Nationwide Series Finally Gets Some Online Support

The little engine that could is still out there and this week the Nationwide Series teams head to Kentucky Speedway for a stand-alone show. The race will be telecast Saturday on ESPN, but the TV news is actually about the drivers' meeting.

NASCAR.com is going to televise the drivers' meeting live online using the Internet rights held by the Turner Sports folks. This could be the start of something big.

Here is the official info:

NASCAR.COM and Nationwide Insurance announced today the first live webcast of a drivers’ meeting will be available for free at NASCARnationwideseries.com on Saturday, June 12 at 6:45 p.m. ET.

NASCAR fans will be able to see their favorite NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers and listen to the important pre-race information and rules review NASCAR delivers to all teams prior to the start of this year’s Meijer 300 presented by Ritz, from Kentucky Speedway.

“Nationwide Insurance is proud to partner with Turner Sports and NASCAR to be the first to offer race fans a behind-the-scenes look at the NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers’ meeting through a free webcast on the official website of the NASCAR Nationwide Series,” said John Aman of Nationwide Insurance.

To take part in this historic event, visit NASCARnationwideseries.com on Saturday, June 12th and register for the free webcast.

We have talked many times about the lack of online support for the Nationwide and Camping Truck Series. Perhaps, this is the start of putting live timing and scoring for all the on-track sessions online along with team radio scanners.

As we know from the last several years, the Nationwide Series gets completely plowed under by ESPN come September when college football begins play on Saturdays. Combined with the fact that ESPN also televises the Sprint Cup Series races starting in late July, the poor old Nationwide Series gets shuffled to the back burner.

Adding any online live video streaming would be a plus, but focusing on the drivers' meeting on this stand-alone race day is a good first move. Hopefully, we will see the NASCARnationwideseries.com website begin to grow and develop into a dedicated place for fans to get live pre and post-race video and online highlights.

Happy to get your feedback on this topic. To add your opinion, 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 The Daly Planet.

Live Blogging Friday NASCAR TV

Before we update Friday NASCAR TV, here are some recent Twitter messages from Wendy Venturini of SPEED:

It's difficult to keep the good news in any longer. We want to be the first to share with all of you...Jarrad & I are expecting a baby! Add to that, it's a BOY!! Our lil guy is due to arrive December 27...just as planned for the off-season! I'll be off camera Homestead to Daytona, but not a single NASCAR Raceday will be missed! Be prepared to watch my baby bump grow! Thanks!

Congrats to Wendy and Jarrad!

This is another split weekend with the Nationwide Series racing in Kentucky while the Camping World Trucks and the Sprint Cup Series are at the Michigan International Speedway. The ARCA Series will also race at MIS.

SPEED begins coverage at 11AM ET with NASCAR Live. John Roberts has Randy Pemberton on the panel while Bob Dillner and Wendy Venturini will be reporting.

The TNT crew is up next on SPEED as they call the early Sprint Cup Series practice. Adam Alexander, Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach Jr. will be in the TV booth. Roberts comes back with another edition of NASCAR Live after the practice.

At 3:30PM, SPEED will be joining Cup qualifying in progress after the F-1 practice is over in Montreal. Carrying the live F-1 show is a part of the SPEED TV contract. SPEED will re-air the qualifying coverage in full at 10PM ET.

The ARCA race is up next at 5PM from MIS. Rick Allen and Phil Parsons call the action with Wendy Venturini and Jim Tretow on pit road. ESPN2 makes its only motorsports contribution of the day with a version of NASCAR Now at 6PM hosted by Nicole Briscoe.

Darrell Waltrip is back on SPEED this weekend and he joins the Trackside gang on Friday night at 8PM. Elliott Sadler sits this one out. With the 24 Hours of LeMans being carried on Saturday and Sunday, the NASCAR Performance program hosted by Larry McReynolds will air at 9PM Friday night on SPEED.

We would like your comments as you watch these programs on Friday. To add your TV-related opinion, 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.