Saturday, June 4, 2011

Live Blogging Camping World Trucks From Kansas (SPEED - 1:30PM ET)


It's the 400th race in the truck series this weekend in Kansas. Several title sponsors have worked with this series, with Camping World currently paying the bill.

Several TV networks have also televised the trucks, but the series has settled into a very happy relationship with SPEED. The network has consistently delivered a quality product at a much lower production cost for NASCAR.

This week, Krista Voda hosts the pre-race show from the starting grid at the Kansas Speedway. Ray Dunlap and Hermie Sadler are the reporters. Voda has been a critical part of the TV success with her simple and straightforward delivery of news, features and information. Bad puns aside, Voda sets the right tone for the racing.

Rick Allen knew nothing about NASCAR when he made his way from the Midwest to Charlotte to call the truck series races. Allen has "great pipes" and the ability to take a race and crank-up the excitement level. In terms of the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series TV races, this is an element that is sorely missing.

Phil Parsons has been the Andy Petree of the truck series. He flies below the radar, does not promote himself and has been consistently delivering quality analysis for many years on SPEED. Parsons and Petree just keep showing up and getting the job done.

The spice in the truck series telecasts is always offered by Micheal Waltrip. Fans either love his enthusiasm or think he is completely full of himself. Waltrip is a completely different person from the happy-go-lucky driver who used to clown around with Kenny Schrader and Johnny Benson on Monday nights.

These days, Waltrip has a lot going on. He is about to race in the 24 Hours of LeMans, his best-selling book is about to be made into a movie and he continues to run a multi-car Sprint Cup Series team.

When Waltrip is focused and on his game, the partnership in the TV booth works quite well. But when Waltrip is too loud, too overpowering and loaded with sponsor promotions he affects the entire telecast. Let's see just which Mikey shows up today.

This post will serve to host your comments on the SPEED coverage of the Camping World Truck Series from Kansas Speedway. 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.

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43 comments:

  1. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    Hey folks, sorry for the late start. Google blogger issues again!

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  2. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    Happy 400th Pick 'em Up Race Planeteers :) <3

    I wasn't watching when Bodine had that horrible crash but still PTL he's OK! Man alive!

    Busy busy race day today love it <3

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  3. JonathanJune 4, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    have fun everyone! Wont be here off to a wedding for the day/night!

    :( sad I wish I could go to Chicagoland tonight but family comes first oh well enjoy the 2 races today everyone

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  4. RolandJune 4, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    Im not usually picky about the anthem, but that was so bad it was laughable

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  5. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    I have given up on anthems for this season! Even the Indy 500 stunk!

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  6. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    I muted it still boycotting the Anthem with a few exceptions (Bands, MRO Kids, *some* Country singers) until they make sure people stop butchering it.

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  7. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    I agree JD that was a shame what they did at Indy :(. I had given that one a chance sorry I did :(

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  8. Roadgeek AdamJune 4, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    Didn't take this one long to the be the Cup show yet again. $10 the race is over now.

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  9. Roadgeek AdamJune 4, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    And there goes Hornaday into the wall. (Similar to last week.)

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  10. CharlieJune 4, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    For those watching Truck Buddy the in truck 1 is the 33, Ron Hornaday.
    In truck 2 is the 60 Cole Whitt.

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  11. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    Shame for G-pa!

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  12. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    Hate that for Grampa :( He wanted to beat the #KBShow today for the 400th race :(

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  13. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 2:39 PM

    Michael is doing a lot of talking so far.

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  14. CharlieJune 4, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    Truck Buddy - Hornaday out as in truck 1 view, replaced by car 13 Sauter.

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  15. OSBORNKJune 4, 2011 at 2:56 PM

    I'm not much on them only showing the leader circle the track.

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  16. Roadgeek AdamJune 4, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    This is getting ridiculous (the above trolling), a few of them (probably the same person) have been using actual driver names. Any chance we could block the IPs?

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  17. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    I know who it is. Guy with an axe to grind. He has many issues and actually I feel sorry for him.

    If you don't feed them, they go away. It's an internet phenom, same for Twitter and Facebook.

    If you can't participate, you disrupt. Sad state of affairs.

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  18. Roadgeek AdamJune 4, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    I find a major problem with whoever it is using the names of actually real life people (Chad Little was an example of one) to disrupt. There's no way as moderator to block his IP from posting here?

    Back to the race status - noticeably that this has become caution breeding.

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  19. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 3:33 PM

    For a SPEED broadcast, this has been a mediocre presentation. Kind of difficult to add excitement to a race led by a Cupper and the boredom of a 1.5 mile track..

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  20. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    Only thing that has saved this for me today is RaceBuddy and chatting online.

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  21. Mike (Detroit)June 4, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Go Onion !

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  22. PammHJune 4, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    This is not a good showing by Speed. I'm in & out, but I've seen truck hoods & decks & then a blimp shot soooooo far away I could barely tell there were trucks on the track...wth??

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  23. Mike (Detroit)June 4, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    Wow... Got back for the restart, stuck with it till the yellow flag, stayed till the pit stops we're done,,, feeling kinda dizzy..

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  24. Roadgeek AdamJune 4, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    In fairness, the behavior here is much more civilized than on RaceBuddy. It is so uncivilized there, a few need mental help and helps prove more points of what should be a future thesis.

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  25. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    Mikey usually isn't too obnoxious during the Truck races, but he's annoying me today. That one caution a little while ago was suspicious. It was a little bit of nothing right up against the wall, but I understand that the two guys up front needed gas. Oh well...

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  26. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 3:53 PM

    Those idiots! Kyle made an aggressive pass on Travis in the #5 car. The booth starts to mention it, but the production truck never cut to it. Typical.

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  27. CharlieJune 4, 2011 at 4:15 PM

    15 Laps to go.

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  28. SophiaJune 4, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    Too many bumper shots when we tuned in to TRY & watch the truck race. Looked like Fox broadcast :(

    I did not know Mikey's book was being made into a movie. Interesting..have not read his book but heard good things about it on twitter.

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  29. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 4:20 PM

    Mikey has done a good job today. Never pushed his book, movie, sponsors, etc...

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  30. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    SPEED has Rolex sports cars from the Glen next and ESPN2 has NNS quals from Chicagoland.

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  31. Lois LaneJune 4, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    5 laps to go, so let's focus on the race for 5th place. Thankx FOX

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  32. Lois LaneJune 4, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Qualifying at Joliet might get rained out...Big storms coming.

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  33. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    Nice one for Joey Coulter. Kyle tossed in the towel.

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  34. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    Really? I just talked to them and they said no rain. Hmm...

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  35. MikeCJune 4, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    I wonder if Kyle let Coulter have 5th so he doesn't have to do top 5 media obligations. Because I'm sure Kyle wasn't happy with his truck today.

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  36. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    Too bad that battle for second wasn't for the win. I think we all knew Bowyer or Busch had it since the drop of the green flag.

    Series still has no storylines.

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  37. MikeCJune 4, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    I dislike when someone starts talking and leaves it unfinished. For instance, Phil mentioned there's a huge difference between 5th and 6th. But didn't proceed to elaborate as to why there is.

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  38. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    Like to hear from KyBu and Joey C!

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  39. MikeCJune 4, 2011 at 4:33 PM

    The problem for the truck series so far this year is they haven't been on their own. Yes, they ran Darlington when Cup & Nationwide were off in March...but you still had Kasey Kahne in the event. Otherwise, it's been Daytona, Phoenix, Martinsville, Dover, Charlotte, now Kansas with Cup, and Nashville with Nationwide when the Cup series was off. Next week at Texas, while the Cup guys are at Pocono, it should be a chance for the Truck series drivers to shine on their own.

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  40. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 4:38 PM

    Agree with that Mike!

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  41. Daly Planet EditorJune 4, 2011 at 4:40 PM

    See you guys tonight for the NNS race on ESPN at 7:30PM! Have a good afternoon.

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  42. Vicky DJune 4, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    JD, thought the broadcast was terrific except I think Speed has a love affair with KyBusch and I was disappointed that a cup guy won. Not enough shown of our fav but then again, he wasn't up front much of the race today. I'm having some neck/back issues so I'm not able to stay on the computer very much so that's why I've been kind of quiet.

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  43. majorshouseJune 4, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    I am sick of seeing the Cup drivers stink up the lower series which I thought were supposed to be the feeder series. I too am sick of the announcers and their love affair with Kyle "Baby Brat" Bush. I say ban Cup drivers all together in the lower series.

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