This is a huge race for ESPN. The first night race at Atlanta for the Sprint Cup Series is going to be key determining the line-up for this season's Chase for the Championship.
ESPN made a radical change on Saturday night with coverage of the Nationwide Series race. Gone were the endless in-car cameras and extremely tight close-ups of single cars. Gone were the bumper-cam shots that made no sense and the singular focus on the leaders of the race. The ESPN Director who provided the pictures changed the entire feel of the telecast for the home viewer. It was great.
Now, the question is will that return to the focus on racing continue or end? These seventeen Sprint Cup races are the only ones on ESPN and the pressure is tremendous on the entire ESPN production team.
In the past, this week has meant an endless pounding on the TV viewers about the Chase for the Championship. "Points right now" are words that ESPN's NASCAR viewers have learned to hate. Who cares? NASCAR fans understand the racing, they know the drivers and have been watching this series for seven months. They have a clue.
Saturday's Nationwide Series telecast also confirmed Allen Bestwick as the true leader of this TV team. Bestwick again controlled the "Backseat Drivers" and showed fans again that his ability to direct traffic on the air is just what ESPN needs to right this NASCAR ship.
Atlanta has a new tire from Goodyear and the race may well be dominated by tire strategy. ESPN's pit reporters are going to have to keep up with these stories all night long.
The starting line-up for tonight is Allen Bestwick in the Infield Pit Studio as the show host. Joining Bestwick will be Brad Daugherty, Ray Evernham and Rusty Wallace as his expert panel. Tim Brewer will be in the Tech Garage.
Up in the broadcast booth will be Jerry Punch along with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Punch will be calling on Shannon Spake, Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Dave Burns to cover the action on pit road.
This post will serve to host your comments on the TV coverage of this race on ESPN. 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 holiday weekend to join us.
642 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 600 of 642 Newer› Newest»I don't think new technology is excuse to RUIN the races?
what's next? Cameras on shoelace aglets of athletes as they run from base to base or up and down football fields? instead of wide shots of the action?
Think about that for a minute folks. Close up of bumpers same thing to me.
HD my aspirin bottle
@Farfel
Bikeweek in New Hampshire draws more than 200,000 visitors. Imagine how many tickets Bruton could sell to an international motorcycle race.
red: she is thrifty!
HD for OTA, SD for DirecTV
No HD here but of course no TV either :p
I have HD. It just makes the reason you are frustrated clearer.
@jd in re: vegas: you shoulda pulled the "citizen blogger" card on 'em!
oh. right. you haven't received your citizen blogger card yet.
sorry.
HD at home yes but not the greatest TV, HD where I am now fantastic but I still hate all the tight shots
I don't want baseball during the race!!
Oh no JD, put you on hold.
Guess they don't have any Nascar specials that weekend.
@Ken, ROFLOL. How true.
quick OT WT
Brad K on Dave Despain and he promoted talk of Danica..and somebody else.
Along with JForce interview of course
Drink --- "Worked their rearends off".
See that graphic, ALL the bubble drivers have changed place in the points. That is important information if you ask me.
How can you all NOT have HD????!!!!
hey! i didn't know rusty and ray and brad were there tonight! see what happens when you mute the tv in to and out of commercials?
HD is great at all distances. It even makes the Cubs look good.
Wow!!
You buying?
Anon@10:02...until the race ends and the points are actually awarded, what difference does it make? Sorry, I'm just asking as I really don't understand.
Why so we have to look ahead from a car? WTH?????
...oops, Do.
Did that Jimmie Johnson spin really require a caution?...
Wow...I'm too cheap.
Anon@10:02...I liked seeing Kryl back a position. More of that please
I miss Race Buddy.
JD -
must be a ton of folks on with us tonite ...had posts kicked back several times ...wow, I was so stunned to see an aerial shot I missed the racing ...oh, wait this is ESPN, so they don't show racing
I have it, but the "HD toys" look rather poor compared to the regular cameras. The in-car cameras and especially the bumper cams look really bad compared to the track cams.
@ wow: easy: finished 4 years of college tuition, had one year break and now starting second college tuition. maybe in 4 years!
(or not.)
Tony Stewart missed a lugnut and has to come in and out during green..sigh per PRn
What is up with Jeff Burton getting black flagged?
Patrick, this stuff is getting rediculously cheap. Im just saying. And Peggyann, nothing on this planet can make the Cubs look good, lol.
I'm not throwing two perfectly good SD tvs in the crapper.
@jd: wait! what? burton got black flagged?
JD
was J Burton still arguing about that speeding penalty a while back? thus blag flag
JB too fast on pit road ...he must be po'd big time
Red, I forgot, we were dropping off our college kids the same time, LOL. Only 2 more years of tuition here, yeah! Until grad school...
wow...geez, maybe cause money doesn't grown on trees, the oldest cliche in the book, I know....
Won't be happening anytime soon, either.
Jeff STILL arguing speeding penalty
HD in 53% of homes as of this month. Cable and satellite and fios 68%
JD,
Burton was too fast entering
Wow,
my situation would just about involve an entire living room remodel. Entertainment center too small to get an HD of respectible size. I am having SD TV problems, so HD may be sooner than later.
No wonder you all complain about tight shots...youre all watching in SD. Cmon, welcome to the new millennium. :)
I have a 52" TV with HD, Dish DVR with skip feature, Home Theatre with surround sound so I could watch sports like I was there. It works pretty good with football(skip button takes exactly the same time as the huddle). If they would show the race like I was there, it would work. However........................................................................
@Pookis - Tight shots look equally bad on SD and HD. There's a lot of wasted space on the left and right when they focus in on one single car.
SALLY: So it is not important to show the MLB standings until after the final game to show who makes the playoffs? NO! They show the wildcard and division standings every week, even though the games are changing daily. It provides suspense, excitement, etc. Making the chase is what these next two races are all about. Just my opinion!
Bobby L up to 15th
HD 60 inch tv means you have CLOSE UP bumper cam THAT big instead of 31 inch or 25 inch or whatever.
Everybody prefers WIDE shots of Action on the Track. the end
tracy, the agreement was we'd pay for four years and after that, they're on their own. oldest is now paying for her master's while she's teaching.
but our 2 TVs work just peachy keen fine, thank you all so very much and i have no real, compelling need for HD right now.
wickedj: hope you're watching! lance is nagging dale to keep hydrated -- something he forgets when he's in the car.
That radio conversation was slightly editted for language. Even funnier with the colorful language.
Not even SIX seconds into a restart and they switch to an IN CAR CAM?
yes I counted....sigh
I can't take PRN anymore either...off for a break
oh look..another in car cam on the tv..back to WT
Time for Dale Jarrett to call this race and add some excitement.
kahne took the lead and we got to see the 18 and the 17. not good.
Now there was a good double file restart
as of 10.14 no John Force interview YET
I have to keep hydrated...all this typing.
oops here is J F interview now for those wanting a race break! NOW
bevo...that's 53% who have hdtv's...not necessarily those who subscribe to the service. I have one but I'm not connected.
dead air
Anon @10:12. The score only counts when the game is over, right? doesn't matter what it is in the 5th inning...unless baseball has changed drastically in the years since I've watched. I'm glad that you find this whole 'race to the chase' holds your interest. Sorry it doesn't for me, as I might find the race coverage more relevant. But not until the results are final at the checkered flag.
hey lou! a honest-to-skippy shout out to your guy just then! hope you're smiling!
ENOUGH IN-CAR CAMERAS! You do NOT use them during a four-car battle!
Do they show how the standings are changing in the top of the 3rd with a man on second with 1 out and a 1-2 count on the batter?
No they don't.
We need about 5 cautions. Starting now.
Harvick is flying. Passed #88 & #24 in a single lap for 3rd.
@red, yes i was and am. he needs a good run
Kyle Busch is 28 points out of making the chase right now, but it doesn't mean anything because the race isn't official. I understand your argument, but I think it is important to know that if he can gain 5-6 more spots, he will be in the top 12 in points. THAT SEEMS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME!
Hey Lou, you're up to 11th.
hey lou? i know i could look but where is he in owner's points right now?
@anonymous 10:14- HD tv's that use either OTA (free) or use cable, satellite or fios. Sorry if that was misleading before.
Hey lou, good to see RG doing well. Just RT you Tweet...RG needs some love...since NASCAR ignores him, mostly.
This John F interview is great.
watching the race the same way red is. at least i get thu the field for the top twenty on the radio. the #7 just got another shout on prn
I think BLabonte is the story tonight. Shows how some cash and a good driver can help a S&P car. I'm impressed.
soph,
will there be WT Extra tonight?
The old Espn would have never done a Through the Field when there was a battle for first place.
@Anon 10:20 - Many of the old-school NASCAR fans don't like the Chase concept at all, including me. (Despite the fact that it's going to give my driver, Mark, another chance at the championship.) We're here to watch races, and see these guys do all they can to win each race. We simply don't care about the standings until AFTER the race.
The announcers would have been going nuts.
Charlie, you know Bestwick was biting his tongue on that one!
Anyone going to Richmond? We'll be there.
@ Charlie, this isn't our dad's BSPN.
I actually thought they balanced the throught the field and battle for the lead quite well. We got to see the battle up front & hear the stories of some that haven't been mentioned tonight.
Walt, think someone is reading your comments!
First time I've seen that TS BK commercial with Erik Estrada. Funny.
@Dot - This isn't JD's ESPN, either.
@red, 34th place over 200 from 36th before the start of this race.
Kyle B. on his radio is really upset.
buschseries: my only disagreement with what they did is this: the racing should always be in the big screen and the secondary story in the small window. no exceptions.
when they do that, i can see the racing for the lead so i don't really need the PxP -- which i rarely get anyway.
JPM CC telling him he's .2 faster than anyone else on the track
Bevo
the bleachers behind J F in interview are doing funking things..looks like they are moving.
reminds me of the NW race but weirder
wonder if HD cams are to thank on my SD tv
JD -
I'll have to catch up on that one ...I'm sticking w/JF piece on WT ...more later
@Lou, what is KyBu saying on his radio?
thanks, lou!
and why is young mr busch upset right now? i'm guessing his car is handling poorly?
@Lou, what is KyBu saying on his radio?
OK, caution anytime.
oops have no idea why that posted twice. Sorry.
With Goodyear having what look to be inconsistent tires, the announcers should avoid the lines about which wars are impressive or not unless they can do it over multiple tire runs in a row.
It's always possible someone with a really bad setup wins races like these because they get an equally bad set of tires on the last pit stop.
@ red: I gotcha & agree. I'm just glad they used the double video boxes & didn't attempt to flip flop 20 times.
@Sophia- Sounds like a Speed problem then.
Patrick
no mention of Extra yet..they did it for T Kendall last week...so I hope they do it for Dave. Not sure with the time change.
Will let ya know if you want.
Never watched Forces reality show but he said he made some stuff UP for that show. Gee, imagine that..faking stuff for tv (why I don't watch such shows)
I thought KH's special moment at Atlanta was 2001. JP just said 2003?
R Gordon in the top 10?! Woo hoo! That's the way to MAKE them mention him. Maybe.
We had a set of ground rules for NASCAR that everyone knew and no one violated.
Apparently, these guys lost that memo.
caution
Big wreck, Kurt B and Sorenson
soph,
Thanks. was wondering if extra would be on with the time change and cup race. they promote it during the show. Kendall wasn't a great host, but Voda was both WT & extra.
am i missing something: are those outside walls actually concrete at atlanta? doc's used that word twice tonight.
Wow. Did Sorenson lose a tire before he got into Kurt?
Sally, I thought it was 2001 for KH in Atl as well, but the prerace said the same year - 2003. Wonder why you and I remember it differently?
Bevo
Good point. Remember how some of us griped how guys looked in studio. Odd things with new technology and some stations need to watch their OWN SHOWS.
Like NASCAR needs to watch ESPN races..ugh
@JD-
Just as long as they were ground rules for NASCAR and not FROM NASCAR
KuBu very unhappy. Chad doesn't look as if he's hurrying back to the car in the garage.
48 lost a rear end
Vickers has rear end problems too
JPM 4th place, If he restarts the way he has most of tonight he should be in first by the end of the lap.
Did Biffle staying out actually lead a lap before pitting? Jimmie ran over the start/finish line backwards going to the garage to mess up the scoring.
How odd. When was the last time we had ONE car break an axle, much less two?
@ Tracy & Sally, I thought it was in 01 also. The 3rd race of the season.
@ red, the walls should be safer barriers. Not sure if some parts are naked though, like some tracks.
Well I was wondering if I should stay here or go home. Jimmie will obviously not win but listening to them fix JJ car in pretty interesting
@red ---
The front stretch probably does not have SAFER barrier. Like Texas, just in the corners.
This is why a 500 mile race is a real test. Durability is an issue in races that long, and that should be a part of winning a title. IMO
@Sally & Tracy - Harvick took over the #29 (#3) in 2001 and won Atlanta in his 3rd start. Harvick didn't win at Atlanta in 2003, the wins went to Bobby Labonte and Jeff Gordon that year.
THAT was impressive. Changing an axle behind the wall and NOT losing a lap.
@Dot - 4th race of the 2001 season, 3rd race after Dale died.
Whoops - JPM in 2nd
Then MY memory is fine, it's JP's (or their stat man) who is messed up.
dang. just clicked over during commercial to see about broken axels!! wow
thanks, trl and dot. it just seems so strange to hear those words -- concrete wall -- in this day and age, i guess.
MV, so Dot, Sally, and I are right. JP has it wrong. Wonder why no one corrected him?
OOPS now the gear needs to be changed. OK I'm out of here will listen to the radio on the ride home
Kasey and JPM together again...sounds like a country song.
Jimmie back to the garage
@ MV, thanks stat man.
#17 in the top 10 now. That's why the 'if the race ended now' stat at lap 100 is useless.
Nah, it was TV rules that we made up.
Hey Lou, you listening?
JD, PRN had a guest in the booth yesterday talking up the banquet in Vegas, but I did not catch whether it was someone from track or convention bureau.
Thanks, DJ< for the BLabonte shout out.
Junior, "knocking the wall down off the corner"
Breaking script and talking about non-chase drivers
Do you still have that memo JD? Maybe you can forward them a copy :(
Someone pulled the plug on JPs mike. More please.
Two hours ago Ross Kenseth tweeted that Drew would have to work some magic on his dad's car. Top 10 now.
Repeat stats, repeat stats and then letting DJ & Petree call the actual play-by-play
62 laps = 100 miles??? at a 1.5 mile track???
OK everyone, deep breath. JP is about to bring this puppy home!
bevo,
1.54 miles
Nice move by Bowyer to miss the kid.
There's a typical example....all JP can do is say the car that was involved in the caution, but doesn't tell us what happened. DJ and Andy had to step in and explain to us what took place.
This is a long race, too long, imo.
Why not show it from someone's car back in the pack?
Good job by Bowyer.
Oh, they broke the triple split......man.
Bobby L 10th!!!!!!!!!!!!!
labonte is 10th but had gotten bounced out of his normal ride for younger driver?
interesting
*grin*
62 laps x 1.54 = 95.48 miles
sophia,
bobby got bumped by a sponsored driver. little difference.
bobby got bumped for a guy with a sponsor.... see menard for another example
MattK is in the top ten. He needs to hit the wall a couple of more times and he can win this race
Evidently Roush had the contractual right to put Darnell in the 96, so they did. Yates was okay with it because of the Northern Tool sponsorship, but I don't bet the feeling HoF was too happy.
Oooohhh, full throttle.
Patrick
Wind Tunnel Extra is ON!!
What I don't get about Labonte getting bumped by a "sponsored" driver is that it's not even Darnell's sponsor (Northern Tool + Equipment) that's on the car for this race, it's one of the sponsors that's been on the car with Bobby behind the wheel (Academy Sports + Outdoors).
Yep, if a driver can bring a sponsor he'll get put in a car.
@TRL-thanks, didn't want to break out a calculator and I suck at math :)
GO JPM!
bevo --
I suck at math, too.
Pencil and a piece of paper is my calculator.
GO Junior!
MV,has the 96 shown up on TV? Haven't seen it, but I'm looking down at the laptop too.
Close call there with the 12 and 71.
Go Reutimann!!
Reut the script spoiler.
Rooti up to 4th
@Tracy - During practice and qualifying yesterday, Academy Sports + Outdoors was on the car.
Thank you so much, Sophia.
DJ again being really nice about the 83. He never says anything devastatingly negative about anyone. Good quality.
JP WE KNOW its the next to last race for the chase cutoff, for heaven's sake!!
How many times in these last 50 laps will we hear from JP that Montoya is trying to make it to his first chase? I've heard it twice so far.
Good racing!
BLab might want to stay in that #71.
Hope JPM wins, he will be a blast on VL.
Sally, I was thinking the same thing. Especially since Slugger Labbe is its crew chief, and they go way back.
Rooti up to 3rd
@TRL--don't forget the BIG eraser!
It would be JPM's first oval race, wouldn't it?
Oval win. Sorry.
Wonder what's going on down in the pit studio? Usually Bestwick leads the crew into Up To Speed
@Karen- yep, had some great chances before. Finished 5th here spring of 07
29 has overheating problem per PRN
you are welcome Patrick. and thank YOU for all you do here.
ROBIN MILLER on TW Extra online NOW
@Gymmie ---
I am NEVER without a big eraser.
ROTFL
I guess there trying to make this boring to the end.
Daggone it. I want KyB in the Chase.
let's have a caution and a jpm speeding penalty...let the conspiracy begin
Harvick may spoil the script.
There we go....AB and some reality.
CC telling JPM 29 is fastest, keeping him calm
I think KyBu outside the chase would be more exciting. Can you imagine him going all out with nothing to lose?
@TRL--I hear ya
No love for Tim over in Twitterville
wow,a kodak moment. espn followed the 7 for a couple of laps racing for position. will wonders ever cease
WHY did you pull off the gordon-biffle racing?!? just so we could watch a single car leader moment?!?
arrggh.
Won't have a caution unless it's absolutely needed....they need to get to that special edition of SportsCenter.
top 10 all spread out. what happened to all our passing?
@Tracy - Just caught a glimpse of the #96 as he got lapped for the second time and it's definitely carrying Academy Sports + Outdoors sponsorship, not Northern Tool + Equipment.
so much for brad saying jpm "has checked out"...
quick OFF TOPIC per Robin Miller
IRL only has 300,ooo viewers. The HIT from DIRECT TV dropping is gonna hurt.
But 1.5 mill folks used to accidentally watch IRL on ABC. but sisters that own IRL don't care cause making money.
Miller thinks Hinton is wrong about DP. Says Tony Stewart is PLAYING with the media.so who knows.
sorry for OT JD but this won't fit on Twitter lol and I will not remember in 30 minutes!
Shrub is about to get lapped....that car has fallen way off.
MV - interesting, since Max Jones said the reason for Darnell was Northern Tool's $.
MV - interesting, since Max Jones said the reason for Darnell was Northern Tool's $.
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