This is the first race for Marty Reid since being told he will not be returning for the ESPN Sprint Cup Series telecasts this season. Tonight, Reid is with Rusty Wallace and Ricky Craven as the Nationwide Series races for the last time at a track most of us know as Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Shannon Spake, Rick DeBruhl and Jim Noble are going to be the pit reporters. This is a short track with the normal amount of struggles for grip and track position. The Camping World trucks put on a good show Friday night and managed to race side-by-side without much of a problem.
ESPN's goal tonight is simply to follow the best action on the track without once again getting caught-up in the glow of the Sprint Cup Series drivers competing. There is a healthy race for the NNS driver's championship and the field is diverse enough to put on a good show for TV.
The comments are always interesting when Wallace is put on the spot when his son Steven, a driver in the NNS in a car Rusty owns, gets himself in a tight spot. This type of short track is called a "payback track" because spinning another car out often results in no damage and just a loss of position. It remains to be seen if the younger Wallace is going to be on the receiving end of such actions.
This post will serve to host your comments on the Nationwide Series telecast from the ESPN gang. To add your TV-related opinion, just click on the comments button below. Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.
255 comments:
1 – 200 of 255 Newer› Newest»Hey all, sad to see this track go bye bye. Such a shame.
Now will they (E$PN) test their new graphics stuff tonight? You know, to work out the bugs, or see if it even works?
I've been watching races at this track for years, going back to the ESPN Thunder days. However, with R. Wallace in the booth this evening, I might have to miss this one.
Hi everybody, guess I'll be seeing my last race at IRP today. The graphics ESPN were using this afternoon were interesting. I like them.
Sbaker17: This is the last race, pretend Rusty doesn't exist. You're shaming it otherwise. ;)
We have GOT to get our troll a girlfriend! At least his spelling is getting better.
Happy Race Night Planeteers <3
Hope tonight's crowd is larger than last night's truck race. Lots of empty seats very uncharacteristic for this great track.
With Keselowski and Edwards in the top 3, I have a good feeling we will not have a happy result to end the 30th and final Kroger 200...
...it just sucks.
Tomorrow's pre race shows will be Carl Edwards contract situation - ad nauseum.
Anon 6:59 - Apparently they near sold the track out tonight.
Hopefully NASCAR fan council will show their opinion about this track getting removed. I am not watching Nationwide at IMS because of this, I hope others do the same.
Fans can show their displeasure all they want - NASCAR doesn't care. It's a real shame. I think NASCAR saw Lucas Oil big money sponsorship and wanted more fees.
Sorry Austin, I am one of those people willing to ignore the drama just to see the race, no matter who broadcasts or what happened before.
I will be watching the NW Series at Indy in 2012, but that's because its me.
Gosh! I hope they get through tech :(
Basically, that move just shows how bad things are for Cup at Indy.
They are basically throwing in the NNS race for free next year.
Boy the storyline for ESPN has changed - NO Pastrana. I don't know if he really has a NASCAR career but he is a super individual.
OK folks, Pastrana is out. What's the deal on Ryan Truex ? Did MWR give up on him ?
ESPN paid the bill for the travel and did all the planning for his big X Games and NNS race cross-promotion.
Tripp Mickle from Sports Business Journal has a great story on the planning and how Pastrana got interested in NASCAR.
Great story to read.
I never agreed with NASCAR running at Indy. That place was not intended for Stock Cars running there. And I sure don't think the Nationwide cars belong there either.
I really hate to see this track go too. Short track racing is the best.
So what makes them think fans will go watch a Nationwide race at the big track when they won't go to the 'action' packed little track?
And they think a Nationwide race at the big track will be "exciting" ? Bet it turns out to be a HUGE flop.
Anon, Travis brought his own money, MWR still looking for sponsors like everyone else.
Ryan Truex has been out since Chicagoland. Memory serves it was due to lack of sponsorship until Pastrana was to debut.
We really are in a position where driving talent and past history mean nothing. If you have the $$$ you have a ride.
I checked ticket availability last night after the truck race and there were some seats available but not too many. Should be a super crowd out there tonight. I almost wish I was there. Been out there 12 out of the last 14 years, but I refuse to pay $67 for an upper grandstand seat on the front stretch for race that usually takes less than 2 hours to run.
I can not support a move that is made by the corporate higher-ups to make more money, I live out in the West, but a lot of people hate this move and will refuse to support NASCAR Nationwide at IMS. I am fine with Grand-Am, but it is telling that they move a track with good attendance and great racing to a track that is overhyped and declining in attendance.
Is raceview suppose to be working yet.
Love Ricky Craven, and love how his tie matches his hair.
JD:
Does ESPN want to continue with new TV contract? If so to what extent ? Will they pursue it aggressively or get it back by default?
Come on trollmeister! It's condom. Geesh, just when I thought he was growing up.
If NASCAR were to at least give IRP the two dates another time, I would fully support the snoozefest at IMS.
Roadgeek Adam said...
Sbaker17: This is the last race, pretend Rusty doesn't exist. You're shaming it otherwise. ;)
July 30, 2011 6:49 PM
I've been trying that all year and it hasn't worked yet! :)
Marty Reid did not get the memo - blue shirt night.
At Nashville last weekend I spoke to the 'Wigs' from Dover Motorsports and they only sold 7,000 tickets for Friday nights Truck race. He said they needed to sell 16K to break even for the night.
I'm afraid we've seen our last race at Nashville as well. I'll be writing an article about this next week.
I'll have more on the upcoming TV negotiations next week.
All of the current TV networks have made polite statements about continuing involvement, but dollars are going to decide who plays.
Carl Edwards >> moving on from Roush in 2012. All signs point in that direction.
Sbaker17: At least tonight, just watch it, or if not, turn MRN on and watch the telecast. This is the 30th and final race, it means something.
Honestly, about Nashville, I've always preferred Gateway & Memphis over Nashville.
But RoadGeek, it's such a beautiful facility and fan friendly. One of my favorite to cover.
What was the attendance for both Nashville races, Steve? Nashville was Dover Motorsports baby, while Gateway and Memphis suffered. I won't miss Nashville if it gives a track like the reopened Memphis an opportunity.
You know Roush has sponsor problems for next season. If Carl goes to JGR then they have to start a fourth team from scratch and continue to let Carl live in the Midwest and commute.
I clicked on NNS qualifying after it had started and was just listening to the sound at first and Marty said Jeremy Clements was on the clock. I figured Clements had problems with his car and they had pulled him out of line and they were working on the car but I look up at the Tv and there is Clements doing a qualifying lap.
First Memphis bites the dust, then Gateway, next Nashville. Dover Motorsports is hurting. It pretty much goes to show that without a cup date, a track cannot survive.
Well, back to the Cup Lite pre-race coverage. @#&^#$&...
I didn't get final numbers of N-wide but all whispers around the media center were about this being the last race there.
Roush - Aaflac ? likely gone. UPS in flux - where will they go? Crown Royal - gone. Yeah he has sponsor issues.
JGR can just kick Joey out of the Home Depot car to make room for Edwards
So basically with Nashville, if it goes away, then I definitely oppose Iowa ever getting a Cup date along with Road America, since if Montreal dies too, those will be the only two non-Cup tracks left.
Don't forget that NASCAR.com has TrackPass RaceView for this race for free tonight.
First time for a NNS race!
You know, economic reality might just solve the '4 ear per team limit' problem. If even the big $ teams are having trouble getting and keeping sponsors, they might all have to cut back to only 3 teams...or maybe only 2 teams. That might loosen things up for some 'new blood'.?
Heh Rusty chose the other family member :)
Montreal may die but NASCAR will be elsewhere in Canada. Without two Nashville dates they need to scrounge.
How much of a sanction fee does NASCAR get from these tracks ?
Does anyone have trackpass working. Mine has the loading picture but just sits there.
It's not just the economy, face it, racing sucks right now, all series. They're all down to just racing for the last 20 laps to finish good, no racing until then. It comes down to the drivers. Look at last nights truck race. When they thought it was going to rain, man we saw some good racing. It should be like that all the time. Not just at the end or racing for a rain shortened ending.
This invocation isn't as good as last week.. but the 'Good ole boys and girls get it on line isn't too bad.
OH OH
Too slow on the piano - pick up the pace !
Ouch, I'm sorry I had to mute the anthem!
Let me know if you guys can get TrackPass to load.
Can't stand when they sing the Anthem so it sounds like a funeral dirge.
Sad, very sad to lose this great track and the Fri trucks, Sat Nationwide.
Hey JD
IRP has had a reputation for great racing and now NA$CAR is taking the Busch and Trucks away just for a race weekend at IMS. Sorry IMS is just not for Busch cars.
They continue to take NASCAR away from the short tracks, while they now race at the boring cookie cutter tracks. In the words of Harry Hogge, Rubbin is racin.
Money is all that matters to BZF, Continuing to take away short track racing while alienating fans with driver fines and rules on a whim.
A person with common sense would look at his track record and say NO THANK YOU!!!
I am done supporting NASCAR, done!!!
Anthem gets an A- from me, the piano in the background was way too slow, but she sang very well.
If this is like Iowa tonight, hopefully we'll see Trevor Bayne or Kenny Wallace in victory lane. I told a friend last night, if Kenny Wallace wins, to watch out. :)
Dover Motorsports seem like they are charging too much for tickets, you don't have to have a Cup date to get good attendance, DMotorsports didn't advertise for the Gateway and Memphis Races.
There will be a fan backlash - don't worry. Many still begrudge losing North Wilkesboro, Rockingham and one Darlington.
Track Pass is loaded. It says:
"Drivers will appear when race starts"
I guess BZF is either too stupid or too greedy to understand that fans want exciting races. Those seldom happen on anything but short tracks or speedways with enough banking to handle stock cars.
SBTF, it is not at all about stripping IRP, it is about saving the Brickyard 400 which is a mess.
The original thrill is gone. No one can see the entire track. Hotels are a ripoff. Hottest time of the year. AND NO PASSING!
Basically, it's a disaster!
sbaker what browser are you using.
Think about this, the rights fee from ESPN for just the Brickyard 400 is over 50 million dollars.
You bet NASCAR will do anything to keep that flowing.
Charlie said...
sbaker what browser are you using.
July 30, 2011 7:41 PM
Right now Chrome.
I may have erred with my last post.
What's open is "RaceView"
TrackPass up and running using IE 8. Did have to clear the cache first.
Raceview now working on both FF and IE
Thanks for the RaceView updates.
Has anyone been to a K&N Series NASCAR race? I think that series is great. I'd rather watch that than what this Nationwide Series has become.
Marty - eh so-so, Rusty - needs a muzzle, Ricky - GREAT
Raceview not working on IE or FF here. Just a black screen, and a survey monkey screen.
The Buddy thing always works on my computer.
Now that is racing
Why is ESPN showing Elliott Sadler coming thru the field? I wish they would show ALL the cars!
If Carl Edwards was leading, they wouldhave the camera on him. Poor Stenhouse, leading the race and still doesn't get camera time!
Yet another unwatchable broadcast from ESPN. Bravo.
They still have issues with the camera and the track action. They still show the wrong pictures.
I have race view working on Fire Fox. Maybe you need a plug in?
JD
The Brickyard 400 was the hottest ticket in town. The Speedway has go to get rid of those pit seats in order for the fans to see the whole track. All i am saying is NASCAR has to realize that short tracks are and will continue to be the root of american motorsports. Not 1.5 mile boring cookie cutter tracks that has no action and would put you to sleep by lap 50.
You are right JD. And thats just sad.
How refreshing it is to hear Ricky Craven in the booth with Rusty and Marty. This appears to be a great mixture of PxP vs. analyst. Marty has little knowledge, Rusty has a problem with his enthusiasm and Ricky has the credibility combined with his smooth delivery. They seem to respect each other and even complement the different views they communicate to the viewer. AMAZING. Can it be the blind squirrel can find the nut! This is the BEST coverage of a NW race in a very long time. CONGRATULATIONS. You finally got it right, now are you smart enough to leave them ALONE?
It is about time to do the Steve Wallace camera shot.
NASCAR does not have an identity for the Nationwide Series which is why the racing isn't good.
Feels like the "B team" in the truck already.
In-cars and tight shots. Zoooom!
6 S&P cars - it gets old.
Anon at 7:55 pm
J.D. Mc Duffie would be a S&Per today.
It's unbelievable how this series has declined.
Man, zoom out and show the racing.
UGH. Truck race coverage was much better last night.
JD, how does the process work that one know's its $50m just for brickyard? didn't they bid on a package of races?
Raceview is working in my FF no issue
"It's the first time these cars have been to this track".
Also, the last time.
Raceview loaded easy with IE 8, but got a security warning from Windows.
Marty needs to be waived, Ricky and Rusty do not need him! They are talking about racing not self promotion and drivel!
No Kyle Busch ? He must be really working on winning tomorrow !
bozo, I asked.
11 cars now start and parked. New record. Old one was ten for trucks in TX.
well, if the race was at the big speedway, would ESPN have the "A" team producing it?
I miss Randy LaJoie do this race, if he didn't have his issue, he might be there in the booth.
Anon, they are working hard on how to change things this season. They should have a different TV team for NNS totally down the stretch.
There is no extra charge for troll entertainment tonight.
It's free like RaceView.
Anybody else lose HD ch for ESPN on TW?????????
dvr ing race & not recording. Just blank black page. So I'm dvr SD which is fine...TW said they are aware of the issues..this junk happens too much...lost Fox Sports Ohio for Reds, too.
Debris ??
Vicky he probably had to do it because of ESPN's inability to show us a race and NASCAR's downhill decline.
Ebb and flow, two outstanding racing terms. 42 Laps in and Marty is finished, put the fork in him!
"sbaker17 said...
I've been watching races at this track for years, going back to the ESPN Thunder days. However, with R. Wallace in the booth this evening, I might have to miss this one.
July 30, 2011 6:43 PM"
I used to watch that too. I forget if the Munchkin raced at this track.
I loved that car.
Looks like a good crowd good timing on Sadler's move thru the field.
When RaceView begins to load, an image of Travis Patrana is front and center. Is this the savior of the NNS?
The production looks better after drinking a couple of pints of an 8.5% beer.
I guess ESPN had to scramble to their script after Pastrana issue so their second choice was Elliott Sadler!!!!
Anonymous said...
"sbaker17 said...
I've been watching races at this track for years, going back to the ESPN Thunder days. However, with R. Wallace in the booth this evening, I might have to miss this one.
July 30, 2011 6:43 PM"
I used to watch that too. I forget if the Munchkin raced at this track.
I loved that car.
July 30, 2011 8:08 PM
The Munchkin did race at the track.
Would that be the car or Jeff Gordon? :)
The camera work more and more makes you think you are watching an arcade game and not a real race.
Ok other than Marty, the booth is under control. NOW what about the cameras? The pictures are not showing the racing? I do not want to see inside Carls car?
sbaker17 said...
"The Munchkin did race at the track.
Would that be the car or Jeff Gordon? :)"
Thanks. I thought so.
Funny. I remember JG "debut" on Thunder. I believe he had a 'stach
or was trying to grow one.
James, we don't like seeing Stenhouse's name over his window either! Too closeup shots! Astros fans here in Houston are irate as they traded our favorite, Hunter Pence, yesterday too!
Brian France must have been very disappointed when the NFL lockout ended. That was the only thing that could save these broadcasts.
They are showing two cars and I am yelling zoom out and they go to an in-car cam. Come on.
Just showing pairs of cars over and over again.
Easy answer ...no one in the truck can count higher than two
It never ceases to amaze me that some people are so willing to parade their ignorance in public for all to see. Sad.
A blimp shot with just two cars and they said they couldn't do it. Why to go Espn.
I reached my debt limit on the number of commercials.
If this telecast gets any more boring, I might start leaving our troll comments just for entertainment purposes.
well...after reading comments, might just delete the race again, since I'm watching baseball.
1301 came back on but the camera issues....never mind. It's the same old same old. Zoom, in car cam, zoom, bumper cam.
Lather, rinse, repeat :(
I am very close to switching to CSPAN if this telecast does not improve immediatly.
Last time we went to this track (4 years ago?), it was the best racing we'd seen in NW, and the stands were packed. Seem to be empty seats tonight. Hate to see NW leave here.
Jennifer Jo Cobb start and parked. Ive lost all respect for her. Not for starting and parking, but for lying to everyone by saying she would never do it. Not the first time since Bristol that she has done it. Can you say phony?
Rusty wont shut up. Ricky wont either but at least the stuff he says is knowledgable. Marty is stumbling and stamering his way through this broadcast. Some of the graphics are designed for 4:3, like the ticker. Some are optimized for HD. Kinda frustrating and hard to read.
Wow, it's an understatement this race is short. Almost to halfway already.
Shannon is doing the PxP?
Jen crashed her primary in practice and totalled it.
Picked up this ride from Rick Ware just to keep her start streak alive.
No way they could run the race.
She is slowly fading. Tough to see.
Troll! Troll! Troll!
JK
Seriously? 4 cars battling and they pull away for a solo shot of the 88? I can listen and watch...I'm not drunk enough yet where the audio needs to match the pictures.
Tough night for producer and director. Imagine having a great short track like this and filling the screen with close-ups and two-car shots?
Enough beer, I need some whiskey. I just can't take much more of this ESPN carp.
Did someone say about 15 min ago that the "drivers have a lot of control over the car's behavior"?
Husband and both dogs are sound asleep. It wasn't that way last night with the truck race. I'm slowly fading myself.
It looks like there are a lot more seats. can you say too many temporary grandstands.
I think the truck race broadcast last night was better. This is a snoozer!
Marty Reid: Putting the pet population to sleep one dog at a time.
Whiskey here too please. And the TV is lagging the in car audio for the first time I can remember. Usually the in car radio is about 15 - 30 sec behind.
Something how I hear debris and know it probably isn't there anyway.
It is done to bunch the cars backup.
Jerry, there actually less temporary seats this year than there has been in years past.
They finally got the booth straighten out and it is clear that the camers work is now the weak link. This has been the most techinical supported race from the booth in a long time. Marty is confused, he can only work from a script. When Ricky ans Rusty are talking racing he is silent, does nothave a clue?
The producer and director must be having a quarrell? Its the Carl show! What about the 33 is the kid doing a great or what!
You guys are making way too big of a deal of the attendance. There's a couple rows in the turns that are empty, but it's packed other then that.
Pretty good crowd I was told by reporters at the track.
You mean this track is banked like your track Rusty.
Any odds that Craven is full time in the Nationwide booth next season?
There's a lot of either blue hats or shirts in one of the stands in turn 4. I think Kroger may have bought a bunch of seats with it being the last one for the foreseeable future.
The fewer seats, the bigger the crowd looks like. That is a good move.
Just showed 134 laps to go before the break! OOPS! Its like 70 to go!
Hadda rewind the DVR to make sure I saw what I thunk't I saw!
Jerry, I think he is going to step up to a role that includes filling-in up in the booth, doing stand-alone races and working on the NNS telecasts once ESPN's Cup coverage starts. That's my guess.
Nice job ESPN, showing the #6 in both boxes.
What seats did they take down?
Great TV time for Rusty's own #62 car.
50 to go! Crank up the excitement Marty!
Been a while since a regular stunk up the show.
This race better get some drama near the end - so far it's boring - not the typical IRP race.
Thank you editor, I lapsed and didn't think about what they would do with DJ outside of there cup season. If Craven was full time.
Rusty is talking about how all the top 15 cars are .1 sec of each other, yet when I look on Race View, I see the three RFR cars on the front straight, and the rest of the top 10 on the back straight. And they are all back there because Annett held them all up so much. Really Rusty?
Do you think they planed all the mile and a half tracks so they could have more time for commercials, cause they loose 10 laps with these "breaks"! ITS the end of the race, i have seen enough commercials!
If Stenhouse can perform in cup like this, Roush won't miss Carl Edwards when he leaves. And he'll save a ton of bucks.
Lot of camera time for the #62.
This race could finish in the daylight
Can Roush sell Stenhouse to a sponsor will be the question.
Maybe Rusty bought dinner for the director, thus all the TV time for the #62.
Yellow...they're still going to have about 35 minutes to fill in after the race at the rate they're going.
Nah, they will go to the X-games.
Rusty Wallace racing takes another hit...
Heads up. Red flag I am told!!!
I hope we get back in time to see the finish
Who'd a thunk it!
WOW Rusty, get the checkbook out !
its always great when a wallace wrecks
Thanks, Marty, we were sailing along. Poor Michael Arnett. Write another check, Rusty!
Wouldnt mind knowing what caused that wreck
They are trying SO HARD to blame Steven's wreck on a bump from the 30, which happened a corner before...
FAILURE.
Mystery wreck between Andrews & Annett
Deflect from Steven, rinse and repeat.
Quit making excuses Marty
How can ESPN not have the other wreck.. How hard is it to put a stationary camera to cover the corners. Track is a short track.. Rusty told us that several times.
What did the #30 have to do with that accident?
I guess all the cameras are on the cup guys or Elliott Sadler and we don't get to see the wreck.
How long can Rusty (and Steven) go on like this ?
Bad spotting again I think.. looked like the other wreck was done and over with for a bit, then the others come spinning in.
why are you all blaming the 66? He really had nothing to do with it. Shame on ESPN for missing the 40 & 62.
Good interview by Steven
We'll just build another car - AGAIN
Someone from ESPN please post some boot leg film of Rusty's reaction in the booth. Gotta have it cause you weren't covering the race.
Steven and Michael both given good interviews.
So the #62 caused that.
Jim Noble is awful, I've never heard someone speak so slowly.
Espn announcer - it wasn't the 40 fault and you ask the questions like he was.
It was avoidable on the part of the 66.
Did Jim even ask him if he was ok?
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