a sh*t stop and then they call it for rain after half way I'm goin to quit watching these farces.
ri88, I'm with you on that one.
Boy, not only do DJ and Andy disagee with Marty a lot, they also point out when there is racing he should be calling.
Guess they are not too pleased JP is not there.
@JD - Maybe we're seeing another reason that JP is still in the booth?
Guess they are not too pleased JP is not there.
JD,
Well, they're the only ones not too pleased.
Well, DJ and Andy need to get over it cuz Marty is WAAAAAAY better than Jerry will ever be
Unscheduled stop for Bobby Hamilton Jr. Now 11 laps down.
Intervals are back, thanks ESPN! (They must be reading this blog!)
Andrews is out, McDowell is back on the track, but might just be trying to pass Andrews for 3 more points.
They certainly aren't helping. Remember how DJ was when he handled the play by play on the Backseat Drivers?
Now he is a mouse...
oh gee, they can talk to kyle, what will they talk about now.
ESPN's lovefest with KB today.
Jeff Gluck says it was a legit caution and TV just did not show it.
It seems maybe Espn should have gone to the back up radio channel to see if kyle had switched.
#81 back on pit road again. I wonder what the problem is.
The rain is a small cell that's basically south of the track
The BIG system is behind it
Whew! Rough time for a caution!!
excuse me but did I some how stumble into the WWE of autoracing? Rain right on que, KB doesn't win, but Carl makes up points. Amazing
A secret channel, Shannon? No, just a back-up channel. Most teams have them. You can punch those into your scanner with a $5 list from Racing Electronics (or Racing Radios).
Wow, they've been waiting for a wreck, haven't they? They interrupted the almighty commercial break for it!
nice, they broke in from commercial!
That was such a bad time to go to break with rain on the track and everyone racing like maniacs for position. Come on...
ri88girl - Bowyer's times were equal to or faster than Kyle's throughout the race ... He was gonna catch him on the track sooner or later
Smell caution anyone??
Haven't heard if there is any damage to Matt's car and Ross isn't tweeting today so I was depending on the broadcast guys to do it. He's going backwards though.
@ 6....... your sig is too long can we get a nick name? I know Boyer was coming, I just like to complain when things feel 'planned' so to speak :)
multi numeral person, i concur. They act as if Kyle got really bad but Bowyer got up to 2nd on his own, who is to say his car wasn't as good as Kyle's all race long
It is so nice to hear someone calling the play by play on a NASCAR race in September. Been a while...
Battle of the play-by-play announcers:
Team A: Marty Reid
Team B: Dale Jarrett & Andy Petree
They are not working well together at all.
Hm. Here's a theory. Perhaps ESPN just told the announcers about a change for next season, one that DJ and AP don't like at all?
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