This is the weekend where the reality that the season is ending makes itself known. Lots of stories are playing out in a very personal way.
That is certainly true in the Nationwide Series, where sponsors have been hard to find and many teams and drivers that started the season are no longer racing. Now, there are three races remaining and eyes have turned to 2010.
The standard pre-race starts the day with Allen Bestwick, Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty in the ESPN Infield Pit Studio. Then, the fun begins.
ESPN brought in Marty Reid to handle some of the final Nationwide Series races. His happy and exciting presence has been perhaps the only bright spot for the network. A tired Dale Jarrett and a frustrated Andy Petree will be alongside of Reid today.
Last Sunday, Jarrett and Petree found themselves waist-deep in the play-by-play role as Jerry Punch was rendered completely helpless by the single file racing. Petree was the most aggressive, interrupting Punch repeatedly to re-focus the attention to the racing on the track instead of Punch's extended question and answer sessions.
Now Jarrett and Petree will be pushed back into the traditional role of color analyst when they work with Reid. The excitement will be provided, the racing action will be described in full and it will be up to the two analysts to switch back into providing perspective, not a race call. That dynamic should be interesting to watch.
ESPN's Producer and Director seem to be mad at the fans. As one poster said, they seem to be "mailing it in." Since the Nationwide Series has a diverse group of drivers, the stories are always changing. ESPN has kept the cameras squarely on Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards with a smattering of Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski.
The stories of the Nationwide regulars are routinely ignored. The reality of the racing on the track is ignored and the focus remains on the Sprint Cup drivers in the field. This has been a source of frustration for Reid, who has several times called out on the air for the TV truck to show the racing.
This race in Texas may continue to show the tension that is clearly in the air between NASCAR and ESPN. After the rare public criticism of ESPN directly by NASCAR, how the TV team reacts will be interesting to see. Jarrett specifically was singled out by NASCAR.
Shannon Spake, Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Dave Burns are reporting on pit road. This track is fast and the reporters will not probably be seen on camera during the race unless there is a red flag. Tim Brewer will be in the Tech Garage. His updates had better be well-timed with accidents and passes happening on the TX track in a flash.
The weather is great and the NASCAR Media Group TV compound has been making great pictures all day long. The overall TV presentation should come down to choices by the Producer and Director.
284 comments:
1 – 200 of 284 Newer› Newest»I always looks forward to every race Marty Reid does. The excitement he provides is incredible unlike Mr Punch's Q and A sessions in a PXP role.
Football is much easier to consistantly fit into a TV window than football. That is the world variety versus the American version.
snowfaller, your comment made no sense at all.
Come back if you want to live blog the ESPN coverage of the Nationwide Series race.
You must have not been with us very long if you think we care what the network's initials are.
We want good NASCAR TV coverage, regardless of who paid to produce the show.
JD
Shrub-a-dub-dub goin' for two in the tub!!
As much as I like KyBu though, it'd be nice to have them discuss the NW regs and NW series as a whole
It's been interesting to see how they package that soccer for TV.
wow, Danica gets into the pre-race show. Marty has the news, just wonder when something concrete will be out...
Danica, the first story.
How much do you want to bet this gets re-aired tomorrow?
I miss SPEED already...
can't make it TWO MINUTES without bringing her up. God I am NOT looking forward to next year with BSPN. SPEED made it all weekend without mentioning it.
I think ESPN's soccer package is to set up Americans for the 2010 Fifa World cup since they will be broadcasting it.
Why is Randy LaJoie MIA?
@ David, you're cute. Only because I like you, it would be cool if Weed pulls it off.
Danica mania begins.
Beating, its not a standalone unfortunately
let the ESPN Danica love affair begin
Sorry MartDawg, not interested in DP news-want to see a race, please!
Female racers changed the NHRA forever and made it better.
The Nationwide Series is getting little media coverage. If she can get it back on TV and in the news, it should be a positive.
Dot, thanks...I started that last night after the Truck race. Bliss back in the #1 at Homestead. How bizarre has THAT situation been?
Think N'wide owners like Rusty are loving it. The media will be all over Daytona when she races.
Oh, great. ESPN is start and parking their most entertaining personalities.
No Nationwide Series coverage in Canada until 11:30pm... Breeders' Cup and CFL is more important, apparently.
Well, colour me disappointed.
The race is on neither TSN nor TSN2. TSN is showing a CFL football game. TSN is showing SportCentre, a lumberjack competition, then a Breeder's Cup horse race. NASCAR has been trumped by the ponies.
At least I can listen to the radio via TrackPass. It would be nice to be able to see the pictures occasionally though.
Have I ever mentioned that I hate TSN?
--KarenB
I am all for getting the NW series more national coverage. However, will that translate into ESPN doing a better job of broadcasting. If it doesn't then what is the point?
Justin took off his sunglasses. I like both he and Bliss so I'm torn who I want to be 5th in points.
Betting on a short post race, college fball up after the race.
just go to justin tv for the live feed.
I think there is a shake up coming. Especially after NASCAR called them out in public after Dega.
JD,
how sure are you about the shake up because I can't wait.
@ David, I saw your Shrub dub comment last night.
@ KarenB, TSN is your version of BSPN isn't it?
Well, it's pretty clear the wheels are coming off. ESPN has made substantial changes in the last two off seasons.
Now that they have NASCAR Now sorted out, I think the remote team is next.
The ESPN producer and director hate their jobs. It shows.
Brad and Rusty are going to go at it over the BK issue. Rusty clearly does not like BK.
Ok Brad, but special K will learn on his own if everyone punts him all the time
I embrace the Ray Evernham approach, if you want to race like that don't have NASCAR tell drivers how to race, just let em line up at your window ready to knock you in the face...
Brad is going to have a STEEP learning curve next year.
So far predictable pre-race though
The key thing is you never know what management type is standing over the ESPN producer and director and making them "present the product" a certain Disney way.
Didn't Brad spin Mark in the NW race at Vegas last year too?
Maybe I am remembering that wrong
The "24/7 ESPN infomercial" presentation?
Is the Director and the Producer even race fans?
Another failed promo...
If you have noticed, Kez always holds his line. Even he could avoid a collision, he does not move. Once the other divers figure this out, they'll take care of him.
the Producer and Director came over from Fox. The producer worked on the old ESPN telecasts in the 1980's and 90's. The director is a veteran.
That is why it is very confusing.
very confusing
Rusty didn't listen to Joey did he?
I find it quite funny that Doug Rice is promoting PRN on twitter as your "sound alternative" to BSPN. Pretty smart of him.
I actually think Shannon did decent with Mears. Don't recall the word "feel" at all!
@ Dot
TSN has a of deal with ESPN, and broadcasts lots of ESPN programming. Shows like SportCentre have Canadian hosts and more Canadian content, but shows like ESPN's Monday Night Football, Pardon the Interruption and Around the Horn are straight from ESPN.
Lots of Canadian channels have the same sort of deals with their American counterparts. Discovery Channel, Food Network and HGTV, to name a few, are Canadian-owned and show more Canadian-produced content, but broadcast many shows from their American affiliates.
--KarenB
When we work at a job, we often have to do what we are told. Keep that in mind. It's also true for TV.
Then I think the Director and Producer should print out every post from this blog for the last three years and dump the reims of paper on the chest of the dweeb who is stiffuling them.
"the Producer and Director came over from Fox. The producer worked on the old ESPN telecasts in the 1980's and 90's. The director is a veteran.
That is why it is very confusing."
Are they nearing retirement? The ESPN branding debacle must be like fighting with one arm tied behind the back. They could be ready to throw in the towel and go home.
Im with JD here. If the direction from the very top is screwed up, there is no way you can save ship all the way to the bottom.
I'd like to see the reigns freed up for this group just to see what we'd get. The pieces seem to be there.
Others design the graphics, pick the music and arrange the facilities.
Our question is why the tight shots, the disasters on pit road and the poor camera selection?
Why the stupid music under green, the disrespect for the teams and the general feeling that the racing is a bother to be dealt with...
Just think, two or three changes might make ESPN completely different for next season where NASCAR is concerned...
@ KarenB, thanks.
Speaking of Canada. I did see the Canadian driver Patrice on NN. I thought he was a tire changer. He's actually a driver.
BTW, NN was not on again last night for the rerun. That's two or three times this week.
Odds we see Danica on the pre-show in the booth with Rusty and BD next week at Phoenix? Over/Under 80%?
My pet peeve is full widescreen graphics with the content in small window overlays. What is up with that?
Dot, still working on that one. Mike Massaro said he was sick, but last I heard they were heading into the studio to tape the 12:30PM show.
Instead of NASCAR, we got NFL with no crawl about the missing show at all.
at least 80%! I bet they are working the IRL and Indy 500 conncections full speed.
She was rumored to me making her announcement there next week. I was quite surprised when Ryan McGee broke the story.
Thought ESPN would arrange it into a nice little TV package.
oops, make that the 12:30AM show, sorry Dot.
35 minutes in, we've heard from all Cup drivers except for Bliss...
That is part of the "graphics package" that is designed by sport for ESPN.
The producer and director have to use those as given to them, because normally they are used all across one sport. So, the same package is used on NHRA, IRL and NASCAR.
A variation on that would then be used for the studio shows and pre-race shows with the same theme.
It's a big deal...
Best N'wide leaderboard:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/national/foxTrax
--KarenB
So they pay for this? It's not sabotage?
Thanks JD.
They just acknowledged that turns two and four are where the wrecks happen. Will we see any of them live?
also talked about entering pit road. Will we see that great camera shot from on top of the stands today that shows the great view of pit road entrance?
TV is not done on the fly. Big sports like college football, auto racing and NFL take millions of dollars just in pre-production for graphics, music and video.
That is why it's impossible to change something on the fly in a NASCAR race. It may be something done across the board in IRL and NASCAR that has to be kept in place.
This is going to be a critical off season with bad reviews and low ratings. Expect change...
DPE,
I thought they wanted to hold off on it to not overshadow Jimmie's 4th straight title, which is why I was a little shocked to see that news break this week.
For a military singer, that was pretty bad.
Not bad, but the LtC was a wee bit high on the anthem there ...
And
WHO said they could start the N'wide race THIS early ... esp at a track with lights?!?!?
fly over coming out of VA. Long way to go.
Tthey're even hyping the trifecta on radio. Mercifully, it was a fairly short segment. Much less time than last night on SPEED.
--KarenB
Poop. The 60 (my boy Carl) and the 09 to the rear of the field for adjustments, and the 23 for backup car.
I thought I'd share that just in case ESPN ignored it. :-)
--KarenB
@ KarenB, no worries for Carl, he'll be up front in 25 laps.
interview #2 with a NW reg...only took 58 minutes...
Trevor gets the curse. Poor kid.
after Talladega, we should watch Jerry and Andy try to change back into analysts with Marty calling the race.
I had to rewind. Carl will be happy, DJ said he has 3 Cup wins and none in NNS.
Dale and Andy?
Gotta say I love today's TV schedule. LIVE coverage of Happy Hour on Speed instead of the evening tape delay ESPN garbage and a noon starting time for N'Wide on ESPN2 so we won't have to worry about being pre-empted by a college football game running its normal length.
I definitely hope this becomes the standard for 2010, especially during football season.
I think they've interviewed almost every single driver on PRN. Of course it's easier for them, they don't have to show pre-packaged Danica segments.
@ Dot
Thanks for the support. I wish I could actually watch Carl drive to the front...
--KarenB
90 pulls off
Donns I think DJ was talking about wins @ Texas, I would hope the stats guy has it correct
Wow! "gotta save those tires-got 2 more races to go." nice needling, Marty.
@ KarenB, there you go, Carl up 21 spots.
Nice to hear Marty continue to call the S&P cars. Looks like DJ and Andy are kind of having fun.
KB going to stink up this one too.
anyone have a working leaderboard. nascar.com has nothing but the general info and fox is qualifying info. I really don't want to have to read the tracker
@Newracefan 10-4 ok, I hope you're right. DJ is usually good about that stuff.
Can't get leaderboard on NASCAR.com or FoxTrax either.
@ NRF
http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/national/foxTrax
--KarenB
And they've yet to mention Bliss getting back in the #1 at Homestead...
The FOXTrax leaderboard wasn't working in the browser I usually use, but works in a different one. Weird. I usually have no problems.
--KarenB
@KarenB - Tried that link, nothing but a summary there too for me.
2010: Brewer in small video box, race in big video box....
AARRGG, TB in the big box as usual.
Happy Saturday All :)
@Dot--agreed! I like them both so hard to choose why did they have to change it? It's been the top 10 since the beginning of time :(
@Karen--that sucks :(
@JD--yes the Force girls are shaking things up this season :)
@ JD, so that means TB will be back next year?
nascar.con finally fixed but still can't get fox and I like their better but something is better than nothing.
The guys seem to having fun today and look we are actually seeing racing with analysis.
@JD--
2010: Brewer GONE, race in big video box....
There fixed it for you :).
A POSITVE comment for ESPN. Good booth today, cameras so so Brewer no change.
From Bob Margolis:
Just been told by a very reliable source that Danica to NASCAR is a done deal.
well Jamie, if the 81 can't hear the spotter don't u think nascar should black flag him? why don't u go ask?
Have you noticed the wide shots? Few in-cars? Now if they could move around to catch the racing....hmmm...
The way this race is going, there's going to be 5 cars on the lead lap. If this was the CUP race, we'd have 3 cautions by now.
Is the information leak in other sports as bad as it is in Nascar? I don't think then can keep anything a secret in this sport.
@ JD, I have noticed that.
How is it that they can run the bottom ticker during the commls? I've been meaning to ask.
ri88 I was thinking the same thing but if he can hear his crew chief it might be OK not totally sure of the rule, plus it's Texas not Daytona.
Dot,
Each ESPN TV network has a different on-air presence.
ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU all run the final on-air product differently.
This is ESPN2, home of the continual sports ticker.
I was in the media center at Atlanta when Ed Hinton broke the Danica story, and she denied it tooth and nail! See, Ed had it right all along.
@ JD, wouldn't it be nice if they could change out the bottom ticker during the commls to show the race ticker? Then switch back? Since we don't get side by side.
Time for a mystery debris caution.
full screen pit stops during racing again? geez...
ARGH! Two cameras on pit road and then single coverage on green flag stops...lordy.
Son of a....full screen stops.
@ Pamm. back to biz as usual.
The racing is as boring as watching paint dry so it really doesn't matter who is in the booth. I thought it was SO FUNNY when they tried to mix things up during Dega and played audio from Stewart and Johnson's car - both were complaining how boring it was and were hoping someone would wake them up - smoke's crew said they would mount an IPOD on his dash - the broadcast team was silent with someone laughing in the background.
we'll they still don't this part right, I don't need to see the leader with the pit stops in the other window I need to see racing, oh and now we have full screen stops. I'm willing to let it all go if we get a field reset because I don't know where anyone is now
This is bad.
Some races do not sparkle from start to finish. The TV challenge is to go and tell the stories of the race where ever they happen.
Bayne bitten by the curse.
hurrah, a field re-set!
I called it. Conveniently after GF pit stops.
thank you kyle. said it very well.
Thanks for showing the debris....
For once there was something on the track.
Hehe....reporter Jeff Gluck says the debris was a drink can...
@Steve--what's funny is that the harder they deny something the truer it becomes. Yes there are times where it does not happen or is not quite the way of the rumors but the majority of the time the rumors are spot on.
I still recall Rusty swearing up and down that Mr. Penske Sir wasn't switching manufactures and guess who was front and center a few weeks later at the press conference.
I know there are situations where they truly can't speak about it but it's funny how they fight so hard to try to kill rumors and it never works.
WOW, they caught that in mid spin.
guess that answers my question about the speed camera form yesterday, gone
Bloody hell, Richardson Jr must have taken 2 tires! lol
Did you guys see that yellow arrow on the replay? Ever seen that one before?
Isn't Weed's CUP team the pit crew?
Dot, I don't think so. They might have a few guys on the Cup crew doing the NW stops, but not the whole group.
Brad K's team is Hendricks backup crews...
wow we are seeing a replay of a stop at an appropriat time. A caution. That is improvement.
Yup, answers that. 23 puts on lefts there
@ David, thanks. Doesn't his CUP crew pit his truck at companion races?
Did we really have to see the tire changer for McClure?
@ ri88, you're right. At least it was under caution.
ok, they showed that camera just to make me look like a weiner or is that a whinner? LOL at least they used it!
Dot, not positive. They might use a few guys here and there for companion races but stand alones might be a different deal. I figure considering Bellew's budget they might not have Cup guys there.
Not familiar enough with the crew situation, might have to ask someone who knows.
Howdy everybody!
Just now tuning in. GORGEOUS sunny day so was outside clipping down the impatiens :-( They were three feet tall.
Sorry to see the DP comments...The Danica romance has begun? & we thought the Kyle B bromance was bad.
Way behind on comments...
how's the camera work?
Harvick cut Kyle a break there...
For those who complain about the full screen shots in pit stops, ABC does that for the IRL races too, but I like seeing all the cars as they pit and as they leave pit road as opposed to two or three.
ESPN can break down the exact time it takes to change left & ride side tires but can't reset the field. It baffles me.
Damon, the race on the track continues under green. The way networks normally do it to keep the perspective for the TV viewers is to keep one video box on the leader and keep panning back as they peel off for pit road.
The other video box can jump back and forth between pit stops with a timer.
Putting green flag pitstops full screen loses for the home viewer any perspective at all on the field cycling through pit stops.
That last caution was a great example, we had no idea who was where and why when it came out because we had seen all the green flag stops full screen.
JD
They dropped the #48 pit crew replays last week, interesing to see if it comes back tomorrow.
Agree totally, Buschseries
Resetting the field should be a MUST after pit-stops before the restart and between lap 10-20 of a green flag run.
Pops Eury Sr. Really?
"Pops Eury Sr" ?!?!?!?
Whyyyyyyyyyy ?????
My bad then, I thought you talking about yellow flag stops.
@ tia, great minds....
That the double whammy?
Dot Tia I was thinking the same thing, she really tripped over it too.
No prob, they try to use the triple split for caution flag stops, but usually screw that up because they bust it to show Jimmie Johnson.
In the Nationwide Series, they have been doing it just fine.
she is getting that pregers swiss cheese mind phase. goes with the waddeling phase just before get this thing out of me phase
It's a good thing that Weed isn't running the whole NW season next year. They'd have to change the name back to the Busch Series.
What was that did he forget what he was talking about?
@ ri88, maybe we should give Shannon a break. We'll call it the pregnant pause before we comment on what she says.
Damn that Extenze comml. Made me look.
Have a feeling Marty wants to go back through the field, show the racing and tell the stories.
That is what you do when a car has a big lead.
i don't like this commercial during a race, took me a sec to realize it was a commercial.
We call it the pregnancy stupids, I don't remember having it but I sure have seen it in others (guess it's a select memory issue too). Got to give it to her thought she is still there, I'm sure pregnant with twins and pit reporting is not easy.
Yet another excuse I can't use....
KB has pulled that move umpteen times in the last ten races they are just now complaining?
If the leader chooses his lane, why do they go up or down? Should be an automatic penalty. No warning at all.
Bummer Morgan Sheperd!
Oh No Mr. Jesus :(
and the other cars
OK, let me just say that they have been catching the action on the track, re: spins, etc. Good job. Who's manning/womanning the cameras?
A lapped car is responsible for holding their lane, the leader is responsible for getting around traffic without incident. That being said, I missed what happened.
NASCAR Media Group guys with ESPN production folks.
Man, they busted the triple split again and missed the race off at the top of the field.
I vote for the director and producer duck (for jeff glick) taping the overseer from Disney to his chair
I sure hope Tom Logano's on his way to buy Morgan a new car ... after his little boy wrecked Morgan ... And Gibbs better read him the Riot Act ...
15 cars on the lead lap. I love the way Nascar brags about how many cars finish on the lead lap...after they have put so many of them there with that wtupid charity lap! The only reason the leader doesn't finish on a lap all his onw (like in the 'bad old days') is because it can't happen now!
But they always do the Pops Eury Sr. thing tho
This may sound silly but, I am always amazed how they get into their pit stalls without parallel parking.
Time for TB to show us the sway bar. Here we go.
really good work form the B team again today. I am enjoying the race, so must modify my comments form last night to say truck and NW will be the best racing we see this weekend.
Some guys are getting it dialed in to give Kyle a challenge.
Good NW coverage = bad CUP coverage. Be prepared.
Mears sitting on phone books?
Dot - But she started the "Pops Eury Sr" bit BEFORE she got preggers ...
Crap. Poor Alligator. Mike Wallace from Nutone to Notone.
Dang! Uncle Mike *and* Mr. Alligator :(
STOP the interview when there is a wreck!?!?
WHY am I watching this???Ugh
just sat down again...
cut AWAY from the interview when cars are wrecking
bad miss, booth should have hit shannons kill switch. Guess that would be the truck should have. nascar 101 shut up when there is a wreck on the track.
Mears fits in Burton's seat fine. Thats why he is running today.
Sucks for Justin. I love that scheme too
@Dot
LOL parallel parking..especially when they are drivers in the next boxes!:)
@ tia, yeah, I know.
@ dear Sophia, I agree. Stop everything when a crash is happening.
Off topic for a few seconds....
Remember Carl Long's $200,000 penalty NASCAR threw at him. He is in bigger trouble now that Front Row Motorsports has had cutbacks and Carl is now without a job. He gets no unemployment $ either. I feel awful for his family, this is a horrible time to lose a job. I hope NASCAR drops the ridiculous fine lets Carl get back on his feet.
--End of off-topic post--
Good recap, but this race is all about Kyle and the guys up front on TV. Nothing about the real guys out there getting it every race in this series unless they crash.
@JD, in other words, same ol same ol. The guys who are trying to make a living in this series are virtually ignored. And they wonder why the series is having a problem with an identity of it's own!
Buschseries
Hate hearing that about Carl.agree about the HUGE fine.
My room mate's brother, 52, just got word his last day of work is Dec. 4th. AFTER TWENTY FIVE YEARS with same company...works in IT..programmer analyst...Unemployment continues to jump (even higher than we are being told, esp in Ohio) back to race
Justin interview...he seems like such a good kid, I like him. Sorry he's out.
I really think DJ likes doing PXP and misses it when he works with Marty.
Maybe he'll be the man in 2010 in CUP if not AB. We can only hope. At least he gets to do it on Sundays.
Why should Weed complain about anything?
Karma for Joey.
That's what happens when you take out Mr. Jesus :)
=(
JoLo
Really hope it's AB. DJ's cadince isn't quite right for PXP
And AB has he authority and knowlege to direct attention where it should be.
Gymmie - Semi-instant karma for Schmooie ... LOL ;-)
But you guys should be feeling bad for Joey too. Shaun Courchesne reported a few hours ago that Joey's grandfather died yesterday.
--KarenB
Gymmie, I gotta send you a video of Mr Jesus not being so nice one of these days. Its old, but funny
@ KarenB, condolences to JoLo. I didn't know.
Billy Mays on. I miss him. Glad he lives on.
Could we please let this man rest in peace? it is really morbid
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