Here we go with one of the most interesting televised practice sessions in recent NASCAR history. The field for the Nationwide Series race at Daytona includes 14 Sprint Cup drivers and many other seasoned veterans. Then, there is Danica.
ESPN2 added this live coverage after Patrick committed to this event. That should clearly speak to the "Danica effect" that has happened since here ARCA debut.
Marty Reid will call the telecast with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree alongside. This session may also signal the debut of Dr. Jerry Punch, who is returning to his pit road reporter role this season. Vince Welch, Dave Burns and Jamie Little are the other ESPN pit reporters.
The focus will be squarely on Patrick as she takes to the track for the first time with the big boys. This session is focused on drafting and running in big packs, which is exactly what Patrick has not done in this type of car.
This post will serve to host your comments on the ESPN2 coverage of this session. We are not a fan site, so comments should contain TV and media related opinions. To add your comment, just click the comments button below. Thanks for stopping by, this should be very interesting.
104 comments:
Marty said ratings were up 56% because of Danica being in the ARCA race. That's what we want to hear! Better ratings!
Wow, does that bring back memories. Seeing Jerry Punch in a fire suit.
Is it me or Does Marty eid grit his teeth the entire time, watch him they never come apart as he is talking. ESPN ventriloquism.
It is great to see Dr. Punch on Pit road I think he will shine this year!
Love seeing Doc excited and on pit road. How neat was that?
I want good race coverage, not Danica coverage.
Hey you guys, great minds think alike!
Dr Punch already sounds more at home on pit road than he did in the booth.
Good move for all involved.
At least Marty explained why we might see extensive Danica coverage. And it makes a lot of sense.
Having Dr. J back on pit road makes me feel like it's really race season again! Great decision.
Show us cars on the track, guys.
It's single car runs right now.
Dr. Punch has been great so far!
The rest of the coverage has been mediocre.
Danica's on screen!! Danica's on screen..
Here comes the fun and Kenny is right in the middle of it!
Interesting comments about passing high vs low for Danica. Not bad other points about the differences vs indy cars, though I had heard most of them before.
I'm not going to stress on the "danica" mania for the first few weeks. It's to be expected. Let's see how the season goes.
Marty Reid great answer on the Miccosukee question. Thank you. Was wondering that myself.
Wow. Bayne in an old old car.
Great to see Jerry Punch back where he blongs on pit road where he really shiens, but could live without the Dannica hype, enough already.
Cars on the track, please. Pre-race for fluff pieces, ty.
Ok now that was funny, Marty says she is not a ventriloquist.
Her photo on the Nationwide promos, can you believe that?
Ok, this is a nit. But that conversation was before she went out on the track, not coming back in. Why do they make stuff up like that?
Would you not learn what those switchers are BEFORE getting in a car on track?
Remember when they played back the Jimmie Johnson pit stop out of commercial last season like it was live? They got busted on Twitter by the media and the folks listening to MRN and Sirius.
Looks like they tried to sneak one in again and got busted. This time by Danica!
This is where Doc belongs, he is in his comfort zone. AWESOME!
So nice to see Punch back in the pits, reminds me of his coverage in the 90's..
Glad they interviewed Chrissy Wallace. However, are there cars on the track? Or is this an interview show with an occasional smattering of race cars?
FOX...head and shoulders about ESPN.
Lets see what happens with the race.
A lot of the interview stuff could probably done with picture in picture. Or, start the interview on camera, and then continue it while showing cars on the track....unless there weren't any cars on the track at the time.
JP is a reporter. He reports well. Play-by-play was just a different skill set. Reid wouldn't in my opinion make an effective pit road reporter, JP wasn't the guy for the booth.
Now its straight, I'm good.
Chrissy is really going to be hard pressed to make that race though. The thing in her favor is the about 10 obvious go-homes in my eyes
Above....not about.
Ok, so I'm not just complaining. Love Dr P in the pits...thank you ESPN.
Do you need a certain amount of cars on the track before the show the cars?
If I'm a sponsor who really has no shot at winning the race, I'd almost tell that car owner to have that driver run right behind Danica....so they're guaranteed of having quite a bit of camera time.
Don't hear any car noise right now.
I guess I got my answer. Jerry Punch explained it.
I think new startup teams should have so many hours of pre-season practice time before season starts. What do you think?
Good job by DJ and Andy for speaking their minds. They didn't bash NASCAR, they simply told how they felt and offered suggestions about the tires. In the past, it was like they'd bite their lip in a situation like that.
Thank you Marty & Dr P for explaining why you aren't showing the cars on track.
I agree with what Rusty just said the NW cars need to be able to have more tires at tracks like Dega and Daytona..
Steve L,
I disagree. You know what you get yourself into when you start your team. I do agree with Dale Jarrett though that the teams should have an additional set of tires.
Didn't take the network long to get a comml ready promoting DP for the NW race.
No timing and scoring posted for NNS practice. Nascar.com is ignoring the NNS practice completely.
Those two different crawls at the same time still not a fav of mine.
Joe, the link is up at NASCAR.com, but it says Charlotte as the location.
I am yelling at them right now on Twitter and they are scrambling.
Nice start from the Turner boys!
David - I was thinking about what Reed said about the Cup startup team, that they had never done anything like that before. It would be good for those teams to be ale to run and shake out the car before season starts.
I know this is weird, but it's driving me crazy. Does anyone know why the US flag is raised at half staff at Daytona?
Coverage is what I expected. They just don't seem interested in showing cars on the track, even if it's single car practice.
I know I set the DVR to record what was suppose to be on ESPN2 but apparently all these emergency broadcasts canceled it out. Darn I wanted to see the Danica show
If I remember correctly, Tony Stewart won this Nationwide race a year ago in a #80 Hendrick car. I wonder if that same car is out there re-skinned under a different number.
Didn't a Senator? just pass away from complications of gallbladder surgery?
Its no different than starting your own business Steve. just because you haven't done it before doesn't mean you get a free no/low-risk test session before going for real. This is high stakes racing. You want to get your feet wet, do it at a lower level.
Go get'em, JD! I need my ticker!
It is so nice to see Jerry doing what he loves and is so good at.
Why do they persist in doing "slick stuff" like that Danica interview timeshift? It's too easy for them to get busted - just tell the truth, guys, the fans can handle it.
MikeC, KHI is fielding the 4 this year. It is NOT an HMS car. Its Harvick's teammate
I know this isn't relevant to race practice, but darn it, my soap opera has been preempted for news covering (gasp), the fact that it's snowing and has been for hours! i'm never home to see it live. Oh well, I'll watch NNW practice with you guys instead.
Darcie, it was also raised half mast over the White House yesterday. Saw it on the new coverage of the blizzard. However, I do not know why.
Espn's coverage so far reminds me of the Chase coverage. Watching a pre-recorded piece right now. I'm sorry, Espn just does not get it.
Typical BSPN coverage. Tight shots, full screen taped features & Brewer, and Danica-mania. ESPN still lacks the ability to focus on the product on track and avoid pre-planned storylines and useless features.
Been informed that both Dave Burns and Vince Welch will get at least one opportunity this season to call the play by play for a Nationwide Series race on ESPN2.
I understand that David. What I'm saying is I wonder if Hendrick took that #80 and re-skinned under a different number and possibly a different driver is in it.
I promised I would be nice and not fret over the small things in life.
So I am taking deep breaths and telling myself...it's just racing.
I want Danica to do well, but I am already sick of: Danica, commerical, Danica, puff piece, Danica, garage shot, Danica, interview in single screen.
Split shot please, cars on track please.
I don't think Leffler wanted to talk about Danica...
Ps...flag lowerer...I think because Congressman John Murtha of PA passed away.
possibly. possibly not. Did they wad anything up at Dega or Tona after the Feb race?
That "HMS" car may have well been a JRM car...
Darcie, here is a quote from CNN
"Former congressman Charlie Wilson of Texas died Wednesday at age 76"
I'm really disapointed in the coverage here from Espn. I'm starting to wonder if Espn was set up to fail? If there are not enough tires to practice, why have coverage of it in the first place for an hour?
Not sure who to blame, Nascar or Espn. But this is completely boring.
JD - That will be interesting to watch. Dave Burns should be great in the booth. Vince Welch has me worried after his poor freshman season in NASCAR.
Senator Murtha from PA died this week of complications after surgery so maybe that is why the flag is at half staff -- don't know for sure. That's why I have trouble believing it when doctor's say "its routine surgery". No such thing.
Again, I've said it all along....it's nothing against Danica....she's a fine driver. But ESPN is putting their entire broadcast on Saturday into one basket with Danica. They better hope that one basket is able to run all 120 laps....otherwise that race broadcast is going to become a shambles, because they won't know what else to do.
It's obvious if that #7 car isn't on the track, they don't want to show us the cars....it's like showing the other cars to us is boring to them.
Nevermind, I'm wrong. Was Murtha.
Oh, finally some cars on the track.
Oh...Biff in small box, cars in large....are they checking out TDP?
Oh Oh...F bomb alert...LOL!
Evidently ESPN isn't worried about FCC language regs...
You'd think they would have this thing on a 6 second delay like call-in radio. Still, good for the booth to not just ignore it.
And hey, it's refreshing to hear drivers talk like normal people and not all scripted. It's a shame that the peanut gallery will rake them over the coals for letting a few curse words through. As if we don't all swear.
When you eavesdrop like that, and they (Jr, Danica, etc.) don't know that in-car camera is live, there's a chance you might get words you don't want to have go over the air.
Now thats the Dr. Punch I remember from before - Good questions & very engaged & enthusiastic. WOW. Its great to see finally.
I got to much going on to just sit & watch today but I got it on in the background.
Thanks to who ever at espn for finally putting Doc in the right place.
Thank Gawd it's cable! If this was ABC, the phone would be ringing.
Evidently ESPN isn't worried about FCC language regs...
As a cable network, they don't have the same concerns as the broadcast networks. See the southpark episode "It Hits the Fan". It's the reason Sirius doesn't have to worry as well. It's more of a PR thing for cable networks to try and avoid that stuff.
I almost forgot how much Doc knows about racing. this is where he really shines. So glad he has a chance to remind everyone why he's been around racing so long.
If you're talking about the flag that you can see when they show turn four, it's not at half mast, it just looks that way because it's behind a light pole.
sh** and fu** is acceptable on basic regular cable networks?
Do you watch cable TV? Showtime, HBO and even TNT? FCC does not regulate direct satellite biz.
ESPN made a great decision swaping Marty Reid & Jerry Punch. Like many have said, Dr. Punch is in his comfort zone. He is a solid reporter and is great on pit road. This is the Jerry Punch we all remember. Marty Reid has the energy back in the booth. Now the camerawork and ESPN distractions are next on the to-do list.
what's funny to me is that entertainment networks like A&E and USA bleep words like that, even though they were on broadcast networks originally (I'm talking reruns) and yet it's okay for sports on ESPN. Weird, but I assume they base it on what they think their viewers will bear.
"sh** and fu** is acceptable on basic regular cable networks?"
As I understand it, because you took the extra effort and pay the extra money to get cable, the FCC sees the situation as you choosing to see what these networks broadcast. If you don't choose to get cable, ESPN won't be in your living room. Also, satellite and cable are delivered through privately owned networks (the satellites or the physical cables).
This is in contrast to broadcast networks that come to your TV no matter if you want them to or not and are delivered over spectrum that is regulated by the government.
But I'm no expert.
ESPN2 has to be pulling their hair out. Lots of viewers and no action.
Cable TV is not broadcast over the air. That is what the FCC is in charge of regulating.
Cable is direct satellite to cable system to your TV. That is why you have pay adult movie channels and the other "stuff."
Saturday's race could be interesting if none of these guys practice running in a big pack. But then again, maybe they saw what happened during the Cup practice.
A 'smokeless tobacco' sponsor? I thought that wasn't allowed any more? Or was that the Political correctness catching up?
What was the brand?
Red Man.
It was never outlawed Sally. Even under the Winston sponsorship...
Wow, did everyone see Stewart's car? Wow! That baby looks fast!
Nothing new from the Fox media conference call. DW and Larry Mac said all the right pro-NASCAR things, including endorsing Brian France and his leadership.
David Hill got no questions about Digger, Race Buddy or anything else that made sense.
Waste of time.....too bad.
Finally good cars on the track and it's commercial time...yikes! Oh and another Danica promo. Please show the cars...please.
Glad I have my scanner on. Should have walked over to the track...but it is sooooo cold, lots of wind and another $30!
Anyone else get the feeling that these cars look like they will flip over like the ARCA cars on a dime?
but JD, this isn't the dreaded COT with the high center of gravity!
These cars have always been light and unstable when they get sideways. Its nothing new.
Anyone get the feeling Stewart is becoming the new Dale Sr around this place?
You can hear Marty Reid trying to direct the camera guys to show some other cars when he feels the #7 has been shown long enough.
Mike,
Marty ain't shy and he calls out the start and park cars when the pull off the track.
This season is going to be very different.
David, the smokless have always been allowed. During the Winston years you had Skoal and Levi Garrett
Joe, I know. that's what I was saying
I thought any sort of tobacco on TV was out.
Never the case. Cigs are out. Which to me is the single stupidest decision the US Govt ever made....
but I digress. Non-smoker btw.
@David That would be accurate, but how I look at this is that I don't think Tony Stewart should be doing the Nationwide race again. The four races that he won in there the last 5 years, including last year, he has failed to win the Daytona 500. If there's one race that Stewart should be going for the win this weekend, it has to be the Daytona 500, because he has never won The Great American Race, and I'm picking him to finally win it this year. But competing in the NNS race again might hurt him, and it might cost him again, but I hope that doesn't happen.
How though Smokey? Jr did the double before. The two races are not connected I feel. I'd rather go into the 500 with a W on Saturday feeling good about myself than not. The year he didn't run the NW race it's not like he won the 500 then either.
If Tony can still do it, and is young enough and has the time for it then do it. this is the one weekend where running multiple series' probably really doesn't affect your Cup effort at all barring injury does not become a factor.
But that risk is taken any time you turn a lap in anything. Or heck step on a basketball court or play frisbee.
well, that was a whole lot of talk and very little action unless you wanted to eavesdrop on DP and Jr and constantly talk about one topic. Does ESPN really NOT get it again?
They seriously need to get it together if they want me to tune in to these races. Having DP on the track isn't going to be the reason I watch.
Sorry folks, the new CWTS and Race Hub post is now up for your comments.
Michael Waltrip returns on SPEED with this coverage. Rick Allen and Phil Parsons are along for the ride.
Damon,
This is a conversation. We appreciate your views and your comments. We have been here for three years and covered thousands of topics.
Please focus your comments on what you feel strongly about, not what you believe others should think, say or do.
Play by these simple rules and you can really get your views across to a broad audience.
Thanks,
JD
Those WERE my comments and feelings JD.
The usual suspects don't like anything about the broadcast and whine more than Kyle Busch ever has after finishing 2nd.
I get it, usual suspects hate ESPN and their coverage of certain drivers. What else can really be said we don't already know?
Damon,
Please understand clearly my message to you and try to grasp it.
We appreciate how you feel and enjoy your opinions.
Just stop adding in the extra lines that try to tell us your opinion is superior to others.
Everyone here has a right to think and say what is on their mind and you are not going to influence that with harsh or hateful words.
I don't know what your deal is my friend, but don't let it happen again.
JD
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