NASCAR is back on broadcast TV as the race from Richmond is carried on ABC. This is going to be a night that will start off with many 9/11 tributes and then hopefully lead into some good racing. NASCAR needs a good primetime showing right now.
Nicole Briscoe starts the telecast with Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty from the Infield Pit Studio. The theme of tonight is the Chase and this is going to give us a hint of how ESPN will handle the topic after four seasons of struggle.
Allen Bestwick will call the race, which will start at 7:47PM. Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree will be in the broadcast booth. Petree continues to speak his mind while Jarrett is still working on balancing his perception of being polite on the air with the reality of needing to provide sometimes critical comments on the action.
Dr. Jerry Punch, Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Dave Burns will be the pit road reporters. Tim Brewer will be in the Tech Garage. Richmond is known for hot tempers and hot brakes. Expect both stories to be told tonight.
This is clearly the first "race within a race" challenge for ESPN of the season. There are two very distinct storylines that will begin once the green flag flies. The challenge for TV is to keep track of the race and keep track of who is making the Chase at the same time. It has not been easy.
Tonight will also feature some one-time paint schemes, including the one pictured above on the Kyle Busch car. It should lend some continued feeling of patriotism as the racing action slowly simmers to a boil.
Look for ESPN to keep the cameras wide to give fans perspective on the actual racing action or fall victim once again to the temptation of zooming in to one or two cars at a time. It's been hit or miss this season. If the video framing is super-tight, that will indeed be a shame.
NASCAR is about to take a huge kick in the teeth from the NFL beginning next weekend. It is going to be very important tonight for ESPN to develop and follow-up on the emerging stories from the race tonight. Getting viewers to decide to follow NASCAR next week is the challenge for tonight.
We invite your comments on the ABC coverage of the Sprint Cup Series race from Richmond. To add your TV-related comments, just click on the comments button below.
498 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 498 Newer› Newest»My audio is fine. Running HDMI through 7.1 surround sound.
Mine too, sounds and looks fine.
Not commenting on the broadcast.................
I don't know how some of you guys have it with widescreen and all those doo-dads. My house has TVs from the 90s in the house. No DVR, one working VCR (the one in my room).
It hurts my ears with the sound of the engines.
Ok no audio mix problems tonight. In fact I wouldnt have noticed had it not been pointed out.Course I like hearing the natural sound over the talking, but to be honest I cant tell a difference from normal.
If I have to hear this freaking song 1 more time im muting for MRN. That "how do you like me now" stuff. I dont like you now. Find some new music that isnt annoying or older than Brewer.
Roland, don't forget they are still using Brent Muburger's iPod for bumper music. He left it at Indy 4 years ago.
Focus on the battles not random cuts to a pass that already happened
Roland,
When you tune an audio mix it's hard to do. Only in practice are cars on the track and that is not all 43 at one time.
They have been working on it and only AB is in the weeds for me. DJ and Andy are fine.
Love my doo dads! HDTV, 7.1 Surround sound, 2 Scanners, ITS NOISY LIKE NASCAR IS IN REAL LIFE!!!
LOL thats good JD
Dang they are going to force me to switch the ND game. Vickers is back on the track. Here Kitty Kitty.
been there, done that ...I can almost envision Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly and Dale Sr smiling upon the scene tonight ...just frammin' and bammin ...old school
track noise is too loud and I've lost Gordon's scanner since they went to channel 2 - ah wait, somebody from nascar.com just got on the stick and fixed it. It's been out for 15 minutes
For the record, ESPN is doing the 3 boxes with the Cup race in the bottom box during the ND/Michigan game.
The race is back on or is it a commercial about racing.
I am going to mute the TV. It's too annoying trying to hear the booth and the pit reporters over the noise.
Even at the track, I'd have a headset on with a scanner and I'd hear better than this.
I know, my dad just called wanting to know why the hell NASCAR was in his ND Game! Hehe...
According to Bestwick,three wide means the end of the world.
jr first car a lap down, caution comeing
and again, there's a full screen ad for sprint! If they were the last cell company on earth, I wouldn't buy their product - just on principle.
Cautions out. So let's not pay any attention to that and make money
Since they are too stupid to notice or mention this -- JR and Kvapil were the only cars one lap down. If JR gets passed, then takes out Kvapil, he still gets the Lucky Dog. Hope this adds to your enjoyment of the race.
I love how they had to finish the sprint commercial when the others we mentioning the caution.
Isn't that the second time we've had a stupid full-screen Sprint commercial with in car camera during an on track incident this season???
Yep, sure is.
NASCAR says no free pass for Junior! DOH!
Those Sprint things are beyond annoying. Hey a caution involving a driver with points implications and they wont break out of it.
And way to go Jr for actually turning someone. Bout time he got aggressive. Unfortunately I dont see him making the Chase tonight. If the 2 car makes it in the top 10 it opens pandoras box for the other wildcard spot. Im really pulling for that to happen honestly cause its gonna be exciting.
Wow Nascar did not give Jr the free pass. I expected them to do so, considering they throw cautions to keep him on the lead lap. A consistent ruling, thats rare these days
Anon 9:04 -- :) gotta love it.
Or not.
with that move, Jr looked like he should stay away from Bud or have one less Amp Energy
wow, NASCAR made a call AGAINST Jr? Aren't they afraid of the wrath of Junyah nation?
Frankly, I'm glad to see junior showing some attitude for a change! It's not like he does it every week, but it's good to know he can get mad! I keep remembering that race when he hung on Kyle's bakd bumper for several laps....
Well, at least we got lots of storylines. Not too sure we have been updated on them, but whatever.
Yes indeed, JD ..storylines aplenty ...should we tell ESPN about them? ...they clearly don't know what they are
Hate to hate on AB, but DJ is doing his job tonight as far as calling cautions is concerned
Driving like a bunch of rookies.
Roland, I am shocked, shocked I say!
ah well, they waited for someone else to wreck and Jr got the free pass this time.
So we're up to 8 cautions already. I got my wish there. ;)
Roland, glad you picked up on that. Several times he has called it out, even when the director was in the middle of a sales feature.
Jr is on a mission tonight! And it's been fun! Anyhow I still really cannot hear the guys in the booth...
"You made the call for two tires, why?"
Cuz there'll probably be another wreck in 10 laps!
I'm leaving the TV on mute. Since they aren't telling me much, I'll listen to the radio feed.
as the late Benny Parsons was fond of saying, "there's an accident looking for a place to happen"
Junior isn't happy with the way his car is driving now? Might have something to do with the remodeling he's done on it since the start! Hehe.
I mean 3 laps
9th Caution: Another Chase contender.
@GinaV24 - that's the way to go
Wow another yellow. Most all season now?
Hmmm. You think the non 'chasers' have it in for those 'top 10'? ;-)
Holly hell,bunch of morons driving tonight.
This would be fun to watch if ESPN just sat back at let it happen.
All this Chase stuff is pretty awful right now.
Wow, this race is going to go on forever at this rate. Lap 175 and they've been racing almost 2 hrs.
All the guys with an outside chance of making the Chase are determined to wreck out.
Actually not that difficult to do. More than half the field has an opportunity to get in. Nearly every crash involves a contender.
Robot Kenseth earns his money tonight....pit crew handed him a tach to change on caution laps....lmao...
Avery: The 500 had 15, however I cite that due to lack of 2-car tandem experience. The Firecracker 400 had a lot less.
Ambrose's crew chief tells Marcos that they only have 4 sets of tires left and the race isn't even half way over. I'm not surprised. The race reminds me of a demolition derby.
JD, any word on side by side tonight?
Another reason this CHASE format sucks.The champion should decided over the course of the whole seasons work.
MRN just badly missed a restart.
Oh....does anyone else realize it's a FULL MOON?????
Hard to decide if I should blame Jr for missing the Chase. The accident that caused him all the damage wasn't his fault. But if he had reached a little further during the season then 29th would have been a good enough finish.
As JD said last night - "idiots, have at it".
Andy, I thought Jr was still in the top 10 in points - as long as he is, he's in, right?
holy hat, what was that?
I cannot believe that just happened
Caution 10: Old 5 time and the Elder Whiner.
Adam, I think we are on our way to 16
5 TIME CUTS 22 OFF IN THE CORNER....MONTOILET SPINS....
Don't them two have a history?
Best caution all night.
John, they were supposed to practice it at Atlanta and did not due to the rain issues.
Would not answer if they will practice it tonight during the 2nd half of the race.
It starts with the first Chase race officially.
Jerry: i feel that was intentional. And he got penalized. Well deserved penalty.
can't believe the announcers aren't mentioning the history of 48 and 22
Adam, I am officially rolling on the floor laughing -
This has been a truly awesome race. Im a fan of good hard racing more than wrecks, but tonight has been a great balance of both with some tempers thrown in. Awesome. National TV audience getting a show tonight.
Well be talking about this one for a long time.
JD, think DJ is sounding much better tonight. Calmer and very much on point. Especially calling out what is actually going on.
this is a better race than most, although I can live without the deliberate wrecking.
GinaV24 -
If Jr. can't finish 20th or better, he's out. Unless everyone wrecks, he won't make 20th.
If Jr. Gets turned,he has it coming, he's been into the back of about four or five cars since the restart.
Heard on the twitter that Keselowski is in the top 10 now. Need an update from the pits and an update on points.
If anyone caught the lap by lap a minute ago it said Tony Stedwart.
and again we miss hard racing due to commercials.....replays again?????????????
thanks, Andy. For the simplified points system, it sure has become complicated.
Andy- Jr. doesn't have to finish 20th unless the 11th place car wins the race and leads the most laps. Running 29th., he is still around 16 points ahead and in 10th.
Andy - JR is locked in if he finishes 20th or better. He can still get in if he finishes lower than 20th depending on where Keselowski finishes. Staying ahead of Kes is the key.
wow, the race is an afterthought for that football update
Oh.....Bull merde college foolsball....triple screen that we dont get usually.....Meh
Miss the pass for the lead.Typical.
As I said, for a simplified system, it sure is complicated.
of course I don't actually CARE if Jr gets in or not.
Kes is in 4th, Jr. is in what 28th? He's gonna havta push the pedal harder.
@Andy D - I believe the 20th place cutoff for Earnhardt Jr. means that he has to finish 20th if Keselowski wins. If Keselowski is 5th, that gives Junior a bit of a buffer past 20th place to still make top 10.
Keselowski is 4th, Junior 25th right now and Junior is still ahead by 5 points.
only half way to go. The crazy chit aint even started yet!
look, it's snooki again! who knew she was so agile?
I would love the 11th caution so we can get pit stops here.
Hubby says he likes the monkey more than Snooki in the commercial.
yes my guy needs a caution - one that doesn't involve him.
@Gina, she lost some weight and tanned a bit too long! LOL!
I've been told to avoid nut jokes!
Snooki picked a awesome race to come too for her first race. If she gets on the twitter and talks about how good it is, its big for Nascar.
You should care if Jr gets in. if he doesn't, then next year it will be the top 12 plus 3 wildcards.
I see from the ticker that he's up by 4 over Kes. That's 4 places and he was 25th, so it's doable for him to get in.
I haven't any favorites but I'd like to see Kes comes from the back of the Chase and make a good run for the championship based on how well he's been doing lately. Don't want him to win though. I think Gordon should have another.
ESPN is so involved in promoting thier schedule instead showing the program currently on.
Impressed! Thru the field! How far will they get?
"Snooki picked a awesome race to come too for her first race. If she gets on the twitter and talks about how good it is, its big for Nascar."
How pathetic is the state of nascar if a tweet from that lump of crap is a net positive for your entire sport.
NorCalFan & Debby - monkey is better looking.
have they said what happened to stewart?
Is two horsepower enough to pull 5000 pounds out of the mud?
Andy, oh heaven's you are right about that. I don't know why NASCAR doesn't just make a "jr rule" for it that he always has to be in and just be done with it.
Or better yet, can the chase completely - that's always been MY first choice and let the points decide themselves over a full season.
Brainless has managed to make a sport that was really fun become a pain to enjoy.
They don't care what happened to him since he's locked in to the chase. Not important now.
No, the Smoke story is untold right now. Reporters are screaming about it.
wheres the fire??????
@anon at 9:53 Like it or not its the truth
Oh boy, here we go! 48 and 22.
Caution 11: Repeat of 10.
PERFECT TIMING
Payback?
This race is better than Martinsville
5 time and the 22 AGAIN
I hate to interupt the party on the grassy knoll, but the wild card is considers the Jamie mcmurray rule.
This might be interesting.
so is NASCAR going to park the 48?
It's been a long time since JJ had a car that bent up.
Oh temper, temper. The boys are having at it. Good stuff.
I smell a fight after this one. Who said richmond lost it's spark?
replay shows wasnt the 22's fault the 48 spun, he was low and spun himself, the dumb chit
Ole 5 time sent to the garage? Good. They love saying....too much mancrush I must say.
From Snooki 1 hour ago on Twitter
"OMG I fricken love nascar! So sickkkk"
The more the 48 gets wrinkled, the more I like Kurt Busch.
Ole 5 time sent to the garage? Good. They love saying....too much mancrush I must say.
So we're at 11 cautions, may as well naming them:
10: Old 5 Time and Elder Whiner
11: Rinse, Wash, Repeat
Any bets on 12? :p
Are they parking the 48?
Just a reminder: Both ESPN2 and SPEED have one-hour post-race shows tonight after the race.
NASCAR Now on ESPN2 and Victory Lane on SPEED.
It's obvious Nascar doesn't know what it wants. Edwards can send Kez flippin at Atlanta and not do squat. It's boys have at it.. Then you have some hard short track racing tonight and they want to park everybody that retaliates. Make up your mind on how you want your sport to be.
@Roadgeek Adam Idk man, its hard to predict cautions in a series Steve Wallace doesnt race in.
JJ tried payback and got himself torn up and the 22 is OK. Wonderful.
One hell of a race. ESPN has to be happy. Don't think you could have scripted this so far.
A general question for all the planeteer's:
Do you like seeing pitstops?
I know it is the only thing that is a bit different now days.
But really? Is this what racing has become?
sorry.... crying in my beer....
Kiteman, that is exactly why they are having such a hard time covering it. They are being forced to deal with the racing, not the stories they picked in advance.
First #51 Cassill spins mysteriously to get the #88 a lap back. (#51 is a Hendrick car)
Then #48 wrecks #22 to get JR a lap back.
Seems fishy
Good to hear Steven Leicht getting some air time from ESPN.
I would agree with that. At least Bestwick can change gears quicker than Marty.
and they break out the Freebird going to break. Its official, this race has now had everything
The position scroll is useless without time or laps behind the leader numbers.
Roland: If you saw yesterday's performance (and overall since about Montreal), Steven was a threat until a flat tire.
Nice to see Stephen Leicht get that #36 a good run. Blaney's trying in the #35, a Top 20 run so far.
Kiteman, if ESPN would just call the race, things would be fine. It's the whole gotta follow the script nonsense that I can't stand.
It's what we've been talking about for years now and they still refuse to get it.
C'mon Kez...win dude! Move into the top 10 and get those extra points!
Don't care if JR or Smoke get into the chase this year...and I follow both, neither one of them seem to have the drive, so to speak, to get a championship.
If they want somethig different, why don't they crown the chap at daytona in february since its the most important race? the 48 team usuaLLY SUCKS THERE.
Either i'm missing something or ESPN doesn't understand how the chase works...the battle between Dale Jr and Brian Kesolowski only has to do with whether BK gets bonus points for his wins. Denny is the only driver currently between 11 and 20 that had a win. So if Jr falls to 11th or 12th that doesn't knock him OUT of the chase. The only REAL battle on the track worth discussing is if Ragan, Ambrose, or Menard can break INTO the top 20. And so far (and i could have missed it) i've not heard them mention yet "As they run now" whether those guys are IN the top 20 or not. I really don't think they understand the chase scenarios, or maybe it's just me.
I'm not a #48 hater. Johnson is not my favorite driver but I respect Jimmie as a driver and what Chad has done. I started losing respect for Johnson a few years ag when at two races,he tried to wreck Jeff Gordon. I'm not a fan of Kurt Busch,but before tonight, Johnson either wrecked or tried to wreck Kurt at four different tracks. It appears he tried again tonight. For what its worth....
The problem I have with Bestwick is his Phony excitement,and his endless and pointless voice inflections.
Twitter is saying Cyndi Lauper butchered the National Anthem by screwing up a couple of lines at the tennis US Open. Glad to see it doesn't happen to just Nascar.
so, they're not actually doing a through the field, they are just picking select cars to talk about.
I would not want to be David Ragan right now. Does he pass and go for the win to lock himself in, or does he ride right behind that 2 car and help him get in on points which would put Ragan in.
Whatever Brad Daugherty. You didn't even know who Stephen Leicht was until AB pointed him out 20 laps ago. Seriously dude, shut up.
High as 13th? You mean eleventh, Bardy Brad...
Amen to RWar24.
SnowdogBob,
Agree but JJ lost the brakes. Not the hate they wanted to push.
AB tries his best, but when the pictures don't match the racing you can't help it along.
Caution during commercial
Caution 12: Bad Luck Hits Jeff....Again
Actually Stephen Leicht and Brad are both from Asheville. Im sure Brad knows who Stephen is. But ill give you this, Im sure Brad didnt even know that Stephen was in the race tonight until AB mentioned it.
Man Burton finally has a good run and he gets a flat
if enough cars wreck out, jr will be in no matter what K does... wonder if they think that is part of the jr conspiracy
Re Brad, did anyone catch the pre race when Brad said to Rusty "Between the two of us we have 6 wins here"? What was he talking about?
John in Chico - when did the 48 lose his brakes? tonight? or when he tried to wreck Gordon at Dega?
Jimm57 - I assumed he meant that Rusty had six wins there and, with his zero wins, that made six for the two of them. Another stupid Brad moment.
OK, I'll buy that! Thanks
Jr is going to get in due to attrition, not because of his ability to race.
Caution 13: Ambrose's Third Wreck
(Remember, the 500 had 15, the highest of the year I believe)
I believe that was a joke jimm57
GinaV24 said...
John in Chico - when did the 48 lose his brakes? tonight? or when he tried to wreck Gordon at Dega?
Now, Now, I'm not taking sides, just calling it as it was...
unfortunately I can't tell when Brad is trying to be funny or when he's just wrong.
Thanks Andy for calling out old 5 time being involved in that last caution. AB wasn't going there.
A little off topic,I really believe Earnhardt's biggest problem overall,is this obcene excuse for a car.He just can't seem to get a handle on it.He was winning races and was a regular contender with the old car.JMO
My screen says Telecast Ends At 11. It's 10:25 EDT and we're still at Lap 300.
This crashfest reminds me of a Bristol race before the repaving.
Anonymous said...
A little off topic,I really believe Earnhardt's biggest problem overall,is this obcene excuse for a car.He just can't seem to get a handle on it.He was winning races and was a regular contender with the old car.JMO
I agree completly, his dad had a terrible time for a while when the series went to radial tires.
Petree just said that with this caution that they were 10 laps outside their pit window. These guys are no match for Larry Mac when it comes to laying out who's got the advantage on fuel stops. These guys always drop the ball on this.
Well NASCAR is sick of the yellows too
Agree. Larry Mac might not be an English major, but he brings the info.
Caution 14: Reuti and Da Bowyer.
Junior was a three time winner at this track with the old car.
Why can't the director just follow what the booth says?
Actually, I believe that, if Jr. finishes 20th or better, it won't matter where Kez finishes, he's in. At least, that was what they were saying before the race began. But it's not nearly as dramatic, is it?
Is that Clint's way of decling MWR's offer?
Bowyer, a la Steven Wallace ...he hasn't missed hitting many other cars tonight
@Jerry hahahaha
JohninChico -- yeah, right, of course you aren't.
He lost his brakes -- I see those pigs flying by right now.
Record is 15 cautions twice here.
Does everyone find this race entertaining?
Anybody else getting kind of tired of the flying football player?
JD-When you're right,you're right. Larry's really gotten on my nerves this season, but when it comes to who's on 2 or 4 new tires or when they pitted for gas, Larry's on top of it!
Man, wouldn't it be great if Homestead was as interesting a track as this one? Homestead is a boring track.
I'd prefer Texas for the finale.
Jerry, LOL, maybe that offer is gone now anyway!
Jr up to 14th now. Notice they have not talked about how he might miss the chase lately? again, no drama.
This is some of the BEST racing I've seen all year! (And I've seen them all)
We are missing so much, no follow up and AB is out to lunch right now with details.
Come on man.
This remind anyone of the 'old' Bristol?
will be an interesting interview of jr, he's generally pretty honest.. i'm guessing he might say they don't deserve it
Richmond has been pretty boring over the past few years. although they are wrecking each other a lot tonight, they also seem to be passing, so it's better than following the leader around for a fuel mileage race.
I agree about Larry Mac -he knows the tire/fuel strategy and can explain it. I miss that.
Texas finale? That's displeasing. DEGA FINALE = :)
47 out of sticker tires.
Pigs? Flying pigs? I don't got no flying pigs! I don't got to show you no stinking pigs!!!
It IS good racing, they boys are going hard at it tonight, but the camera direction can still zoom out, way too many tight shots.
The end is gunna be real snotty and definitly run over time. May I be the first to predict a Green White Checker finish? (Yikes!)
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