NASCAR follows college football on ABC Saturday night. The telecast is scheduled to begin at 7PM with thirty minutes of pre-race show.
Allen Bestwick will have a full house tonight. Ray Evernham, Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty are all in the Infield Pit Studio for the pre-race, the event and the post-race coverage. Evernham is a breath of fresh air and he works well with Wallace. Unfortunately, Daugherty is relegated to his cheerleader role in this scenario.
Marty Reid will be calling the race with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree alongside. These three did not have a very good Friday night calling the Nationwide Series race. They had a long day on the air handling multiple sessions and that showed with the lack of energy on the NNS race telecast.
Tim Brewer will be in the Tech Garage. His performances have become cult classics as he reviews mostly the same information he has offered since 2007. Dr. Jerry Punch, Jamie Little, Dave Burns and Vince Welch are the pit road reporters.
ESPN has a formula that maddened fans on Friday night. Each segment of the race begins with wide shots and an overview of the race. Then, the director slowly zooms the cameras in just like FOX until only one or two cars is being shown on the TV screen at a time.
The telecasts for the viewers ultimately become a series of random cuts between pictures of two cars racing for position. ESPN had confirmed that this style will continue by now showing two video boxes on the screen, even at short tracks like Richmond.
What do each of the two video boxes have in them? That's right, a tight camera shot of two cars racing for position. Fundamentally, it's embarrassing that ESPN cannot adopt a NASCAR production strategy that makes sense for the fans watching at home.
There are a lot of other viewing options tonight, including top of the line sports. It's going to be very important as NASCAR moves into the Chase to harness some momentum tonight and carry it down the stretch as the sport begins to compete head-to-head with the NFL on Sunday afternoons.
This post will allow you to voice your opinion on the ABC coverage of the Sprint Cup Series race from Richmond. To add your comment, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
399 comments:
1 – 200 of 399 Newer› Newest»HEY everyone welcome to Saturday night racing from Richmond! hope everyone has a great night!!!
There's actually a split national college football deal going on. Big Ten markets are getting Iowa/Iowa State on ABC.
Much less time on the clock there. Maybe they could put the pre-race show wherever the Iowa/Iowa State game is?
Yes, they will start the show and just welcome the rest of the country once the FSU game is over.
Better check the radar. Light rain has been moving in from the southwest for the last couple of hours. It looks like it will reach the track before 7:30.
college FB conflict aside, 6abc Philly was never intending to show nascar countdown have weekly eagles magazine show scheduled
According to ABC/ESPN's coverage map, 90%+ of the country is seeing the OU / FSU game on ABC.
Well im on weather.com and it says in the houratly forecast for Richmond th theres a 10% chance of showers until 1am there time then it bumps up to 50% chance of showers.... I think we will be A OK
Everyone do the NO RAIN DANCE for me ;p
Anon 6:44 - Watching it or having access to it? The M*A*S*H finale didn't have 90+% watching it.
Happy Night Racin' Planeteers :)
FSU game has 10:13 to go, and a long injury timeout...
Injury delay for Oklahoma . . . stadium is silent.
Palmetto,
92% of the country is getting the OU/FSU game. 8% is getting the Iowa / ISU game on their ABC affiliate.
Some stations were planning to cover the pre-race show with local news after football.
100% clearance for the race itself.
This is the normal cluster that we have seen at this time of year with ABC.
I will not be changing to ABC for the race until the Michigan vs. Notre Dame game is over.
4 min. to go in the game.
Lower case please. Thanks.
What a great exciting tennis match! I know people here like to complain about tennis going long, but also football goes long and guess what Nascar goes long as well.
Will be interesting to see how Ekstrom does tonight. I'll be switching back and forth between and race and Women's tennis final tonight.
Anyone getting the pre-race show? Just wondering about the regional football games and what is over.
You have to believe we are magic
Nothing can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don't let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Your destiny will arrive
I'll bring all your dreams alive
For you
TSN in Canada has a CFL game with a little under 2 minutes left on the clock.
Here we go again
That Ohio State game is also in some markets on ESPN, delaying Mr. Musburger's appearance.
My local ABC affiliate was planning on airing the local news rather than pre-race. I hope this football overrun doesn't mean they still have the full newscast and I miss the green flag. I tried to call to ask, but get automated system. Don't know if I should select newsroom or sports or what.
This is fricken BS!!!
Its 47 to 10....
Whats the point?????
MERCY!
Florida st vs Okla on my ABC with 2:21 to go. Upper Michigan here.
At least they sped up a bit, it was really dragging for a while!
ABC Tampa will obviously carry the FSU game to the (bitter) end.
still football here...47-10 score
Nan, I'll see that and raise you one! I've also got Alabama football on tonight! So,I'll have three things going!
Hope everyone has a great night.
Who is pretending to be Gina????????
I'm back over to ND-Michigan....
Great game over there...
Brad K Michigan just scored with 20 something seconds to go...
Looks like the Wildcats got it done..
A lot of people were lookoing forward to prerace activities. I mean, this will be over shortly, but what if had been an overtime game.
I Got chills, they're multiplying
And I'm losing control
Cause the power you're supplying
It's electrifying
Unfortunately, AB's "full house" of talent doesn't do him any good since he isn't on the air.
Let me know when they go to Nascar, cause I'm watching something else.
The guys put together a big 9-11 tribute piece. Hope we get to see it.
Philly is showing Eagles Confidential as scheduled. Countdown was not scheduled to air.
Wow, the Michigan QB has 850+ total offense by himself. 400+rushing, 400+ passing...
Yowza..
Called back and talked to the newsroom. They're still planning on having the news but he didn't know if they were going to do the full 30 min show or not. If they do, I'm gonna miss the green flag. That's really gonna make me mad.
Hey, Kyle Busch missed the driver intros! Does that mean he goes to the back of the pack on the start?
No worries. "Network Television" will soon be a thing of the past. We'll stream what we want when we want. They'll still be able to cram the ads in and we'll have the option to pay if we don't want that.
In Canada, CFL game is over, but TSN analysts are chatting, probably because there is no originating coverage coming from ABC from Richmond.
Should be #18 to the rear.
How ridiculous....
ABC blows.
Hey anon @ 7:18 pm
Watch your mouth This site is family friendly
JD's foul mouth finder
I mean, now we are watching commercials???
Our ABC station (Cincinnati)is running at the bottom "program alert: race starts @7:46". There is nothing about the pre-race show. I guess we will be missing the great 9/11 salute that Vince Welch tweeted about.
7:22pm Nascar is on here in the Upper Peninsula of Mich.
7:22PM and NASCAR is on the air.
Nashville just joined pre-race countdown
ABC Tampa's gone to the prerace (after running Fl Lottery commercial and a Republican attack ad)
The ABC affiliate in Oklahoma City is pre-empting Countdown for a local post-game show.
Wow, AB was in mid-sentence..
ABC = WEAK!!
What is on in Cincy???
Got The Count' in Central FL (I think it's 'cause we're the market closest to Daytona they got it on so fast)
I must have misheard the football announcers, they said Nascar was next, then after 3 local ads I'm watching the infamous WDAY News at 6 (6:22 to be precise.) It'll be fun to see if they actually get it done in time for the green.
Hi all - Ready for racing?
OK, just did a big check on Twitter and Facebook. Looks like everyone is on NASCAR. Whew!
Has anybody notice that Dale Jr. is not driving a National Guard car tonight and this being 9-11?
JD, we have the pre-race show on now in Cincinnati market.
Blog didn't pick up my name on previous post.
OK, just did a big check on Twitter and Facebook. Looks like everyone is on NASCAR. Whew!
@Jamie - Jeff Gordon is running a National Guard paint scheme though instead of DuPont as the primary. National Guard splits its primary sponsorship between Gordon and Earnhardt Jr.
WDAY (Fargo, ND) is still showing the news. Appears to be a full newscast too. The weather is on right now. No idea if going to have sports too. I'm about ready to call the newsroom back.
That was quite a prayer...
Mercy...
ESPN is now locked in to a deal with the SEC to air Saturday night games from venues in that conference on ESPN.
Probably the only reason ESPN didn't move these night races to cable.
Good one !!
ABC OKC is still airing a local post-game show.
I got chill bumps, nice opening ceremonies
Gordons running the "National Guard Military Intelligence Special" scheme tonight.. Blue and Black..
Boy both God Bless America and the National Anthem sung in a lovely straight forward manner. No frills, no "look at me Ma" crap. That's how they all should be done.
Most professional and clear National Anthem you could ask for.
Being told KB will not go to the back.
Would have been nice if the 88 and 24 were both driving National Guard Cars.
Lets get Physical
Jamie, it would. Money talking in the sport right now. Guys tight on cash. Hope Jeff G. gets a sponsor for next season.
black screen on ABC since 7:38. No picture.
I just loved that anthem, and the 4 Raptors flying over, epic!
Where you at, Charlie? Cable or DirecTV?
There is a picture on SD but still no HD picture.
Charter in Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
I just called WDAY, sounds like it'll be a full news show then they'll join Nascar in progress. I'll have to let them and ESPN know in my complaint messages that I'll have spent the ad breaks writing those complaints instead of paying attention to the important messages from their sponsors.
I don't think they explained the Poe/Richmond reference (he lived there & went to UVA.) But it's still kinda silly.
The prayer did go on a bit. Anthem gal was good, she just needed to slow down a hair so she could breathe.
Gotta go look at that radar.
Really well done singing tonight. Very nice! And what a prayer! Loved the flyover too.
ABC OKC just now joined the telecast.
Still no picture in HD from Charter Cable. Do have SD. Been 12 minutes like this.
@patrick It won't do any good. I've emailed them every year and they just don't give a damn. They have their agenda and we're just screwed. I can't believe they're showing the full newscast, including sports. I mentioned the time of the green flag when I called. That proves they don't care.
I am frustrated by ESPN narrative tonight: they are all locked in so now only winning matters!!!
News flash: most drivers have effectively been in the chase for WEEKS and you ignored this narrative at your peril weeks ago. Most drivers only cared about wins for weeks - why do you think Jimmy Johnson didnt care he fell to "9th?"
The wins ARE all thats mattered for a while - and here you are all saying the chase has favored consistency over winning. Give me a break. The only problem is your degenerate conceptualization of the reality of the points system. Drivers should have been racing only for wins for weeks. Drivers like Jeff Gordon have been effectively in for weeks. Now you act like you've discovered some new strategy. So dumb really. Discounts the reality of the chase. Makes a sham of the excitement of this race.
radar looks good...future cast says it should rain til after midnight. 'Course, could have pop up showers.
Charlie, I have a DVR with Dish Network. I was getting a blank screen on some HD stations a couple of days ago but was picking up SD. I checked my receiver upstairs and it was OK. Before I called DISH, I unplugged the DVR for 15 or 20 seconds (since that is the first thing they always ask you to do). When it came back on it was fine and has been fine ever since. It apparently reset itself.
Chase Chase Chase so at least we know the kind of coverage we will be getting.
Back after attending Atlanta. Looking frward to a great action packed race. I do have my Crimson Tide on pip but hopeing the race keeps my attention.
Does Terry in the #55 mean that the #55 is a race car?
jone1981: Nicely said!
Schrader says that "points as of now" doesn't mean anything until the end of the race! C'mon! Enough already!
OSBORNK I checked other HD channels I get and they work fine. It is the HD signal from Charter/ABC, is my guess.
Still nothing on HD but SD is there.
S&P prediction: 13 and 32
Maybe: 36 and 7
Commercials already?
@Oldnewenglander:
on twitter this afternoon they said that the team was changing the 55 over to a race setup. It had been set for start and park. so it does look like they will run the race.
Commercial at lap 7? Really?
Hey, you can't let it get to ten laps before a break! LOL!
Woooohooooo! MRN on Hotpass!
@MV- The 36 is racing tonight.
Direct TV Hotpass just went live
Nice timing WDAY. They made the switch just in time for us to see the top 5 as of lap 7, then commercials.
@oldnewenglander - From what I read on Jayski, Stavola Labonte Racing has worked on setting up the car throughout the day, so it may be good enough to run the whole race. It is the same car Bliss qualified though.
WDAY switched over to the race just in time for and ABC commercial break. And no mention at the end of the newscast about them missing the green flag. I called in and said they missed the green flag and was told they were still planning on finishing the newscast.
Even though I know it won't do any good, I'm going to send an email. This was completely ridiculous. They knew football ran late and they knew when the race was scheduled to start. It was idiotic to schedule a full 30 min newscast.
P.S. JD, sorry for the flood of tweets from me about this. It just frustrates the heck out of me.
Listen to this: On laps 9 and 11 all the fans had American flags and were waving them.
ESPN went to commercial....
Patrick, what city is that? L'ville?
@Melissa - Thanks, I didn't know what TBR's plans were tonight even with the sponsorship from Mohawk Northeast.
I can't hear the announcers over the sound of the cars.
I'm not sure if the above is a complaint or a comment.....
Complaint I guess, since I can hear them enough for it to be annoying to not understand them!!
I forgot about the flags. I knew they had them, just didn't know what they were going to do with them. ESPN just didn't care.
ESPN and ABC are a bunch of jack@$$es. Just stop watching and things will improve. Oh and by the way being that this is 9-11 i would like to take the time to give all my gratitude to the brave men and women serving our country and protecting our country.
All the armed forces
I salute you
Chris
Awesome anthem and flyover. Gee what happened to 7:30 as the start time? LOL well since I just finished dinner, I guess its all good.
G, 7:30PM is the program start on TV. The green is usually 15 minutes later.
JD - You would think the folks at home would like to see the flag tribute on those two laps wouldn't you? Good work.. What a pathetic start to this race ESPN.
jeez another commercial!!
can now hear the booth.... gonna be a long night between their idiotic comments and all the commercials....
Ann_Ominous if you can try changing your sound setting from surround sound to stereo or from stereo to surround sound and it might help.
are they going to go to commercial every 5 minutes? I turned on the tv at 7:30 and it seems that is all they've done.
ABC was behind on commercials because they joined late. All those breaks are going to be moved into the race.
This should be fun.....
Why do they have to do a full screen update on how brakes work during green flag racing? Yes. We know.
Other than about 50% of the race being commercials so far, it's not that bad...
Other than the ticker of course. If I cared about another sport, I would be watching another sport.
@JD I'm in Fargo.
As soon as I saw them go to commercial, I said "really"? Then something hit me and it could be a total coincidence, but it might make some sense. They took the commercial at 7:52 eastern, which was exactly 30 minutes after the game ended at 7:22 eastern. They could've been compensating for the ABC affiliates who pre-empted the prerace show for 30-minute news and local sports shows so that there would be a clean cut and viewers would be joined during a break instead of mid-sentence during the race coverage. Who knows?
Hey, there's an imposter here using MY nickname!
Gina, she was here last week too
I really wish they would stop talking about Bowyer! Just cover the race and stop trying to follow your stupid script ESPN!
Yea Gina, and he/she has been posting nasty things.... they really like Alan Bestwick, too!!!
well now. just realized i posted this on the wrong page! these are REALLY fine meds . . .
anyway:
hey gang! sorry i'm late to the party but had to finish watching my union win vs chicago fire.
have to say, i feel less miserable about not being at richmond 'cause i know we'll have a good time here tonight! thanks again, jd, for a great site for race fans!
They have me dangerously close to hitting the switch button on my pip and going with Bama/Penn St.
Nemechek has a sponsor on the car, but looks like he's parking early tonight.
ABC being into commercial while the americal lag by fans were waved on laps 9-11. That's unpatriotic. They could at least waited until that's done. ABC errr ESPN on ABC does not care about their fans and that is soooooooooooo obvious and that is why many are not watching NASCAR on that network or fox for that matter. Who ever runs ESPN and ABC sports should die and rot in hell
Chris
A pissed off ex-fan
Still no HD from Charter. SD is there. I even did the unplug the receiver box.
Gina, we knew it wasn't you....that was obvious.
ah another commercial....
JD, thanks for the info about the start. I didn't hurry to get here since I figured with all the college football and local news they would be late joining the race.
ABC has to get all those commercials in because they joined LATE? Wow, lucky us.
Me, too about JG's sponsorship. Geez, Brad how do you know the splitter is in the perfect position?
Hamlin Hotpass is great!
Looks like we're back to the Jimmy Johnson Show.
BTW, Hi everyone.
Come on. Not even a quarter of the race is gone and they already come back from commercial with Bestwick?
Broadcasting 101 - whoever sends you to break brings you back from break.
This it totally unsettling. I am turning it off now. It's bad enough I can't stand Bestwick and his condescending attitude about how he invented racing, but if Marty sends me to a commercial and he doesn't bring me back it just messes up my whole equilibrium.
I don't understand how ESPN doesn't understand this? Aren't they professionals?
Oh well - I don't think I will miss much since half of this race is commercials.
This should be such a good race with 41 of the 43 drivers not points racing, but ESPN has ruined it by coming back from commercials with Bestwick. Thanks for nothing.
Hey Gina nice to see you on tonight missed you last weekend! Great racing so far and I like the coverage so far
woooo I love raceday
LOL, Glen -- my writing style doesn't run to poetry you mean? I am glad to know you all knew it wasn't me. It really startled me for a second.
any word on if this is a sellout??? Curious cause it looks packed as can be but I do see some banners that look like there covering a few seats but maybe im wrong thats why im asking
Other than the talking heads on tv did any fan that pays attention think that the 48 team really went anywhere?? This is nothing new to them then they kick in the afterburner and blow everybody away in the chase. Not a 48 fan but I do keep up!
Rich, hmmm, maybe I'm going to have to change my moniker. It makes me feel a little weird.
When I do a refresh, I keep getting:
Service Unavailable
Error 503
Ugh, I am so not happy with the way the 24 is running tonight.
Thanks Gina, that is a GREAT comment about the television coverage of this race.
Brad, about the 48, I don't think so, the fans pretty much know what's what which is why when the talking heads don't make any sense it makes us pull our hair out.
Brad and his love fest over the position of the 48 splitter. I had to change the channel for a minute to turn it off in my head.
Jonathan...I highly doubt it. Yesterday there were tons of tickets left, unless they gave them away.
i SOOOOO love when ABC broadcasts races cause HotPass has MRN all throughout the race and no commercials love it LOVE IT
Really enjoying watching Hotpass Jr. channel on DirectV with MRN audio. Even getting to see my 24 since he is running back by 88
I'm boycotting this race. I did not watch the race from the start but from what i heard, I am done with ESPN and ABC. I am joining my buddy Vince(not Welch) and just following everything on the Daly planet.
Boycott ESPN and ESPN on ABC
WHO'S WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!!!1
You're welcome Anon, always happy to oblige.
Mutiny! LOL!
salts good go your not a true Nascar fan
Gina-I think it is our usual troll. He thinks he is doing something clever. He used Marcy and he's used my name too. Don't worry....you don't usually throw songs at us! :)
saltsburghtrojanfan -- LOL, I will admit to channel surfing since I'm using trackpass to follow the race. The radio coverage at least gives me the race and I can follow my driver.
Gina:
I was in Atlanta last week and listenening to all the Hendrick teams talk about their cars on their radios was disheartening. Other than the 48 they are pretty much throwing darts at the wall trying to find something that works. No one can figure out how to adjust the cars and make them better.
I'm going to stop watching these races if all I'm going to hear from now until November is the "Jimmie Johnson Drive For Five" crap
Jonathan
If you are not satisfied with the product you are recieving and nothing is being done about it you don't give them any more time
Lisa Hogan
I certainly am not Take that back
And of course, ESPN/ABC is loving their darling driver Edwards being in first place.
Wow, more tech center
satisfied or not theres nothing like Nascar even if the coverage sucks and I will not miss what i love!!! If you have kids and they act up you dont throw em out you put up with em cause you love them...... just my take
Does anyone else feel that Jr is doing nothing but mailing it in and cashing huge paychecks?
Sorry i'm posting more than usual JD. but i'm so angry right now
Ah yes, time for a local station break. That script has not changed in years.
Luckily we didn't have to listen to TB, although he was in the big box. Picked Hamlin for the win so we are following him right now. Lots of info on this channel.
Darcie I dont know even with the older car after that bad fire crash he had back in what 05 he has never been the same! I think he wants to win so bad but he lacks something I dont know but whos with me after that crash in some sports car in 05 he never was himself even before the cot
Darcie, I think Jr. has be mailing it in for a long time. He is clearly unhappy and unmotivated.
Oh boy, so now the troll is using poster's names. That's a unique way of dealing with stuff.
Lisa, as you say, I don't usually post songs.
Brad, yeah, I know, I listen to them on trackpass and except for the 48 (and darn it, I'm not a fan of his) the rest of the teams are just guessing.
Of course after listening to Biffle's radio just now, maybe they aren't alone.
Who just said they don't want to listen to the Johnson drive for five for the rest of the season? Well, me either, but I'm afraid if the 48 keeps running well and is dominant in the chase, that's what it will be since it will be THE story.
8:33 pm and finally HD signal from Charter is working. Only took 55 minutes to get it working.
Jr is getting close to being a lap down, so we should get a caution before too long.
48's rotors glowing. Gonna melt a bead. That would bring the fans to their feet.
Loooooong way to go.
I think HMS needs to switch JJ's car with Jr's and see Jr go! There's something about breaking up the old Jeffie Gordon/Jimmie Johnson bond that never lets a "third or fourth" wheel to succeed. I'm not hating but just look at history..No one in the 3rd or 4th teams have been able to jump pass Jeffie or Jimmy...just sayin
JR NEEDS EURY SR!!!! ENOUGH SAID
Nascar is all over the track looking for debris now!
Did he just say, "Darn tootin'" OMG. Some days I can and Some days I can't. Today, I clearly can't! Ha Ha Ha
Rich, we could only be so lucky! A flat tire, a little bump with the wall so the 48 has to fix the car behind the wall, priceless!
Jonathan, yes, I do believe that car crash in California, in the yellow Corvette, really messed with Jr's head. I just read in ESPN the Magazine, an article where they asked athletes what they were afraid of, and Jr's response was "Fire...Fire...Fire". Says a lot, I think. Plus, he just doesn't seem motivated and the move to the corporate button down culture at Hendrick is NOT a good fit.
We lost the sound for a bit but it just came back on on Hamlin Hotpass. Jr. having a terrible night so far!
@Finance Guy - Ekstrom's second stock car race.
Love the Milka Duno comment
I have to say I was honestly expecting Gordon to retire this year. He had always said he wouldn't race past 40. It has got to be frustrating to have been so dominant and now just not being able to beat the 48.
And unfortunately as they just said on TV, the 48 is very very good. Darn it.
Up to Speed is a fill in. If a broadcast was done right they would be telling you where cars are as the race unfolds.
Very nicely said Darcie
Wake me up when this race is over.. What a snoozer so far..
Hope everyone notices that JD's troll is using a lot of people's IDs tonight.
I think we are not getting debris cautions and other questionable cautions is because the weather forecast (per Wunderground) is for a 60% change of rain by 11:00 PM.
granted, my watching has been interrupted by life several times already tonight but i have a sinking feeling that i may not make it thru the rest of this broadcast. i'm getting more info from twitter & here than from the broadcast.
(forgot that tonight is "bike night" here in the l-dale so i have motorcycles running thru town since 5PM tonight. cars on tv but the sound is outside my window.)
RWar24 - yeah for all the hype about what a great race this was going to be, so far, not so much at least based on TV. Lots of cars a lap down to the 11 right now.
they lost me last week at about 10 p.m. and it may happen again tonight.
Hey Lisa
If you are talking about me I'm not the troll
Kind of interesting being a troll I guess. Can't participate, can't listen and can't contribute.
What a way to live. I get them on Twitter, Facebook and here. Weird.
Can't take the annoying COLOR coding at tope of screen & constant ticker at the bottom. Listening to baseball on Radio and piddling around the house.
Shame folks missing so much on tv but what's new with nascar races, right?
I have DvR & might watch the last 5 laps.
can't say enough how much i detest the camera work.
Hamlin is just killing the field right now. 120 laps into the race - only 280 to go!
I'm with you Gina. I may not make it to 9pm, Central Time
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