Three races remain in the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season and all of them will be on ABC.
Allen Bestwick leads the NASCAR on ESPN team on-air with NASCAR Countdown. He will be joined by Brad Daugherty and Rusty Wallace. Tim Brewer will contribute from the Tech Garage.
Jerry Punch is calling the play-by-play action from TMS. He has Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree alongside of him for the race. Down on pit road are Jamie Little, Shannon Spake, Vince Welch and Dave Burns.
This race is fast and dangerous. Accidents happen very quickly and the on-track action under green leaves very little time for features and the playback of recorded material.
It is hard to use the in-car cameras at this track live because there is almost always passing and action going on somewhere in the field. The aerial shot is effective and really puts things in perspective in terms of track positions. It should also show the double-file restarts quite well.
The low angle "speed shots" at TMS work quite well to deliver the reality of the speed to the TV viewers. They are most effective on restarts when the pack is still bunched together and coming up to speed.
Pit stops under caution should have the normal triple-split video coverage. The race off pit road is key once again. Green flag pit stops demand a split screen, as the action continues at full speed regardless of the cars cycling through pit road.
There has been great sound and pictures from TMS on Friday and Saturday for the truck and Nationwide Series races. With all the TV toys available to them, it should come down to smart choices being made by the ESPN producer and director to keep the focus on the racing and update the stories unfolding during the event.
592 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 592 of 592Gee, Jimmie was in a wreck? I did not know that.
*sigh*
"RT @RacerGirlAmanda ESPN really needs to go with the flow of the race and stop focusing on just one team/driver or one storyline."
I think the expectation from ESPN is that NASCAR should go with the flow of the tv show they are broadcasting.
JD... so it really matters who comes off pit road in first... who'da thunk?
If fox doesn't get rid of Digger next year, it will get rid of me.
I will only watch the TNT races next year if it is like this.
I think ESPN would do better to go after the rights of the WWE. They would be a perfect match. Both like to work off of a script. Can't you see Dr. Punch sitting ringside calling Monday night smack down?
@ Sally 5:51...
That's a good point to bring up and proves exactly the problem...focusing too much on one driver/story. I am a Junior fan and even I did not like seeing him all the time when his performance was irrelevant. I just don't see what good ESPN thinks this does when it frustrates everybody from the casual fan to the long-timers to the newbies to, most importantly, the forgotten car sponsors.
I wonder if they are taking requests?? I'd really like to see that Johnson wreck replayed YET AGAIN!!
Would they mention the lucky dog if the sponsor didn't MAKE them??
Haus
ESPN already shows POKER on tv. ARe u kidding me? I saw a promo sometime in the last 24 hrs of that...rolls eyes
Damn it, Doc, the cars have drivers. Drivers have NAMES!
enough about JJ ABC
No, I'm not wondering about Jimmie Johnson.
Yes. Jerry. We were wondering about JJ, because heaven knows, we haven't had enough updates about him.
So thank you so much Jerry.
ANd if a meteor came freakin' screaming in from the sky.....
No Digger cartoons in the pre-race, Fox is going to use Digger animation in-race.
I think they got the message in no uncertain terms. Should be a lot loss intrustive.
PRN telling us what's going on and &@#@$^@&$@^ BSPN showing JJ..alone in tight shot?
**BANG**
I finally shot the tv.
the cats thanked me
Poor Jerry, he is literally lost.
Good job Jerry. You shortened the phrase. "If you just joined".
JJ is in 39? I didn't see them replace the bolt holding the a arm on, maybe we could get a replay. I think I have seen EVERY other aspect of there day, just wish I could see that last bolt get put on....
J.D.,
Please don't criticize Dr. Jerry and the producers. I just came home from work. The replay of the 48 crash was new to me. I joined the race around lap 204. So his update is redundant up the wazoo to the rest of you, but it was important information to me.
However, you're all invited to flame me for not drinking the Daly Planet Kool-Aid and criticizing Dr. Jerry and the producers. B-)
West Coast Kenny
Alameda, California
Talking about Marcos. Will wonders ever cease?
Why does Jerry say "Kyle" as though it has 50 syllables?
@Kenn, you wouldn't have been in the dark for long, as they have been running the replay of the wreck at appros. 10 minute intervals since it happened on lap 3.
Kenn, you will see what the rest of us have seen today. It has been a Jimmie show even after wrecking on lap 3.
$10 says we see the replay again within 3 minutes after the break
@ Kenn wong, wait 15 minutes and you will be with us and be tired of the 4 updates you will hear between now and then about JJ.
and yes, it really has been that bad...
@ Kenn Fong 5:58...
I have just made a couple of comments defending the fact that it is proper for ESPN to give updates on Jimmie for people just like you. However, if you watch this telecast for a while, you will see that it is happening every 90 to 120 seconds at times and is thus indeed overkill.
West Coast Kenny, you get a pass. LOL
It's just that we've seen the wreck every 5 minutes since it happened.
It wouldn't be quite so irritating if they just gave the verbal info without replaying the whole wreck every time.
if the first thing they say is a JJ update after break, I am outa hear
Kenny my only problem is they do it when there is actual racing on the track.
Kenn
Welcome home from work. That was only the 107th replay of JJ's wreck.
JPM is out too.
Jr was doing ok last i heard but afraid to jinx him so not mentioning again. :)
I don't drink anybody's Kool aid..just think production stinks :-D
Listening to WPSK radio of race. :)
@ Sally, agreed.
Just one ESPN Deportes in the booth with JP should bring up the excitement level quite a bit.
Muy bueno. Grande muy bueno.
Agree about his saying Kyle, chalk on the blackborad to me...
OMG you could hear JP holding back, he SOOOO wanted to go into the JJ crap.. so funny, had to think about what else to say,,
Kenn
They also showed NUMEROUS full screen cam of the working on JJ's car under green flag or split screen. It was amazing.
and PRN guys today obsessed a bit, too. (I miss MRN guys)
So where are the props to Andretti for still being on the lead lap in THIRD engine for the weekend?
JJ's wreck today has become BSPN's "Digger"
why are the showing the 48 car full screen. He is 122 laps down!!!
If this were a drinking game and everytime they showed the crash I had to drink, I would be unconcious by know.
.
.
.
.
Wait, that wouldn't be so bad would it??
JJ's car in one screen wasn't enough, a wide screen naw, let's do a split screen and give him both....
wow how horrible can this get. Jimmie Johnson, kyle busch, Mark Martin or any driver in the top 5 and then commercial.
Train wreck of epic porportions.
I actually like the pit reporters today. Punch is a disaster.
FYI--besides @prnbrett, @GuruGarrow (Mark, co anchor and host of PRN Garage Pass daily NASCAR News show) and @riceman61 (Doug, PRN boss and co-anchor) are the three PRN Twitter accounts I know of. There may be more.
A big shout to Mark & Doug for remembering the fallen troops at Ft. Hood.
Have the sound on and picture off...amazing about the perspective...the radio guys are trying to make the best of the checkout up front.
Pat Patterson (on PRN Radio) gives much better perspective on pit reports on his worst day than Jamie & Shannon combined on their best day--and Pat's hitting everything but the Texas Lottery with insights today.
Junior is up to 3rd? Not a mention of it. What a shock. Lots of guys doing well, and not getting any love from TV. I wonder, with $ being tight, if some sponsors will bail on the final 10 races next year?
KyBu: "You know how much this reminds me of a Legends race?"
Rogers: "How so?"
KyBu: "My brother is just stalking me in my rear view..."
J.D.,
Did you see the article in November 9, Sports Illustrated by Joe Posnanski? The Stepford Driver confronts the whole "Vanilla" issue head-on. It's on the website, but you have to search the content of the print magazine, as it's not with the other NASCAR content.
WCK
What the heck were they showing on top of the screen last time I bothered to look? I have NO idea what's going on in this stupid race. ACCK. Here it is again.
DRINK!!!!
DRINK!
See Kenn
there ya go!
Are there any cars running on the track?
Time to start dinner
JJ wreck, up to speed, JJ wreck, up to speed and then we will get full screen pit stops.
What a fine job this television broadcast is doing.
And by the way, there is a race on the track.
It is so frustrating that the TV coverage can be so bad that it gives me a headache trying to make sense of it all. It should be enjoyable to watch, right?
Jimmie...
How many times have we seen JJ's wreck? Unbelievable. Bet AB doesn't like mentioning it again. Also, instead of Carl's Hotpass they've gone to Ryan Newman's car.
I see Kez is back on the track...but no word from the booth.
Kez back on track...
kenn
YOU have to read Dustin Long's interview with Brian France, who never watches the race broadcast and blames ratings on Carl & Jr's bad season. :(
On twitter
We've missed you David. You could have been giving us updates on the repairs to the #48 car non stop. Oh wait. TV did that.
See prior post...
Funny how Allen said that if we've been watching the whole day, we're sick of seeing it, but for people who have been "tuning in and out", we'll show it again.
So Allen knows people have been tuning out today.
@ Martin V, I caught that too.
And now another comml.
This coverage certainly won't help attract new viewers at all.
If you show the Speed at the line enough times it will come out how you want it.
Must be I got a whiff of what Planeteer Steve L was drinking...I do have ATSC over the air ABC video on...and PRN audio on.
It seems that every time I glance up at the TV, I see the lap 2 wreck with Jimmie Johnson. That ought to be in the highlights, for sure...but pulling it up every five minutes? Puhleeeee-ze!
Folks,
I see what you mean. I'm timing it now. The latest repeat of the Jimmie Johnson situation came at 3:11 Pacific.
I remember legendary broadcaster Red Smith -- who mentored Vin Scully -- saying he kept an egg timer on the desk in front of him. He knew from audience research that every three minutes a significant number of new listeners joined the broadcast, so it was important to give the current score, inning, team at bat, because it was bad manners to ignore their presence.
I think it would be enough to show the crash every half hour, with a news update crawl every 5 minutes showing which cars were off the track and why. Even without the 48 crash, it makes sense to run a crawl showing the cars which aren't running and why.
WCK
I enjoyed the truck race and even Marty got fiesty doing the N'wide race with this production team.
He wants to show the racing, not the scripted stories.
When you think of how big and sophisticated ESPN really is, this is amazing.
@ Anon 6:17, it's repelling the old viewers now.
At least the speed at the line shot shows us who is really running where.
Fuel Mileage....
Kyle asking if they can make it, Rogers says they will be short, everyone will
Again we get the 48 full screen. Ugly.
Have been out of town for a week, listened to the race on part of the way home today. I knew about JJ's wreck and wondered how many times it would be replayed. Right now I have PRN on and the TV muted. I have half an eye on the TV and in 30 minutes have seen the wreck twice.
Full BIG screen of JJ driving around the track. Terrible.
As much as i hate the timing that it was used, that pit cam was COOL!
JP says nothing about the flames, what a shame
Doc says racin's gonna get even better here.
Gee, will we be allowed to SEE IT DOC??
Isn't it about time for another break... followed by a replay upon return
Is nobody going to mention that Robby Gordon's right front brake was on fire? Or will it just go out when he gets rolling again?
Neat shot anyway.
Hey it's been about 10 minutes since they've shown the Jimmie Johnson crash, isn't it about time to show it again? LOL.
When the fuel mileage talk started I was hoping ESPN would return the chin music to NASCAR and say something like "But we all know this fuel mileage talk is ridiculous because NASCAR will throw ANOTHER debris caution about 5 laps after this next round of green flag stops is finished anyway".
If you were new to Nascar would you maybe think that passing was not allowed on the track during green flag pit stops by seeing what you are watching on Tv
MV, its the rubber buildup. it should go out when he gets rolling again
@ Anonymous 6:24...
It has been so long now that, especially with what AB said a few minutes ago, I am starting to wonder if somebody at ESPN has been monitoring fan comments and/or instant ratings somewhere and has told the production truck to stop doing it so often.
JJ crash after comml?
@West Coast Kenny--you probably meant to type Red Barber, right?
I just now heard the PRN crew using a Twitter tweet for perspective, as one of the Planeteers described earlier.
TV showing Hamlin pit stop full screen, then shows an overhead shot of the Blue Deuce pit stop. Grr.
PRN/MRN radio broadcast is on KDWN, Las Vegas. It's about 1 minute behind real time.
Kyle asking about the score of a game
Weed's just trying to liven things up. He's fine and will go on to win the race.
How could we possibly see if all the lugs were tight?? You have got to be kidding me!!!
Dr. T.,
You're right, I meant to say "Red Barber." I grew up in New York City and loved both Red Barber and Red Smith.
Great catch!
WCK
Does DSPN ever catch anything as it happens? All we ever see is replays.
This is so frustrating.
I used to dread seeing the end of racing season come but now, I can hardly wait. How sad it is that ESPN has done this to me. Bet I'm not the only one.
OK how did the 00 get into 2nd?
he said he had problems at the end of yesterdays race almost like he tries to protect himself if he loses, that it wasn't his fault
I think the replay guy got tired of showing the JJ replay and recorded over it
So did the production truck blow off previewing that Busch pit stop replay before they aired it or do they just take pleasure in wasting our time with a completely worthless full screen replay under green?
@ nrf, good question. Saw it on race trax and wondered the same thing.
Is boring just to focus on one driver
@Anon 6:32 - You wish!
@NRF, one of the mysteries of this race that we will never know. The obsession with JJ and the chasers had (again) totally overshadowed what is happening on the track as far as any other cars. And now we get a replay of an old race. Pathetic. How embarrassing for ESPN.
Rogers saying 00 is 10 laps short, dont race him but dont let him by either
you have got to be kidding me, 50 to go and a long replay of last years race, AND THEN COMMERCIALS???
I QUIT, i check the web later to see who won...
OK, I love the new Coke Zero ad. You're going 200 miles an hour. You made some choices. How true!
"We are racing the 2 car in 4th, he can make it on fuel."
18 radio
@Sally - Thought the Coke Zero ad was funny too. A bit of a nod to Talladega Nights too, I think Ricky Bobby had a windshield decal too.
18 1.75 laps short
show it... show it!!!
@ Steve L. 6:31...
No, you're not the only one. I used to look forward to every single race and watch every bit of it no matter how out of reach the championship was for the other drivers. At times I feel like the only reason I watch is to keep giving my input here at TDP in the hope that we can again affect some kind of change at ESPN. I know that times change but this sure isn't what I came to love more and more from the occasional partial telecasts of the 1970's through the lead-up to the explosion of NASCAR in the 1990's. I really don't know how much more I can take if I don't see the possibility of more changes on the horizon in 2010.
I will add in the name of full disclosure that many of my complaints lie in other areas besides with the broadcasts, but I will refrain from listing them so we can stay on topic.
Steve L. said...
I used to dread seeing the end of racing season come but now, I can hardly wait. How sad it is that ESPN has done this to me. Bet I'm not the only one.
I am too, Steve, but I don't think it's just ESPN. I think it's more the length of the season and how the Stepford Driver is about to thrill us all with his fourth consecutive Cup championship. A ten-month season is too long to endure if it's going to end in an anticlimax.
Hey, "If you just joined us," comes at 3:37. The last time the 48 crash was mentioned was 3:11, right? Maybe they're listening to y'all.
WCK
Trust me, Jerry, no one is "just joining" your coverage. My god, man, think of something else to say.
What, ESPN?... Not going to show the replay again? Maybe the video guy did record over it after all.
Oops! Spoke too soon.
YES!!!!! Drink!!
Don't worry about mileage. There will be another caution. I have a copy of the script.
Really miss MRN radio today.
Reuti is stalking Rowdy
well guys am going to get on my Iracing simulator and then look ahead for the cowboys vs eagles game. This coverage is junky. Chat with you all soon.I mean during the Daytona 500.
How come Punch says "If your just joining us" every 5 minutes? I dont get it.....
nascar may be experiencing the same thing that hit indy car racing.. only if you have a lot money can you win so very few teams..gone are the days of alan kuwicki, it's hardly about the drivers anymore
rich its a fuel game till the end or when the yellow comes. guys im out. prn to take me to work. SHRUB-A-DUB-DUB THREE IN THE TUB!!!! I say it now!!!
TV must be listening to the PRN audio...they were five minutes behind PRN on the fuel mileage issue--I'm watching the closed caption as well as the ATSC ABC video--and (surprise) yet another JJ wreck replay. Grr.
PRN suggests most of the drivers are 9-10 laps short on fuel.
McMillan + Patterson giving PRN audience good insights...Bud beer wagon of Kahne sounding sick according to Patterson--and a full field rundown with 34 laps to go.
@ Charlie, I bet you do. I'm predicting a GWC too. Check the script.
Bill,
I think he means, "If you grew angry with our coverage and left but decided to come back to see if it got any better.."
Or..."If you're just waking up.."
I was out all afternoon and listening to the race on PRN. As I pulled into the driveway, I knew what ESPN would have done with JJ and I also knew what the reaction was going to be on this blog.
By the way, if you're just joining us, ESPN's coverage continues to stink.....
Now we see the aerial shot!!!!!!!!
ESPN MUST GO!!!!!!!!!!
No Gordo caution?
Dan's mad at Steve Letarte. I told him that Chad could CC both the 48 & 24 at the same time.
Yes but back when JG was winning every race at least the coverae was good. I never felt like wanting the seasopn to end. Now I do and it's not JJ winning the 4th championship either.
OK I've had 2 glasses of wine and seriously considering a third.
@ Bill 6:40...
I can only guess as an outsider, but I would swear that nobody has ever made Dr. Punch listen to his own announcing. Back when I was in radio (especially in my early days), the best thing I ever did was to listen to my professor and get in the habit of listening to an aircheck of everything I said. Nothing works better to make sure that one is not repetitive and to continue to learn to make full use of our glorious English language.
JD, The blimp was being punished for missing the JJ wreck so that they couldn't show that replay :-)
@NewRaceFan--Thunderbird is about the only wine that would make this broadcast look good
This is a tough coverage to watch without multi-tasking
Or maybe some of Junior johnson's moonshine!
JJ's car looks like a stealth car!
Hey .. What happened to JJ? Why is the nose black?? And Why is Kyle lapping him? Wish they would explain that
Newracefan
I am on my second glass of White Zino. I am using the tiny wine glass in the house. Still, tempted to start a third.
Got PRN on for the last 30 minutes while not paying attention to ANY of this...sigh
@ Modman75, where have you been, you're funny.
Soph I'm doing the big glasses so 2 is a lot.
I have been doing my daily facebooking while this massacre of coverage has been going on....Hatchlings, 101 Eggs, Egg Buddies.
I'm sooo glad the coverage has been so bad, or I'd never have gotten that done.
I am only watching NOW to see how some of my fave drivers finish.
Otherwise I wouldn't give a shirt without a certain letter.
Dot,
I'm the guy that Jerry is talking about... "Just joining the coverage"
Not really but couldn't resist. Am getting thirsty though, hiopefully they show the JJ replay again
No ESPN on-air mention of whether or not 130-lap-down Jimmie Johnson can make it on fuel? Someone in the truck's gonna get fired when management finds out about this!
NewRaceFan
You go girl on the wine, long as you aren't going to run heavy machinery (car, washer, dryer, electric toothbrush)
But ya know, the more I watch this after Dustin Long's article, the more I wonder about the sanity of Brian France.
AND the "suits" at Disney.
HOW can this happen to this sport so many used to love, for so long, and the fans have served so well (As far as loyalty!)
Oh the helmet cam..vertigo and nausea (sophia slapping hands over mouth and closing eyes)
TV using the helmet cam--and radio talking big time about Shrubby's new crew chief and getting the real insights. Now they hit us with the brother 1-2 finish graphic...@NRF + @Sophia...have a sip for me--I'm working....
That will be the move of the race, Chad, crew chief for the championship leader Jimmy Johnson, makes up 3 laps at the end of the race by conserving fuel.
what they don't mention:
He gained no positions by doing so and finished 39th
Ok..going to turn off PRN and try TV...
Expect cursing, drunken tweets on Twitter.
KIDDING..I can't even get really mad over this anymore.
Just par for the course. Sad but true.
CRAP!!! Jr stalled
!%!^#%!^#%!^#%!^#%
Funny of all weeks when the Odd Wads get back out on the track thwarting JJ's move up the finishing order.
No kinda luck but bad for Jr. Sigh.
What is the END OF RACE CURSE on Jr??????????????????
Now THAT makes me mad. sigh
There IS a god! Kyle is out of gas.
Listen folks, make sure and come over to the Your Turn post and leave a final race telecast comment.
It's important that we have a race wrap-up post for all to read.
Just go back to the main page and you will see the new post.
Thanks, just wanted to make sure everyone knew the deal.
so they show the other pit stop and don't follow up on the 88 getting to his pit and getting the car started again.
Yea! KY B out in turn 2.
Ok, now I will admit, Jr doing so well, until now, is the ONLY reason I was not in the kitchen starting dinner.
Wah
there is a god...yikes....Kurt ruined their story...
And ONLY ONE SLIDING HEAD ????????????????????????????????
WTF
someone ;won a million
Some guy just won a million bucks in the Dickie promotion. Think they'll mention it here? PRN was talking it about it earlier.
JD
I googled some trainwreck pictures during this race..didn't find any cool ones....
That was the poorest excuse for race coverage I've ever seen!
Some lucky dude just won $1 million with KuB's win.
Once again.... right at the 4pm mark ABC 7 in San Francisco cuts out of the race....
Dumb backwards move there Kurt!
Roger Penske grabs one at Texas---a lame duck victory for Pat Tryson...and KuBusch will make the left turn to Victory Lane, but first, the business of the victory lap in reverse....
I just missed the finish to a the local lottery drawing. Again.
Hopefully they'll show JJ's wreck again when they spend the whole post race talking to JJ
Glad that Kurt won so the fan won $1M. Glad Weed didn't make history. Sorry David & ri88.
Who called the JJ interview first. Take a bow.
I wonder how disappointed the media will be if JJ doesn't 'rewrite the history book' and win his 4th in a row.
and they go to JJ first!
yeah.... thats what I'm talking about!!!!
Dot - I agree.
Hanging with post race here in Leatherstocking Country in upstate NY (WIVT--ABC affiliate)
Last drink of the night? Prob not..
Last video of the night will be the JJ replay
I'm going to have to recuse myself on the comments post, because I was mostly watching football. What I did see was pretty poor though...
Per Doc, the drivers are either young men or 50 year old . . . .
Post race until 4:30? That's what my guide says.
Sorry for those of you who's ABC affiliate CUT OFF the show.
NASCAR gets no respect yet ESPN does not GIVE IT ANY in it's production EITHER.
The affiliates don't call it cutting off the post race coverage... they call it a Mercy killing!!
@ Modman75, dude, you're killing me.
J.D.,
To your offseason list, please add:
30 minutes of post-race coverage.
WCK
Good one Modman! Where's my fav? Oh yeah, he finished 3rd but he's not in the chase . . . . . .
J.D.,
Rude question:
Does Kyle Busch fire his new crew chief for this boner?
WCK
Hey look, the 48 in the background has a black hood. I wonder why? Hopefully they'll address that
Fat lady singing isn't as funny after day. Oh by the way I went for glass number 3. Will be going to bed soon with 4 Advil and a bottle of water so no worries for work tomorrow
Well the fat lady is attempting to sing but the boos from the fans are drowning her out. Is that a viking outfit she's wearing? I don't get it. I'm going back to my nap.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Please head back to the main page and leave us a race wrap. Thanks.
I guess he said screw the scholarship fund. Damn ESPN can't get anything right LOL
Great story for MILLION DOLLAR winner. On the way to the Texas track we pass by a big Dickies plant. Good interview with Matt, finally!
So that's what happened to Jimmy... I guess that was for those just tuning in
Thanks DrT totally forgot about Doug Rice! DUH! Added Mark :)
I feel asleep PRN couldn't keep me awake. Had weird dreams. Woke up throughout but caught the last 2 once Kurtsie won turned off PRN and Lord Have Mercy what a mess calling the end. He's second NO he's second no the first guy is third no someone else snuck in..good gravy!
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