Update: Here we go again. The rain delayed race is now set for 10AM on Monday. Click to the comments section and join us for live chat.
There is rain in the area and Watkins Glen is a big road course that takes a long time to dry. The good news is that the race itself has the potential to really make some good TV.
Nicole Briscoe hosts the Infield Pit Studio with Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty. No doubt these three will be talking about rivalries and the points leading up to the Chase. ESPN has an hour to fill, so keep an eye on the mix of pre-produced features vs. live interviews.
Jamie Little is off working the IndyCar race today from Loudon, NH for ABC. Shannon Spake is working pit road at the Glen with Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch and Dave Burns.
Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree worked the Nationwide Series race on Saturday which produced very little excitement. Luckily, the handful of Sprint Cup Series drivers who dominated the Saturday event cannot do the same today.
Tim Brewer is in the Tech Garage. The normal road course issues include fueling the cars on the passenger side, pitting with driver's side away from pit wall and stopping early to get a break late. It's a road course.
ESPN had a tough time on Saturday telling the stories of anyone except the cars in the front of the pack. Sometimes, the current leader means nothing as fuel will not allow that car to finish. The stories are who can go the distance and what strategies are unfolding for teams throughout the race.
The network has a wonderful aerial shot mixed with all the normal angles we see at the Glen. Saturday's finish was shown from the camera at the far end of the frontstretch. While viewers did see the lead lap cars finish, it was tough to tell who was who at that distance.
While the Nationwide Series has rain tires and wipers, the Sprint Cup Series does not. Rain at this track could well delay the race until Monday. There is no information yet, but ESPN2 would probably be the destination. NASCAR would likely not make that decision until late afternoon. There are no lights at the Glen.
This post will serve to host your comments on the ESPN coverage of the Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. To add your TV-related comment, just click on the comments button below.
277 comments:
1 – 200 of 277 Newer› Newest»JD any word from the Glen on plans for NASCAR pre-race on ESPN with rain falling?
Why are there no rain tires? They used to have them for Winston Cup, though they've never used them. They've been developing them for twenty years.
I don't buy the "too powerful" argument. Some of us drive street cars with more horsepower than these cars. Nine hundred horsepower Can-Am cars ran in the rain. Formula 1 runs in the rain.
I don't care if these guys have little experience in the rain, they're getting paid millions a year. It's time for them to step outside their comfort zone and race like real men used to in the days of AJ Foyt. Different types of cars and different types of conditions.
Those high aerial shots from the helicopter yesterday were outstanding. We live about 80 miles Northwest of the Glen. Local TV weather radar shows rain moving North just South of the track. Looks like the Glen built a big, permanent grandstand in Turn 10 (last lefthander beforethe s/fline). Previously. it was a portable unit that was usually gone for the other races there. We had reserved seats there for years. Was seating there the year McDuffie died.
according to twitter, no way we get this race in today.
hmmm well that sky is pretty dark right now, but I guess it's not raining, so maybe they'll get things going. Did you hear if they are in hurry up mode?
I flipped over to ESPN but they were replaying the johnson busch incident from last week and talking to Weasley so I'm back to news. It's too early in the day to listen to JJ whine.
Rain almost at The Glen and by the looks of it, about a 60 minute rain event plus the track drying process.
Will make for very slippery grass and muddy too ( many cautions ) around the inner loop.
Lucky to get green flag any time before 3pm today. Sunsets at 8:10pm at The Glen.
could be interesting across the ESPN networks on Monday if both the Cup race at WGI and the Indy car race at NHMS get rained out til Monday?
Sorry for the delay in opening comments! All sorted out now.
FYI ---
If you have noticed "New" grandstands at Watkins Glen, there are at least 3 new large grandstands for todays race weekend at The Glen.
Those 3 grandstands came from Michigan Intl Speedway during the off season.
Next week at MIS you'll notice a "gap" in the seating area between turn 3 and turn 4.... the grandstands were removed from MIS and then trucked to The Glen and erected for the 2011 season.
Whew! That radar is ugly. I smell ESPN2 on Monday!
Ken, thanks for pointing that out. I wondered what was different!
Sure seems to me with all that rain around the track, they waist a lot of race time waiting for the pre-race show to finish.
According to media at the track, the rain has begun to fall.
Don't really understand why they can't use rain tires. NASCAR had rain tires ready for the Nationwide teams yesterday despite changing to a new car.
NASCAR said expense of transporting tires and cost to teams, but I think they just want a level playing field.
Some reporters want to race in the rain, others say it is just dumb and the big cars are not going to be able to handle any standing water.
AndyD - You have a 900HP street car? That sounds like something a Pro Football player would say.
Even if I force myself to believe that, I certainly hope you aren't racing it, especially on streets in the rain.
That aside, I do think they should run rain tires. They wouldn't have to run when it was actually raining. I do understand that NASCAR, the TV Crews and the fans don't want to have to be out in a downpour like we had in Montreal a few years ago.
However, after the rain stops running rain tires would reduce the wait for the track to dry.
That would make covering the race on TV much easier.
Brad's comment just a minute ago as we watched Jeff Gordon taping up his hand made me roll off the couch.
JD-
I would expect to see some permanent TV camera platforms constructed on the top of those new grandstands, especially turn one at The Glen.
You'll notice that the turn one camera position today is still on a simple scaffolding type set up.
Moving that camera higher in turn one will give a great perspective for that end of the road course.
Another tid bit....
The "red & yellow" grandstand at start finish at The Glen came from the Nazareth Speedway in Pennsylvania. Those too were taken apart and trucked to The Glen several years ago when ISC closed the very unique oval in Nazareth.
File this under, "Rain Delay Trivia" !!
Thanks for the reply JD. It would have been a cool thing to see, there would be a lot of new eyes watching since it is pouring in NY.
The track operators say the fans would leave when it rains. The TV networks say they cannot make sure the equipment would operate.
There is more crapola to deal with than anyone can imagine.
You'd have thought they would have turned the mic on first.
what do you think - get pre-race done then stop it?
what's the point of doing all this for no race?
Man I wish we had rain tires. Its not like we have that option every week. It never rains at Sonoma so this is the only chance all year to run them. We should be racing today. It makes good TV sense to run today in the rain instead of come back tomorow with only a fraction of the TV audience. When will Nascar get it?
YESSS!! She sang it well! B+
Jim Utter said this on Twitter a little bit ago -
I can't imagine any #NASCAR fan wanting to watch a race in the rain. I sure wouldn't
they ARE going to run the race sometime so might as well give the fans and network TV something. Then they dont have to do it again. This has been done since day 1 of NASCAR on TV.
Guess Jim Uttr has never sat thru a football game in the rain/snow?
All the complaining about a system that will be mainly gone in 2.3 hours. Look at the 1991 Bud at the Glen...they had a 1 hour 45 minute delay for repairing the wall in ex-Turn 5 due to the McDuffie/Means crash.
lol JD, Canada race fans make U.S. fans look wimpy. Those fans at Montreal would not leave in 08 despite the rain.
Told ESPN will stay live until 4PM or the race is postponed until Monday.
We will see how that works out.
Race start on hold, several drivers have moved back to the buses.
Those Montreal fans never budged!
Thanks Ken-Michigan. I didn't know that some of the grandstands near Turn 1 came from Nazareth. I was born and raised in Nazareth and made the post earlier about the Turn 10 grandstand. I used to walk our back door and harrass the pheasants until Mario and Michael decided to build huge homes there! Lol.
At the look of the weather, if we don't race today, we might be racing Tuesday not Monday. Tomorrow is about as rainy as today.
TV says the cameras wouldn't operate??? They worked just fine in Montreal, as others have mentioned. They work for football games. They work for the Weather Channel.
Someone please send the rain to Texas we are in our worst drought in decades.
Vicky - You can have it! It's been raining here since midnight and won't end until Tuesday.
I wish they would race in the rain but if you have ever attended race you would see very high TV towers on cranes or scaffolding - these positions must be abandoned when thunderstorms or high winds approach. Football has fixed positions in the press box. NASCAR TV locations are all outside in the elements.
fyi NFL football does suspend a game when a thunderstorm is over the stadium. Just saying.
Heck, I've sat in the rain waiting for a race to start or for them to dry the track with lots of other fans, so I have no idea what the heck Jim Utter is talking about re Nascar fans.
What happened to the ESPN ticker at the bottom of the screen?
ESPN has a ticker that comes and goes with sports updates and news.
ESPN2 has the "bottom line" that is on the screen all the time.
Not a big fan of either one!
Just been told that the Watkins Glen track takes slightly over two hours to dry once it stops raining.
That might help with your afternoon plans.
PS - Still raining.
How many times are we going to see Joey Logano's wreck at the track? And they always comment about him trying to close the door too!
anthem wasn't bad, but tooo slooooow. MIS will have good ones next wk-end...soldiers!!
In other words, adjust tomorrow afternoon's DVR plans.
They might as well call it so everyone can pack up and run before the weather gets worse.
Well, 3:30PM at best but the rain is still coming down.
I am not a fan of the coat and tie infield studio show. Even Nicole is wearing a dark gray jacket. It looks really out of place on her.
ESPN on ABC tape delaying the Indy lights at NH? Hear they are running but nothing on ABC and their telecast starts at 3:30PM or something like that. Those darn west coast affiliates.
Road course cars aren't pushing 900 HP, maybe 650HP. My sports racer only pushes 500HP but I race it in the rain. If they offered me NASCAR money I'd learn tow to handle the excess.
A couple of you have gave JD McDuffie's fatal crash notice.
On Thursday, Brock Beard on his YouTube site posted a memorial video of JD.
JD McDuffie's crash was indeed a tragic day for NASCAR. He may have never won a Winston Cup race, but he had a quality that many NASCAR fans admire in their drivers: Perseverance.
Because he still raced even when major corparate sponshorships were now the normto stay competitive. JD used what meager sponsorships he had just to pay for parts and all. He had to conserve his resources in the later years he drove.
The other driver involed in the crash Jimmy Means, called for assistance the minute he looked up on JD.
The moment the cars drove off when the cars restarted, Dr. Jerry Punch was with Chip Williams to announce what nobody wanted to hear.
Benny Parsons gave his take on the death and then said to his widow Ima Jean that they all love her and they're sorry.
I was only 2 when JD's crash happened, but it still touches my heart that many longtime fans, including here on this forum remember him and love him even to this day.
Now 20 years later he is now in Gods Victory Lane.
R.I.P. JD McDuffie
1938-1991
This is the type of rain to race in. Its rather light, not a downpour. Get the rain tires on and get going.
"NASCAR said expense of transporting tires and cost to teams, but I think they just want a level playing field."
So NASCAR wants to cut the cost for the cup series, but it is alright for the lower-budget Nationwide teams to incur the higher costs?
"The track operators say the fans would leave when it rains. The TV networks say they cannot make sure the equipment would operate."
So ESPN and NASCAR could not handle what F1 handles all of the time in much worse rain conditions than NASCAR could race in? And really, if there was racing on the track in light rain or just non-raining wet conditions the fans would leave anyways?
It is also worth mentioning that all of the apparent reasons that rain tires can't be used in the Cup Series don't apply to the Nationwide Series. None of the excuses make sense when rain racing is possible in a lower series but not an upper series.
You know, if they had rain tires, they could just dry the track until there isn't standing water, and then put cars on the track. Might save an hour or two of track drying, get cars on the track without the roostertail problems hey had in Canada. Could make things a bit more interesting. It means Goodyear only has to take rain tires to 2 tracks.
Geez, DJP why encourage more cup drivers in the nationwide series?
I thought it was pretty hilarious to see the NNS race in Montreal with the wipers not working, the windows fogging up and the drivers just skating when they hit standing water.
Taxi's in the rain the open wheel guys called them.
If the race is moved to tomorrow, ESPN will be the likely destination. My DISH Network Guide has English Premiere League Soccer on ESPN2.
The interesting part would be if the IndyCar race also gets postponed until tomorrow. What happens then? If they start it early enough, it could be on ESPN2.
Saltsburgtrojanfan:
As much as that, don't forget all the stuff after, including the lawsuit by Ima Jean McDuffie at Watkins Glen that didn't end in her favor.
Honestly, I think that's made Jimmy Means decide racing wasn't worth too much anymore, considering he gave up his ride a lot the rest of 1991. If Watkins Glen didn't install the bus stop chicane before Turn 5 after Tommy Kendall's crash, I'd think J.D. would still be alive to this date. Doubt he'd be racing, but still.
There was an interesting article via Jayski's site on Thursday about J.D. from a fellow crewmember who has worked to keep his legacy alive.
Honestly, J.D. McDuffie was a loved racer, and ESPN doing the honor of him at Michigan the next week with signage honoring him shows you didn't need to win to be popular.
We miss you a lot J.D., may god be with you. :)
This morning I watched the America's Cup World Series racing and the track there was wet and they still had the race.
Thats a nice ring on Shannon's finger.
Because she is married to a nice guy and has twins?
pre-race w/RW, Brad & Nicole isn't mind-numbing enough, now we get them for the rain delay?? good grief...:(
Still being told ESPN is staying at the track until NASCAR calls the race.
If Ricky Craven and Kenny Schrader were with Nicole, we would be having some fun right now.
Rusty and Brad are just stale!
that race in Montreal was a total wreckfest. Taxicabs in the rain may be a derogatory term from the F1 guys - unfortunately unless they practiced with rain tires AND wipers, it would be an awful mess.
The two RP tracks are enough of a crapshoot for me we don't need more.
I didn't know about McDuffie's crash until SBTF mentioned it but after watching the youtube, it made me feel sad for his family so thanks very much for bringing it to my attention.
I still need to get a few dents from a hail storm out of my car. Maybe I should call Clint.
Roadgeek adam
Nicely said
And what i did not mention was that start and park teams were nonexistent back then and even if it was JD would never start and park. You would have to shoot him to get him to park his car for the race.
Anybody else have memories of JD McDuffie
apparently according to Nicole Briscoe - and she must be an expert weatherperson, the rain may stop at any moment.
60% chance of rain tomorrow.
Here is the latest:
NASCAR_WXMAN Brian Neudorff:
Heaviest rain hasn't even made it to @WGI Should increase in intensity over the next hour still looks like 2 hrs of rain if not more.
The radar on weather.com says the same thing, heavier stuff moving in. At least 2-3 hours of rain, another 2-3 hours to dry the track.
No way they can start hte race and finish it by nightfall.
Hey everyone this stinks oh well guess we will have to wait this out. I love the videos of the crowd before the breaks though priceless
Going to moderate for a while until we get some rain updates.
ESPN filling with pre-produced features shown recently in this season's Sprint Cup Series races.
Told ESPN will remain live until NASCAR calls it. That might be around 3PM at the earliest.
I am surprised Menard wasn't bleeped when he mentioned SPEED!
JD, your comment about needing others in the booth during the rain delay was absolutely spot on.
I have been switching back and forth to watch the driver interviews but I am so NOT going to waste time with Rusty and Brad.
As a matter of fact, I'm going to go eat lunch now.
saltsburgtrojanfan said...
Anybody else have memories of JD McDuffie
Years ago at Riverside International Raceway, laying on the ground outside the pit area was a stack of garage passes that were clipped together which belonged to J.D. We found his hauler at a motel in town and returned the items. He was extremely gracious and humble.
I don't have any personal JD memories, but was his crash one of the contributing events that led to the addition of the "bus stop" on the backstretch?
Rain, Rain, no wait.
Rusty, Rusty, go away, come again another day.
Or NOT
I can repeat the McDuffie experience I posted here months ago. My brother-in-law managed a new car dealership a few miles from Nazareth. Richard Petty and McDuffie were outside to sign autographs. My brother-in-law told them that the dealership would be closing soon for the evening. They said that that would be just fine, but that if you don't mind, we'd like to stay until everyone got their autograph. As I said, I was at the Glen the day McDuffie died. It made Richard consider retiring
Should the race be postponed, will the race be shown tomorrow on ESPN2 instead. ESPN has its usual lineup while ESPN2 has the encore presentation of First Take as well as several other shows that can be preempted. What do you think?
Kyle Busch and Rusty Wallace in the infield pit studio.
This should be good!!
except that I have NO interest in what Weed has to say.
I will have to look into the life of JD McDuffie. Obviously a beloved race & nice guy with the dealership story. Not familiar with the man since I've only been into NASCAR since 2004...but I like to honor history of my sports.
Re: Rain delay, Ok, I hate to say this but WHERE is Bestwick with the rain delay? What's her name and Rusty & Brad & KyB does NOT a fun rain delay make. Can't even sit thru 3 minutes.
THIS is indeed, where we need Ken Schrader.
It' also makes me miss the Fox & SPEED guys.
Fox camera work for races STINKS but I enjoyed their rain delays...Mike Joy & his sidekicks (my brain can't remember anybody's names today!!??) Matt Yocum & Steve Byrnes could chase down some drivers for stories.
ESPN is just painful to watch right now. Sorry. Watching Reds game.
Dark & rainy here, like my mood. Dealing with ailing, crazy, angry 91 yr old mom who's lost will to live & eat & REFUSES medical treatment..just ready to leave this world. HATEFUL to deal with but I digress....sorry :( Been a rough few weeks..
I hope the race is on tomorrow. I could use some distraction these days & I enjoy Watkin Glens....shows up nice on TV.
OK, I found the answer to my own question, this quote courtesy of Wikipedia (not that Wikipedia is necessarily correct, but it makes sense):
A pair of incidents took place in 1991 resulted in a massive overhaul of [Watkins Glen's] safety. During the IMSA Camel Continental VIII, Tommy Kendall's prototype crashed in Turn 5, severely injuring his legs. Seven weeks later, NASCAR driver J. D. McDuffie died in an accident at the same site. Track officials added a bus stop chicane to the back straight in Spring 1992.
RAIN TIRES!!!!!!!!!!
Sophia, so sorry to hear about your Mom. It's not easy dealing with problems like that.
Years ago, when Mike Joy was a pit reporter, there was a rain delay in which the camera zoomed in on him interviewing Dick Trickle:
Joy: "Think the rain will stop?"
Trickle: "Always does."
The laughter in the booth was pronounced.
Thanks, Gina...been roller coaster for couple years but suddenly worse past few months. lost 14 lbs in last few weeks. Sees NO doctors, not on any meds, thus difficult to get home care. She has her sweet moments but wow, can she be cruel & combative to us. Lives alone & wants it that way. Elder care specialist will tell you not eating is a patients way of taking control that they are 'ready to exit' :(
OMG, just watched that JD McDuffie crash...so tragic but I don't understand why they could not turn over the car sooner?? No tow truck right there like we see today. Made me cry but it doesn't take much these days....still horrible looking crash at the Glen.
..sad day in sports & interesting to read JD Hinton called him a "saddle tramp" raced each week with little money or sponsors...truly one of the heroes of the day:)...race for the LOVE of racing and not the $$...in comparison some of todays drivers do seem spoiled, don't they? *sigh*
Track dryers!
reading on twitter it's still RAINING & it's a ruse on ESPN w the dryers! :)
Told now 4PM for decision.
There is NO WAY on God's green earth they get this race in today. I'm pleasantly surprised with ESPN's coverage during the delay. Must give Nicole Manske props. She has come a LONG, LONG way.
ESPN2 has a live EPL match tomorrow. So probably it'll be the main ESPN channel tomorrow.
Sophia, I'll keep you and your family in my prayers. It is just hard and there are no words I could say that will make it easier.
From the lap by lap:
3:54 p.m. ET -- Steve O'Donnell, senior vice president of racing operations, posted on Twitter: "Here's situation, if rain subsides-it has-we can dry and race, 1 more rain shower though and we'll be unable to get it in." He also tweeted the latest the race can start is between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m. ET because they will not start a race without trying to get all 90 laps completed.
Geez...Sportscenter.
BTW JD, has Leslie Czarniak been anywhere on ESPN yet?
Tx Gina. appreciate it. Not much fam left & only my sister & bro close.
JD
Sorry for the hassles on this site. *sigh*
Where did the broadcast go? Did espn stop showing the race?
ESPN left NASCAR coverage for SportsCenter as scheduled at 4PM.
They will update the decision to race or not when it is made.
If race is delayed, it will be on ESPN at 10AM ET on Monday. No pre-race show on ESPN or SPEED.
I asked Lindsay to tell me when she is going to do her first show, but heard nothing yet.
Supposed to be any day now.
We stand a shot. If the jet dryers work fast enough, we might get the race in.
We're done for the day
Postponed
Wendy V. just said it started raining again. Should be anytime now.
The only two faces I'd want to see on a Sportscenter after a Sprint Cup Race are Leslie Czarniak or Ryan Burr.
10 A.M. ESPN.
Gotta set the DVR.
I will see whoever here in the morning. (As a college student on summer break I can see this race.)
Here is the rundown. 10AM ET on ESPN in the US and TSN in Canada live.
No pre-race shows. No Victory Lane on SPEED tonight.
Thanks folks, see you in the AM!
Any word on if directv hot pass will be on?
thanks, JD. Guess it's DVR for me since I'll be at work - it's Monday.
Premier Sports in the UK have said they will be showing the race live too. They might not be able to get the EPG updated in time so suggest recording the programs on from 3pm BST or doing a manual recording.
Hey all
I just want to thank you f all the great comments about JD McDuffie. All of your comments about JD are spot on. I thank you all for remebering him because of ESPN wasn't going to do it we were.
Blessings,
Chris
RATS! I didn't know the Indycar was on. Didn't see on Versus so forgot to program :( Not with it today.
Hope the Glen gets run tomorrow.
It's no fun sitting in your car for 3 hours waiting for rain to stop. Just to clarify...it did clear up briefly, even some blue sky, but a 2nd system was on its way. I'll be heading out about 6am, have fun here.
Just an FYI Sophia, I think the reason they didn't move the cars in JD's accident more quickly was that there was no point, if you get my drift. You can see the safety truck was on the other side of the armco. I've read a lot about this over the years--have a theory based on that, but I don't think there's anything that could be done. Means probably knew that too, or must have suspected. That was years before I started going ('98) but the improvements that I've seen over the last 13 years are incredible. Still, I am glad people keep bringing up the history and remembering JD's legacy.
The only thing better than a road race in the dry is a road race in the wet. The fans would go home? I'm sure they are much more happy to be recording the race tomorrow to watch when they get home from work. The TV equipment might not work? Maybe in 1950. ESPN seems to get along ok at football games in the rain. I've never seen the world feed bail on a F1 race in the rain. There are always lots of fans at the end of races in the wet in F1, too.
Here we go again folks! Being told foggy but no rain at the Glen.
Hope you are having a good Monday.
Morning JD. Doubt we're going to have much of a crowd today.
Something to note - if Ambrose or Allmendinger win today, it will be our 5th 1st time winner of the season, that would be fun to have.
Told it is raining at the track.
Microphonal failure?
PA announcer.
Morning all
Good Morning to all from Michigan.
Tough to catch the 18 today.
Cars getting off track at the inner loop going thru the grass, could produce several cautions.
This should be interesting. Here we go.
Racin' on a Monday! Sprinkles.
No fluff in this race, they got right into it
Ohhh That was awful coverage.
Question Mr. Editor...
Are all the camera people and producers and directors the same on a Monday?
Don't some people have to go home?
Is the Normal ESPN people?
I didn't hear anything about one but is Nascar going to do a competition caution?
Did I miss Allen saying there was going to be a competition caution?
Same crew, but the Infield Studio and Tech Garage are gone. All those techs also left.
SPEED packed up all the on-site stuff. No Victory Lane after race and there was no pre-race show.
I'm likeing the Monday Morning race, but is it too early for wings & beer yet?
JM
Normally a comp caution is to check tire wear.
Not too sure that is an issue today. Heard nothing about it.
Good work by the truck keeping up with that intense racing btw Kurt and Ding. Like that track-level shot.
Why is it that we have tons of grass on the track every weekend? The camera shots here at the Glen this weekend are probably the best I've seen this season.
This is the first time that I've found the car cams to be of any value. Those shots of Kurt Busch and Allmendinger side by side really made me feel that I was right there in the competition.
There's raindrops on the roof cams on the cars. Wonder how wet they will allow the track to get?
Three stop deal counting backward first stop around lap 6-8
Perhaps the new splitter is a good lawn mower?
Nice to actually see AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose be the class of the field. Hope it stays that way!
So same people as every week in the truck.
Thank You...
Seems everyone is a bit slow on and off the air.
even AB
These damp conditions would be perfect for rain tires, no?
wow, that was some agressive racing by KuBu
It used to be that tires would often influence the outcome of a race. Now, it seems that "grass" is the great variable. Anyone at Nascar noticing this??
Sally,
NASCAR has said no for years to that for Cup Series. Helton said he will continue to say no.
They don't want to throw the caution because they want to get to halfway!
KuBu agressive or dirty-driving? Do we expect a Dinger-payback?
JD, I know Helton says no...it just makes no sense (imagine that!). I realize a downpour isn't realistic, but this light sprinkle? Rain tires would be the perfect answer. I know Nascar says it's too much of a 'wild card' this close to the 'chase'...but they race at Talladega...
RE: Racing to halfway. Much rather see a whole race, but it is making the racing really intense!
Dinger said he is going to put Kurt Busch in the weeds!
Back from commercial and no Infield Studio blather. Can we race every Monday?
And Tim Brewer is on Memorex. He is in Bristol with Rusty for the Monday NASCAR Now show at 6PM.
no chopper shots = low cloud deck ?
just guessing.
I'm at work and can only "watch" the live leaderboard as they are having a meeting in the conference room with the satellite tv in it. I'm noticing Kurt Busch is way back but I don't know what happened to him.
Junior up to 10th? Seems he's been passing cars regularly. good for him!
There is really no reason for Tim Brewer to go to a track to do his dog and pony show. He can "explain" that tires are round and his other bits of "wisdom" from a central location as his drivel is not track specific.
On the bright side here on Lake Ontario, about 40 minutes north of the track. This just demonstrates how the infield studio is not necessary, just added expense to the broadcast.
Should not race when spotters can't see. Too much on the line with points.
LS
Fewer options and new challenges for the truck with all this fog.
SPOTTERS? we don't need no stinking SPOTTERS! Honestly, I doubt if spotters are nearly as necessary as at an oval.
NASCAR raced for many years without spotters, it's time for them to man up and drive for themselves.
Heck Don, lets really go retro and also eliminate radios.
Distance intensifies how thick the fog looks. With spotters at different parts of the track, they should be fine.
Drivers being reminded to use low beams in foggy conditions.
Spotters are the drivers best safety part. If you ever drove a race car at these speeds you need a spotter to tell you about the parts of the track you can not see!
I figured that I would miss this race entirely since I was in Loudon for the Indycar weekend.
One of the best moments of the weekend was hearing the guest public address announcer for the Modified race on Saturday afternoon.
James, we all know what happened at Bristol without a spotter. I think they are very important. I'm curious how foggy it really is up there but the race is one third completed now.
@Vicky D,
KuBu spun himself in the inner loop going thru the grass thus having to pit early to remove turf and repair left front fender. Checking Lap-by-Lap on Nascar.com might help you out.
lets really go retro and also eliminate radios.
I'm game. Roof is loose, door is push.
Looks more and more like this is a fule mileage and luck race to halfway.
Oh dear...heres our lil pottymouth back from detention....
Does anyone know why these networks go so far out of their way to praise Kyle Busch more than anyone else? They are crediting his maturity on AND off the track (WHAT?) for making him a championship contender this year? Huh? He was a championship contender in the last 2-3 years as well and I see no difference. We still haven't gotten to the Chase and he could still fall apart there once again.
Too bad our troll doesn't have a summer job. at least his spelling seems to have imroved.
Anon at 11:11 I agreen with you and the folks who gushed over JJ and had to follow him every lap in the NW race on Saturday too!
I thought school started today?
The networks are trying to get fans to like Kyle because he runs up front in all series. Need viewers. Don't think it is working. It makes me not to want to watch. I mainly watch for my driver anyway. Races are too boring with not much passing just to watch for the race.
Ls
I read alot of the rememberances of J.D. McDuffie yesterday and recalled last night one of my own....in 1970, Grand Nationals came to my local track, Beltsville, Maryland, and J.D. finished 10th, AFTER making a pit stop around the halfway point for a CHILI DOG and Pepsi....Wendell Scott made a stop for water and actually got out of his car and helped his sons add coolant to the radiator...he finished just ahead of J.D in ninth...Ahhhh, memories.....
Just ignore the potty mouth. No fun with nobody to talk to.
Odd that there aren't as many debris cautions on Mondays, or when rain is threatening, or both.
Anon at 11:15 - it's not working!
I guess what comes around goes around, right?
You know, I always feel that, if you have to say over and over how great something/someone is, the less I believe it's true. I know that those who keep track of such things say that Kyle has had about 4 times as much coverage by the media than any other driver. Goog for M&M's, not so good for everyone else.
AJDingers spotter "22 in the wall"
AJDinger "Karma"
The pictures seem much better today. I'm not yelling at the screen as much today!
Yep! Put the broom away for Kurt!
Sally, it's like a movie, if they have to advertise it on every tv channel for a month before it comes out, it must not be very good!
Maybe the race will pick up a bit considering the situation.
Oh, I think business is absolutely going to pick up on this restart!
I was in Victory Circle when KB busted the beautiful Gibson Les Paul by Sam Bass. Just the mention of his name turns my stomach since that time. I had a hard time writing articles for months over that one incident. (I know, I'm weird)
Here's a dilemma, Planet-heads!
With the race being held today, what do you watch (assuming you're home like I am this morning)?
For me, I have the semi-dream setup. I have split-screen capability on my TV, so the race with sound is on one side, and "The Price is Right" is on the other.
Not quite normal, but hey, it works!
This telecast has the old style fee. No infield studio, no Tech Garage and no TV gizmo's.
Just good announcers and racing.
50" big screen, laptop, and coffee pot close by... Heaven!
Tweetdeck, Daly Planet, NASCAR.com
No girly game shows. lol
@VickyD...I think it's pretty bad when someone has to give themselves their own nickname too.
Tom, Drew Carey creeps me out!
Gee Tom, I hope the race finishes in time for you to catch your soaps.
I find I like the 'old style' coverage. I really don't miss all the widgets a bit. Hmmm. Notice that, ESPN?
And being a guitar player myself, that act was especially gut-wrenching, and also that Les Paul guitars are one of the more expensive guitars on the market.
Even Pete Townshend used cheapo copies of his Les Paul when he would smash them onstage.
It looks to me as though we would have tighter race if Dale would fall back two or three places. He's not fast enough to challenge Keselowski and not slow enough for cars to get past him.
Hey Don, cut Jr. some slack! He's driving his best road course race in years, and he needs the boost. Looks like Kez should drive hurt more often. Go Kez!
Bill, I too am a player and I have a Les Paul. I won't even let anyone hold it!
I agree, Jr. is driving a good race. I just wanted to see more than two cars up front. Jr. needs the points cuz he's about to fall out of the Chase.
Keselowski has come alive in the late season, I've never seen him up front so often. Kurt Busch's rant must have helped Brad as well.
you wonder if the injury has helped brad k drive better either due more concentration or maybe before he was driving too "hard" as old DW says "sometimes driving slower is really driving faster"
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