Here we go with what may be the highest-rated Sprint Cup Series race of the season. The high banks of Talladega are calling and FOX is the network for the race.
Chris Myers opens the show with Jeff Hammond and Darrell Waltrip alongside. Myers is a mess this season. He plays the fool on FOX while being the sophisticated host on Showtime's Inside NASCAR. The recent rain delay he hosted was just awful.
Talladega is a race that calls for a cool head when things go bad. The speeds are approaching 200mph with the new spoiler package and Myers needs to set the right tone. The element of danger has returned and kidding because you care does not have a place here today.
Darrell Waltrip spilled the beans on Dale Earnhardt Jr. driving the #3 car in the Nationwide Series race in Daytona. Waltrip has a new Twitter account and he had been typing like a man possessed. The Earnhardt and RCR camps were none too happy with "ole DW." Should be interesting if he uses the pre-race show to apologize.
Mike Joy and Larry McReynolds are waiting in the TV booth for Waltrip to call the race. Joy has been decidedly low-key this season. At times, he seems almost uninterested. Whatever the reason, there has been a big change to the way the FOX play-by-play announcer calls a race.
Many fans have suggested that Joy is merely tired of Waltrip and McReynolds talking overtop of him. That may be the case, as both men have left their traditional analysts roles and routinely stop Joy as they offer random comments and emotional outbursts. Waltrip calling for Junior to win at Daytona is still fresh in the minds of many.
The best pit road reporters on TV will be fighting to get on the air once the green flag flies. Waltrip and McReynolds talk more than any other analysts on TV and the FOX pit reporters are often a lonely bunch. Steve Byrnes, Matt Yocum, Dick Berggren and Krista Voda should have a very interesting day.
Look for the battle between wideshots and the excessive use of in-car cameras to be going full steam today. This race can be covered in a variety of ways by the TV Director, so what the FOX guys choose to show today will go a long way in either exciting or frustrating the viewers.
Weather is clear, there have been no TV problems reported and the crowd is huge. This has the potential to be the best and highest-rated Cup race of the season.
This post will serve to host your comments on the TV coverage of the race by FOX. To add your comments, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks and let's go racing.
549 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 549 of 549Just checking in, is it me or are there way more commercials then usual today, seems like they come back for 5 mins then right back to commercial
yep, wait a few more laps, someone will goof up or get impatient and the big one will wreck the field. Its why I hate RP racing -- they were always crapshoots. Now Nascar's GWC rule has turned all the races into one.
There's more than 10% of the race to go. There'll more likely be another commercial break.
missed so much during commercail.
Need SIDE BY SIDE like INDY!
See how different it feels when they do not over use the in-cars?
single file with 24 to go. that's a surprise. Wow, got the 48 seriously out of shape
On Monday, cawsnjaws.com and our pal Cheryl will have the commercial breakdown. I will keep an eye on that.
REALLY!?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?!!!!! WE JUST CAME BACK FROM A BREAK!!!!!
We don't care about the two cars on the bottom catching up. Lets go to commercial.
OK, stop screaming. It's just FOX.
another commercial, they just went to one 5 mins ago, total crap
wow: commercial break, SEVEN LAPS, and we're back in commercial with 20 to go at dega.
somebody really needs to make up for losing commercial time yesterday, huh?
Did Burger King not learn the lesson from the creepy commercials that Wendy did?
Honestly I switch channels as soon as I see that character. it makes me feel unwell
It's like they have decided that races do not need play by play commentary (or maybe just 10%), but what race coverage needs is all color analysis.
Geez... if I wanted to hear a bunch of good ole boys go yakity yak throughout the race I would gotten a keg of beer and posted my address on Craigslist and issued an open invitation!
I'm going to have agree with anon. They have sold some contingency packages that if a race gets postponed they'll get an additional commercial during the next race that runs at it's regularly scheduled time.
Johnson climbed up to 8th and then dropped back to 18th, all during commercial.
absolutely, JD. Why doesn't the production crew get that too?
I should add, they MAY HAVE sold some contingency packages, not that they did.
Was that 2 laps of racing?
At least they have the CC/Racing box thing right now, but it really is not necessary to see the crew chief if he is talking.
OMG!!!!!! This is HORRIBLE!!!!!
FOX really doesn't care or they are just waiting for a wreck. There is no reason to EVER have a caution in the final 20 laps of a plate race. Sorry but that is how I feel.
The 1 and 42 are teammates, lest anyone forgets.
No, please Fox, you did not go to another commercial. You are scum.
This is a disaster.
There's your 10% to go break. The fact Mike made mention this is the last break, makes me believe even he knows they were overloaded today on breaks.
I hear televisions changing channels.
All of 2 minutes of racing and commercials again!
Nice way to totally deflate the closing drama of this race, Fox. >:-( I'm not against commercials or making money but this is ridiculous.
11 is going to give the 48 another push, 18 is going to hook up
Think they will do a through the field run down?
There are a few - what happened to such and such questions out there.
I just found the cheerleading competition over on ESPN2 since I refuse to watch during the commercial breaks.
I don't really care about this, but its better than nothing
!*#^!*#^!^ ANOTHER COMMECIAL??
CawsnJaws needs to count the IN RACE adds with in car.
WTH!??!
Seems there just haven't been enough caution flags and the race is going too quickly.
Not defending the commercials, but there has to be a baseline.
@mikec: GREAT observation!
long commercial break too
What is the deal with all these commercials? Someone put me outta my misery
Couldn't they at least get rid of the promo ads (American Idol) in that set?
MRN guys flipping out on radio. wish EVERYBODY could hear them..
Foxmercial's coverage has been c- today at best.
Yikes.
Caution! Quick! Go to commercial.
This caution here will almost ensure a GWC finish later....the caution breeds caution theory. If there wouldn't have been a caution, would've probably been able to go onto a non-GWC finish.
Did Labonte's spin really warrant a caution? Most of the pack had passed him and he got moving quickly.
They know how plate races work, if they feel they are falling behind on commercials, they need to place them up front or at the middle of the race. Not in the closing 30 laps.
loving the 31 worrying bodine in the pace car! very funny!
Did Burton just bump the Pace car?
18 gas only, clean window, add tape
No offense but I am hating this new 3x GWC rule...at a big track...could mean fuel issues..
@Red and longtimeracefan
Burton was trying to clean off his grill on Bodine's back bumper to avoid having to pit with the temperature gauge going high.
And more commercials!...
Great shot of Jr's rear bumper in the pits. All the paint on the middle section was completely rubbed off.
And more commercials!...
Great, now we are probably going to wad up a bunch of cars. Does anybody remember when a car spun and got going there was not a caution? I miss those days.
How long to get a field reset after all these ads?
Poor Mike Joy.
anon @4:13: yeah, i know. but it IS something burton would do to bodine -- at least in my mind.
Maybe FOX can fit some commercials in before the checkers fly!
Long commercial break. Are we going to miss the green flag?
???????????????????????????? more freaking comrcials
They had got strung out.....but they'll be gouging for positions now! Going to get crazy now.
Fox blows. You wait all day for the last 20 laps. They take commercials that entire time, then show you replays of what happened with 14 to go at dega. Then a caution for more commercials. Clowns. The lot of em. I would do the jail time to have the chance to punch Chris Myers.
One other thing, I wouldn't mind if they didn't have double file restarts at plate tracks.
You know JD, Joe Buck was answering viewer email during the Angels-Yankees game yesterday on FOX.
So they are capable of listening to the audience, tough as that seems.
Gordon is saying to expect a wreck - with the mix of fuel, no tires, 2 tires, 4 tires.
OMG what a mess this could be.
"I want you to look at the front of the field" as the director cuts to an in-car.
HAHAHA!
Come on FOX, you can do one more commercial break.
Yea in car cams during the lsat few laps.
Grade F
yep sophia I'm with you - nice weather and I wouldn't be inside today and I really don't like RP races.
48 had a problem, but who cares when JR is doing something
We all could see there was trouble about to happen in the back but they switched camera shots and went to the front - Why?
There's more going on between Johnson and Gordon than meets the eye.
No discipline in the booth whatsoever as to who is supposed to be talking when. >:-(
WOW! That 88 car is strong. Him and Stewart held their ground on the inside against all those cars on teh outside.
Well, folks, it was nice watching the race with you, but since my driver just got caught in someone else's mess, I'm done.
Fox gets an F for coverage from me today.
The way the #48 was dropping back, you knew there was trouble coming.
Bliss wrecked all these guys all by himself.
I can not believe Jeff Gordon's luck at end of race again :-(
So sad....bad for Jeff too....& others
Ok, time for another commercial!!!!!!!!!
I'm willing to say there'll be 3 GWC attempts today, and I'm doubting they'll be under green flag conditions when they take the checkers. With that in mind, I'm not sure when I'd want to be in the lead.
That was by far the WORST display of coverage and judgment by the production booth all season long. So focused on Jr they missed what was really happening. Who cares what Jr is doing with 5 laps to go, the last lap is money time. The wreck happened and they didn't care.
@ Martin
I wouldn't really blame Bliss there. Don't really think I'd blame Burton either. This is what happens when you bunch them up at Talladega.
And more commercials!...
Another case where we had comments here catch something FOX really didn't.
If Jeff Burton had been able to successfully bump the pace car to clear the debris off his grill, he was not going to pit the last stop and presumably could've been in front of the chaos.
ya know..I went from some years ago not liking Jeff Gordon, to liking him, to being so sad that he's had such bad luck.
heartbreaking for all when so close to the end. sigh
@Russ - I think the commentators were right when they said Bliss was afraid to lift. He didn't intentionally wreck these guys, but he kinda plowed through the pack and hoped for the best.
Jeff Burton says 09 Bliss got into him..not happy
car out of mud with tow truck
I'm sick and tired of that toyota commercial.
And no, I don't love love. God, that commercial sucks.
@ Martin - I agree with ya on that. Just sucks to see the best car be taken out.
Burton's last lap speed was 214.781 mph... Guess the tow truck made a U-turn.
Every race Larry says the fans have not sat down all race.
I know it won't happen, but considering that it looked to me as if the 48 intended to block the 24's run, I wish that Gordon would go out there and have a "racing deal" and make sure the 48 doesn't have a good finish either.
sorry, I know that's not very sportsmanlike, but man, that's how I feel about it.
Somebody should explain to DW what the word irony means.
Wad up number 1.
Not sure if Montoya wants to block.....Tony will move him.
Great job by dinger getting slowed.
Good replay angles
Joy taken control and called the last two wrecks. Very obviously trying to talk over the other two.
Oh lord, what a mess. And line 'em up and try it again. Let's see who runs out of fuel, too on the restarts.
The #48 golden horseshoe strikes again!
ok...is this really RP wrecks..if so its stinks
The gwc just doesn't work at this track. The chances that someone will get hurt is big time.
Very nice aerial shot replay of Logano wrecking a bunch of cars.
ironically, once again fox will get away with a poor broadcast because of an exciting finish.
I still don't think they got to the bottom of the Jeff Gordon wreck.
Pattie not happy they haven't red flagged
I'm just going to say . . .they should NOT red flag this race. That would give an unfair advantage to the teams that didn't have enough fuel to last through the end of the race under the current rules.
Kind of like saying racing to the rain doesn't count as a victory.
jd, i think they're not going to get to the bottom of that jj and jg mess. but i'm thinking monday will be "interesting" at hrm. hope mr h has lots of cookies and milk ready.
high road by newman. plate wrecks are plate wrecks.
going green this time by
No interviews but more adds? R u kidding me?
#FOXFAIL
Little mis-step by Mike Joy, when the orange wheels go onto the #20, it's not under repair, it's getting loaded unto the hauler.
Red/JD I felt like the 48 cut the 24 off and that started their incident
I don't want to see them red flag the race -- and BTW it is past 4:30
This is just ridiculous.
Thank you Jimmie. Your my hero....-sarcasm-
Pattie tells Montoya to shut it off
48 wrecks, many smiles out there now.
Jeffie managed to grab his lucky horseshoe back from Jimmie....
This is an embarassment to NASCAR.
LOL Pattie says we'll run it out we are NOT coming
GWC is NOT GOOD idea at long tracks.
The lucky horse shoe just fell out of Jimmy's backside
A great race just went to crap with these GWC's
trish in nc: that's how i saw it as well but would like to see a replay. problem is, with multiple GWCs, i doubt they'll go back and pick up the move that led to the 24 being so far back that he got caught up in the first wreck.
or something.
48 just a little too confident with those 4 new tires. You'll forgive me if I don't sound too unhappy with that outcome
ok..I think we agree..these 3 times GWC attempt is totally insane. Make it 2 but only on shorter tracks.
Why is there NOT a safer barrier ALL around DEGA??????????????
Since there into in-car cams why haven't they shown drivers shutting there cars off and saving gas in the last caution flags?
Jimmie made that mistake, spotter did his job right. For them to speculate and try to put it on the spotter is disgusting
What a joke. Why not 10 GWC?
Is it just me, or does the infield at Dega look a little sparse?
Sophia, i was hoping that maybe Jeff Gordon knocked it out.
Montoya is a real racer, go or go home.
I agree about the blame placing on the spotter -- that's just crap.
Myers has said there were more passes for the lead today then ever. Just wish I had seen more then a handfull of them.
finally PXP!
Harvick stole that race. Kudos to them awesome move!
Holy Cow! Great timing on that pass.
So who finished 10th
Come on back to the main page and leave us a comment on the NASCAR on FOX coverage today from Talladega when this is done.
Lot to discuss today!
They could have done better showing the finish of the rest of the cars.
Gotta feel good for Harvick and RCR with Shell announcing they are leaving after this year!
Harvick! Now that was a darn good finish
WOW!!!!!!!!!!! way to go Harvick. Another photo finish....
JD are ypu going to have a separate posting for the Nationwide race?
DW missed it on the gas this race and on the tires last race. Why does anyone let him in the booth. He's a load of misinformation and babble.
The FOX comments page is up. The NNS race live blog will go up at 5:20PM
GinaV.. Totally get your point and agree. Four hours into the race the booth finally wakes up for 5 minutes to do PxP. But, to late. The wife just took the dog on a walk out of bordedom and I turned the bigscreen off. Between the second last G/W/C stuff. (Thats becoming the norm really quick by the way). What is wrong with these broadcasters?
What a sweetly gentle finesse move by Kevin to win.
Remind you of anyone?
my MRN station went to country music after saying they were gonna carry the NW race? boo hiss!
I'm so glad Jeff said he was finally made at the 48. I hear cookies and milk might be in order...or cupcakes.
Thanks everyone! Please move back to the main page for comments.
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