Update: We are going to leave this post open for your post-race comments. Just click on the comments button below. Thanks fans!
Here we go with a very big challenge for the NASCAR on ESPN production team. The Cup race is going head-to-head with NFL football and it is going to be a tough challenge.
Allen Bestwick will anchor a thirty-minute version of NASCAR Countdown beginning at 1PM ET. Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty will be with Bestwick in the Infield Pit Center. Pit reporters are Shannon Spake, Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Dave Burns. Tim Brewer is in the Tech Garage.
While Jimmie Johnson is the big story, there has been a lot of NASCAR news during the week that involves changes in personnel and teams. It should be interesting to watch what topics and interviews are selected for the pre-race show.
Jerry Punch has to call the action on a very long day at a very short track. That recipe has not proven to be a good one where ESPN is concerned. Punch will no doubt be assisted very actively by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree as the race goes on.
Action happens fast at this track as the straights are quick and cars side-by-side though the flat corners almost always results in some rubbing. The ESPN team has struggled with both caution and green flag pitstops. This is not a good place to have that happen.
The race off pit road may well wind-up deciding the event and missing the action for full-screen coverage of only one car is going to make the TV team pay a high price. ESPN needs to hold the triple-split all the way through the caution flag stops and put all green flag stops in a double video box so the race can be seen.
There is real potential for things to get confused very quickly on TV as ESPN keeps the spotlight on the Chase drivers regardless of what is happening on the track. This should be a fascinating race to watch from a TV perspective.
We welcome your comments on the race. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for stopping by.
503 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 503 Newer› Newest»34 1st car a lap down now LD 88 1st car two laps down
Hornish and junior tied the past 2 weeks for lousiest luck of the race award.
I can't believe Jr. is only 2 laps down. So far.
Blue Oyster Cult yet again--did the producers fail to budget ASCAP music payments for the chase--or will they kick out the jams at Homestead?
As for the broadcast--blah. Just blah. Anyone with a pulse watching a race at Martinsville would find something to get jacked up about--(to include the world famous hotdog). If the only impression of Martinsville is derived from the broadcast--one might believe it's the most boring track anywhere. Nothing further from the truth.
Andretti LD.
I think figure skating from yesterday is more exciting than this so-called race ... LOL ;-)
Man, Punch is just killing this telecast. He has to go....
switched over to ABC for a minute, wife walked thru the room and asked me whats wrong with that announcer? Is he sick?
The real reason Nascar doesn't want anyone racing the dhasers too closely is because of all the flat tires those splitters can cause when they are too close. ;-
The whole Catawba County Posse is out of sync with race and with each other today. New Blood!
ya know, i'm thinking this is a short track and (hey! dale's the LD! thanks, kasey!) it seems it should be easy to have cameras covering every section of the track. so, i'm, not really understanding why we're getting so many replays on spins, wrecks etc.
anyone explain?
So, Jr. didn't cause Kasey's crash after all? Good thing they had the replay.
rofl...Imagine that! This is laughable.
We are watching Tony Stewart Hotpass and they are giving us a field summary.
Red, unless one of the chasers happen to be near the action, we are SOL. Covering chasers only for final 10 races...didn't you get the memo?
thank the Lord the 88 is on a lap by himself...phew!
Until the next SNAFU for Jr.
Sally - Once that left rear goes flat, you'll pretty much spin out ...
@BeatingADeadHorse--LOL on the Catawba County Posse. Maybe they need the caffeine in Goody's to get over that funk--I recommend taking them with Old Blenheim Ginger Ale or Cheerwine
Anyone else have crappy sound on that Nationwide commercial with Junior?
I sure wish we could see the racing I know is going on.
DrTeplisky,
Sundrop.
Those splitters are pretty efficient at cutting tires down, no?
Oh I see. No posts allowed being
critical of Jabbber Jarrret or
punch drunk. I get it now..My
apologies for posting about theeeee
worst announcers ever ..good bye
Punch is done...totally done...nothing but chaos from him.
DrT: i'm on yuengling myself right now!
Sally said...
Those splitters are pretty efficient at cutting tires down, no?
Sally, Tim Brewer in the Tech Center has an excellent presentation on that subject. I think he may have a Powerpoint for that.
rock, you can say whatever you want. Just don't expect everyone to agree with you.
We are just swapping opinions.
Seems like the Booth guys are watching the race on the monitors and not looking out the window down at the actual race. JP is as usual is not calling the action. Driver stories are the dominance of the the broadcast talk.
Nothing new
Why on Earth is the booth jabbering about Pocono instead of telling what is happening!
Arrrrrgggghhhhhh!
anyone hearing from the #2? i'm thinking he's been looking tight all race.
Mike's Hard here couldn't take it anymore especially after actually getting PXP yesterday. This just SUCKS
@ Beating....NO! I'm getting out the garlic cloves, anything to ward off another Brewer segment!
Anon 3:30
Stories to tell. The racing is the B-roll to the storytelling.
rock, say what you will, doesnt mean you have to call them a stupid slam nickname. afterall, we all remark on brewer's fingernails...lol
This is a pretty rough broadcast. Where's that NW race from yesterday?
You almost feel bad for DJ and Andy as they scramble to cover for Punch.
AB would have us all informed and excited right now...period.
can anyone, ANYONE, explain why we needed to have a split screen shot just then with the 24 on the track and letarte on top of the box? exactly what purpose did that shot serve?
i've given up trying to figure this cluster **** out!
Has AB been gagged?
This hotpass race call is great. I don't know who it is but I like his voice and we keep hearing field summaries. Too bad my fav guy is not have a good race though.
Rock is a moron
@Beating A Dead Horse--any of those local favorites would do...but my new one would be Coke Zero.
The posse needs something on that order--we're getting no excitement, no perspective and no entertainment with our sporting elements. DJ can't manufacture it with his inflection.
Grand Funk Railroad? ESPN really needs to pay the ASCAP bill. The way this is going..can "Whip It" by Devo be far behind?
Anon 3:34
Rock is not a moron. He occasionally degenerates into name-calling. Know anyone like that?
Lack of triple pit stop coverage due to the curves on pit road is LAME ! Like ESPN could not afford two more cameras to cover that.
JP not continuously calling out postions must because he is looking at the Monitor and even he has no idea.
I'm waiting for 'Rock the Casbah'.
LOL beating!
I have gotten so frustrated with ESPN's poor coverage of the races (as have the rest of you), that I just couldn't keep quiet anymore. I had to blog about it: http://bit.ly/gLwMs
I wish there was some way to get someone at ESPN to read this, but I know it wouldn't do any good. They'd ignore it just like they ignore everything that is said here and elsewhere. They'll continue to drive the sport into the ground with their crappy coverage. But I just had to get it out of my system before I blew up ('cuz that would make quite a mess ... LOL).
whats with all the slow mo replays?!
They give you no idea what lap they happened on and no perspective of where they happened.
crap. total crap.
Jimmie speeding on pit road but lets praise him for not getting caught.
So anyone else think the 20 punted the 44? Either that or he is so tight the car won't turn but I'm thinking the former
true love is when your better half hands you a Wawa bag with THE perfect hoagie inside plus a beer -- and you never even asked!
Good post, High Tech Redneck Woman.
Worth a re-read.
Dr punch starting his old shtick
again ..Raising his VOICE at the end
of each sentence. He just was not
hideous enough - so he started the old tricks.
As pathetic as ever.
@ Becky...thanks from all of us! You vented for us all.
David, Chad analyses those boxes and figures out which one allows them to accelerate to the max speed the fastest and not get beat by the guys behind that have the momentum. You can hear on the scanner them telling him to floor it and when to check up to use the timing lines to their advantage
noob question, whats a redneck. from England so don't know what it means.
Now that the JJ pit road secret is out, rule change on the way?
Just when you thought TV camera coverage couldn't get any worse .. . you have today's coverage.
Two laps into a restart and they show full screen pit stops? Absolutely pathetic!
NOOOO not again but it's the 11 and 48. THe field is bunched up with new tires come on please MAKE IT STOP
Anon 3:34
Wikipedia will bring you up to speed and give you links to other resources.
I can't believe they just showed those pit stops under GREEN flag racing...grrrr.
Butron & B Lab running 9th & 10...not a word.
@BeatingADeadHorse & @Sally ... thanks. I just really wish that ESPN would listen to us and take us seriously. It's not like we're asking for them to move mountains or anything.
my frustration w/showing those pitstop comparisons under green is that we're going to have another yellow soon and that would be a great time to run that analysis.
and ANOTHER replay coming on a wreck.
i despair.
Anyone left not watching football???
JD - not watching football. Very good pit road updates by Glenn Jarrett from his end of the pitroad.
Hearing "Superstitious", one can only wonder if Stevie Wonder is actually directing this broadcast. He'd likely have more of a clue of what's going on than the folk in the truck.
we are here JD, I need to learn to tweet
Daly Planet Editor said...
Anyone left not watching football???
Not until 4:15ET. I've rolled a spare into the room and will be simulviewing both.
@jd: still haven't succumbed -- but have lined up which game i'll watch if i do switch!
hey! the 88 is up to 20th! i hadn't planned on him recovering THAT well. nice.
NRF, I credit Chad for that. Hey, push the limits, but thats a fine line between speeding and not. Teams should NOT be made aware where the timing lines are in the first place to avoid that very issue.
@ Red Oh no! Now that you said something, he's doomed!
David, I think that is why Chad walks pit road to select his stall. The installation of those loops had to have left evidence of their location.
@sally i know but given the way he's been working so freakin' hard to recover each week, i'm proud of him! speaks to those who say he doesn't care and just gives up, ya know?
another frustration: dj tells us kyle's been working for 3 laps to complete this pass. and if they would have SHOWN those 3 laps of . . . what's that called again? oh, yeah! RACING! . . . we might also have appreciated what happened. as it is, allwe see if the exact moment of the pass -- no racing, no drama.
Let me just tell you folks, you all need to just sign-up for Twitter. Everyone in the sport is there live including me.
I can help with any questions, just email me like a lot of folks do. It's free, easy and simple.
Even a tecno-peasant like me can do it. twitter.com
JJ and JPM are alternating fast laps and have been since the restart. No mention of that from the booth.
I guess they think we aren't smart enough to appreciate the nuances of taking several laps to set up a pass. Sigh.
car in wall. caution
Montoya's all over JJ like a cheap suit, and they go to a replay. We don't know if JJ's pulling away from JPM or the battle continues. Grr.
JD, that's jus tway too much multi tasking for me. This is as much as I can handle.
Beating, true.
Hardest working team in the business.
Red, if the car in the wall is Junior....I told you so!
@sally: right there w/you: i was holding my breath as well
ya know, it must seem like a mile and half away when you come off that corner, it takes off on you, you know you're gonna hit the wall but you can't do anything about it but hang on.
Real good update from the pit reporters on Hotpass. Not the Bobbsey Twins.
JPM is wearing out his brakes according to all the Broadcast drivers. It appears that his brakes will leave him, causing a late race big wreck. How many leaders will be involved and be taken out ?
wow, full speed replay
Includein the 'setup' to the spin!
this race is going to come down between JPM and Jimmie Johnson
I'm a mild-mannered, positive thinking person, but I CAN'T STAND THIS TV BROADCAST ANYMORE, even just the picture. What did I do to deserve this??
Stremme is having a bad season.
With Keselowski in that 12 car next year, Nascar may be calling that number more often....since beating and banging isn't 'allowed' anymore.
@peggyann: you did nothing: we're all just along for this ride, i'm afraid.
No clue what ESPN or NASCAR is thinking.
When hardcore fans go to watch NFL games or DVR the race to see who wins, there is a huge problem.
JD, Stremme should go back to NW he did really well in that series although most of the teams have cup guys in the cars now. Too bad he seems like a nice guy.
If the racing is 'better than ever', you sure can't prove it by watching on television.
Rolling Stones, and the 70s live on.
NFL just cut off Steelers game with TWENTY seconds to go. Room mate NOT HAPPY.
I listened to MRN in car for few minutes looking at trees in neighborhood.
LOVE the radio guys..been FUN to listen too!
Need to catch up on comments
now back to bed with MRN on laptop..but look at the trees people (in fall area) GORGEOUS COLOR
pittsburgh-minnesota just finished. new england-tampa bay also completed.
yeah, i'm a nascar fan. why do you ask?
Dot - disco will never die!
I wish JP would stop saying
17 car
48 car
42 car
Those drivers have NAMES for goodness sakes!
Im done.
Catch you all for digger time on fox next year.
ESPN/ABC thanks for ruining a great race.
@TRL
Doc doesn't know their names.
VickyD - Stremme should go to ARCA ... I think he's got a win there ... LOL ;-)
6 - yeah Stremme could win in ARCA.
The only striking shots on this broadcast (on my DTV converter box off air in 400 line resolution) are the exhaust flames coming from all that unburned gasoline.
Yet again they go to a replay? Sheesh!
Pearl Jam. Hey, now we're in the 90s.
Dead Horse --
Sad, isn't it. *sigh*
Dot - maybe they'll play black Betty.
come on ESPN/ABC get us some racing coverage from the back.
Thrilling race. Went to sleep twice and dozed off once so far.
Packer game is over. Thought I would turn to the race and see how it was going. Looks like a practice. No excitement.
I think watching another game of football is a better choice then this.
Been a Nascar fan since the early 80's but this isn't Nascar anymore.
@sally I DID NOT CAUSE THAT, I SWEAR!
man, you gotta hurt for him.
Ack---
The dreaded
"If you're just joining us...."
So much enthusiasm from the MRN crew on Hotpass. Making this an interesting race and showing more than JJ too.
@ Red...sigh. I warned you, didn't I. This is just painful.
Does anyone know why the 88 is now 4 laps down? Last time I looked at the leaderboard he was in 19th? I'm about ready to give up on the whole broadcast.
What a major difference when Allen Bestwick throws the cue to the pit reporters...the result is almost like Nipper (the little white dog)listening to the RCA Victrola--I looked up to see what was going on.
vickers is in the top 10? how'd THAT happen? and when?
@sally: no one deserves this sort of luck -- no one. it's so bad that he's planning to not take his usual off-season vacation and stay in NC this time around. mr h needs to make the crew chief decision, clean house on that team, and get them ready for '10.
@ NorCal, flat tire, pitted under green.
NOCALFAN think 88 4 down cuz missed pit once, and another tire down green flag stop
Poor Bestwick must just sit there in the dark on the hill gritting his teeth.
norcalfan: another flat tire for the 88 and nascar didn't throw the caution. to be fair: i agree with their decision b/c he wasn't in anyone's way and wasn't throwing sheet metal or parts.
ok..now listening to a friend being interviewed online radio show..but until now
MRN was SO ENJOYABLE..reading thru these comments on ESPN Shows me the problem.
ESPN CAMERA WORK CONSTANTLY and lack of info.
MRN keeps me in a good mood.
NASCAR SHOULD MANDATE FREE MRN radio online and in all major cities for those w/o computer access.
Seriously...great racing on radio.
I am sorry but not surprised same old same old on BSPN.
NASCAR needs it's head examined to PERMIT this ongoing trainwreck. :-(
@ ri88, I forgot about missing the pit.
NCF:
ESPN knows but they're not telling. Double Top Secret.
hey Elliot Sadler got some coverage via up to speed
@ dot and ri88: i thought the 88 got that "slid thru the pit box b/c of the slick white paint" lap back?
then again: his day is toast -- again.
24 is running fastest laps and up to p7
@Dot & ri88
Thanks-must have been too much multi-tasking on my part and I missed it.
24 up to p6
@ Daly Planet Editor--Bestwick is so much a pro that he could be seething, yet listening to that last segment where he directed traffic with the pit reporters, you would never know it.
All the more reason to make a swap.
Good job Carl
Wow, 99 better hope that Kyle doesn't catch him after that exchange
I believe AB must be chuckling under his breath. Just not as loud as JP's sighs.
wow, green flag pit stops would really be fun to watch
I hope they get some good racing before the end of this. At least Jeff is coming through the field right now. Might make it interesting.
@ rich, caution before GF stops.
Its just such lazy coverage. Cover the top 5, thats easy. Cover the entire race? "Nah, thats too much work."
It really is depressing.
ok, everyone: please give me three good reasons why i shouldn't turn this off and go watch cnn or something,
'k? thanks.
Dot, you are probably right but we'll see. 24 up to p5
With Jeff Gordon coming up through the field, will he give the 42 car some paint back ? Could get interesting ? Will Montoya's brakes hold out or will they give out and cause a big wreck ?
red
1. its nascar anything can happen
2. Johnson isnt winning
3. theres still 80 laps to go guy are u a true nascar fan???
Are they calling the race from the pit center now. Would that be an improvement? Can they see the track from the pit center?
Jonathan, Red is a gal. =)
Red, Jimmie could blow up? He could get busted speeding =)
24 up to p4, green flags stops coming
Letarte tells JG 7 laps to pit
@jonathan: i'm now down to "watching" via leaderboards and lap times. not cool to throw the "are you a real fan or not" card -- lazy argument.
yes, anything can happen but we probably won't see it except on replay
i have no problem w/the 48 winning b/c it's racing and it happens.
anyone else?
This exchange between Allen, Brad and the analysts has given more information in the past five minutes than the flag-to-flag stuff in the booth. Bestwick has that ability to bring out the best in RW, DJ and AP. Imagine what would happen if the Doc returned to his award winning role of patrolling the pits?
Jr just passed Mikey for 31st
Well, dang it. I was wrong about the yellow. I didn't get the script change.
There is a CLASSIC BSPN trending TOPIC on Twitter..hash tag, itshouldbeillegal
I think ESPNs NASCAR coverage should be illegal...MRN talking about so much action and long GF!! Can't remember last time they had GF pitstops at Martinsville.
Pit reporter is interupted saying " a collision on the pits " and no camera coverage
(yaaaaawnnn)I just woke up...What did I miss?
JD, I honestly don't understand some of the ways fans are dealing with ESPN's troubles. I feels like anger and hatred towards the sport itself. I mean, I am disappointed with ESPN's coverage just as much as the next guy, but I like this sport enough to live through it and continue watching racing. I wouldn't just pick up and leave and a time like The Chase when NASCAR needs its fans the most. I understand the critique, I understand the bickering, but straight up ditching the sport? That is beyond me.
Thank you for your time and this outlet for fan opinions.
Red, JP could wind up passing out or perhaps AB will have another adult beverage come storming into the booth, throw JP out and assume his proper place as play by play guy?!
slow stop for 48
Oh...bad pitstop for JJ
They started with double video boxes and then lost the leaders....awful.
The Bobbsey Twins need to slow down when they speak. Maybe they won't stumble so much.
oh sorry...i work for the department of redundancy department
yeah over 17sec for Jimmie good. I hope he gets way behind and then I predict a big wreck for him next week and we have areselfs a chase!
the new tires look to be at least a 1/2 sec per lap faster
No andy we CAN'T see the clock since this is a slow motion replay of the pitstop!!!
caution is out
Caution. After GF stops. How convenient.
well, this caution erases that bad pit stop for the 48
Jonathan
I was hoping for blown engine for JJ or blown tires each race..but silly me that keeps happening to one of my boys JR :-( But yes chaos in the next few races for the leader WOULD mix things up a bit...
But I can NOT believe those cars are from the same stable...Do not understand how this can be...every week..
MRN guys getting excited for the end of the race...
hey jonathan? not cool to wish "a big wreck" on anyone. just not good racing etiquette, ya' know? men have been killed in a "big wreck."
now, a blown engine or the dreaded broken valve spring? go for it.
wow, no field reset. They completely missed the Gordon deal.
Coldplay? Were they listening to Jamie Little saying it was cold in the pits? And forgive me for being so critical...but is it now an ESPN policy not to show caution periods in real time?
@f814...Some of us are prostesting more than the TV coverage. With all the changes Brian the Brain has made in the past 5 years, he has changed the sport into a game. The top 35 rule, the Cot, the Lucky Dog, the Wave around, and especially the crapshoot, have essentially changed it past recognition.
24 up to p4
Come on Jimmie, break a valve spring!
fastest car right now is 24
come on JP go go go damn it!!!!!
Isn't about time the 24 car to Trade back some paint with the 42 car ?
B Lab 10th, Mears 12th!
Jonathan, are you cheering on Punch or Pablo?
please don't pull over Denny
I've given up on the ESPN broadcast. I still have the tv on, but I'm looking through the Sunday paper and ignoring it. I'm listening to MRN instead. I happened to look up to see what was going on, and ESPN is showing me a wide shot of the frontstrech with NO CARS. They were in turns 3&4 at the time. Maybe I should add that to my blog post. LOL
anon5:02,you could be seeing trading paint in a min.
That was a pretty cool one off
This should make for a Heluva!Good finish. I am wondering if ESPN will help us out and point a camera at the action. Ya know, while they are there and all.
Telling Juan don't worry there will be another yellow. They won't let it roll the whole way
24 up to p3
U2 + Mysterious Ways--which describes the thought processes (or lack thereof) in the ESPN production truck.
BTW--I think that is a more up to date iPOD with the ESPN bumper music. Musburger's would have all the beautiful music from XM's Escape!
GLuck just said crowds are thinning as people leave MArtinsville. WOW. does that happen much.
Out of this miserable TV race coverage, there was one noted change,there has been " if the race ended now, the driver points would be "
Hey trying to find something postive out of this mess
Is JP telling tales again about tuning to BSPNN for post race coverage?
well, 88 up to 28th 2 down racing the 1 and 47
Sophia..some people always leave early to avoid traffic. But not if they find the racing compelling.
Lord lets hope for some excitement.....
We need a new script for this track & race ...
One where there's no mention of the plane crash and the 48 falls out before lap 50 ... ;-)
Yep, the Jr fans are cutting out early....
anon@5:07: oh well, it was nice while it lasted but there's the "standings as of right now" moment but thanks for trying to find something positive!
and here we see the same footage of last year that we saw at the top of the race -- and the same comments from hamlin repeated to us some 480 laps into this.
@ JD, there's your excitement.
you have GOT to be kidding me NASCAR
its rubber!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just had to know that was going to happen
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