It's overcast in Dover and everyone is hoping this is not another fuel mileage race. Dover can be great on TV or just an endless single-file grind. NASCAR needs great right now.
Nicole Briscoe is up first from the Infield Pit Center with Brad Daugherty and Rusty Wallace. Saturday Wallace spoke with Fox Sports reporter Lee Spencer and said he might be forced to end his NNS team due to lack of sponsorship in 2012. It will be interesting to see if the sponsorship woes of the sport is a topic today.
Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree are in the TV booth to call the race. Dr. Jerry Punch, Dave Burns, Vince Welch and Jamie Little are the pit road reporters. Tim Brewer is in the Tech Garage.
Dover is a track where things happen fast. The main challenge for the TV team is to cut around the two bridges that go across the track. There is no infield, so cars coming down the banking hit the wall hard. You may remember debris from a frontstretch crash striking folks on pit road a while back.
It is important to stay ahead of the pack and show more headlights than tailights. Racing into the camera, especially off the turns, makes for great TV pictures at this track.
There are plenty of stories to follow today, including how Denny Hamlin does now that he has declared himself out of the Chase. Favorites picked by the TV pre-race show talent were Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson.
This post will serve to host your comments on the ESPN TV coverage of the Sprint Cup Series race from Dover. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. Thanks for stopping by.
243 comments:
1 – 200 of 243 Newer› Newest»And here we go again! Hope the weather holds out.
Hey everyone. Great race last night, great snooze in the afternoon. Let's hope for less snoozing today.
I also want to note, last night I wrote a post on my rarely used blog, but it was kind of in heart, and JD if you don't mind me leaving a link, its a NASCAR related post. Considering October 4 is an anniversary of death again.
Media is obsessed with JJ's radio traffic at Loudon. Lot about it on RDoS, will probably come up on ESPN too. Need to find something else to talk about.
I'm worried about Nicole. She said that if it had four wheels, Tony will drive it!
I am avoiding the prerace show today by watching the other Chris Myers calling the Rams-Redskins game.
If Voldemort and Weasley do not make it happen today it ain't happenin' for them this year.
You heard it here first.
Dustin Long? Bob Pockrass? Wow, something new.
Nice to see new faces on the TV.
Great seeing Pockrass and Dustin Long on TV. Hooray for something new. But this is idiotic that they are running an Jimmie Johnson's career is over segment. Hes only 29 points out. He will more than likely win the championship.
NASCAR Now content two hours later. Not my fav.
As we wait here is something I noticed last night. I gave the new series "Terra Nova" a try while flipping back ans forth to the trucks -- and after two hours of that I had had enough. "Lost" meets "The Time Tunnel" meets "Lost in Space" meets "Jurassic Park, Lite".
Anyway, an ad ran for the Samsung Galaxy smart phone (AT&T). The voiceover was ostensibly about "being number one" and during it the announcer says (paraphrase) "nobody makes foam Number Threes and waves them" talking abouyt those big hand things.
And I thought. Hmmmmm. Why three? Why not two? Is that a slam at Sprint? Veiled slam, but a slam nevertheless? If you remember when Sprint took over the Cup Sponsorship and kicked AT&T out and off the hood of someone's car (I can't remember offhand whose car just now).
Or am I just too far inside baseball here?
AncientRacer, the #31 of Jeff Burton was sponsored by AT&T after they bought out Cingular.
AR, it's a 4G face melter! My fav ad promoting live smart phone streaming of races that does not exist.
This is insane. They are really beating down every crew chief in sight. Give it a rest already. Go interview a driver out on the grid about the race today. I know thats too much to ask.
Real key is if ESPN goes back to their old ways and now tries to make the actual race fit into this crew chief vs. driver theme that they have carefully spelled out in the pre-race show.
@Roadgeek Adam. Thnks. I could not rmember.
Anyway...
What caught my ear in the ad was the bit about the "foam number three" finger things.
Because foam number three finger things are available at races and races are Sprint.
Just more time on my hands than is good for me as usual
Nice to see Leo Gordon on TV for the first time. He looks great.
Have a feeling a lot of folks are watching NFL right about now.
dumb to start these races so late, imo.
Not me, Im watching Indycar
I hope there's no opposition (I know links don't work well, but I need to show this):
http://15105crossisland.blogspot.com/2011/10/in-blaise-of-glory-10-years-later.html
Hyperlinks don't post in blogger.
Adam-excellent blog-so sad tho.
Roland,
You are missing the "Inside American Jail" marathon on TruTV!
I turned over from football just as Rusty was explaining how he peaked at 45. I almost sprained my thumb flipping back to football so quickly.
Its sad, because there are probably more people watching that than this here Indycar race. Call me when Hulk Hogans Micro Championship Wrestling comes on. Thats cant miss TV right there lol.
Let's go racin' boys! Uh, oh yeah. Sorry.
On a serious note though, this crowd is abysmal, yet totally expected. If Dover Motorsports doesnt go under soon, look for Nascar to take a race away in the next few years.
Gee Is Tru taking on MSNBC weekends? I don't get Tru. Got to get my Jail Time from MSNBC.
Oh, IAJ kicks some Lock-up butt! (That's TV talk.)
Brad is amazing. He can tell you your house is burning down, and you'll be ok with it. "Those fireman are doing a fan-tastic job of putting the fire out, so you'll be just fine."
@Roland
I was just thinking about the crowd and the issues Dover motorsports has had.
Wouldn't be surprised to see ISC or Bruton buy the remnants of the operation for the race dates.
Hey Jan Levinson with the nation anthem!
Should have shown Junior during that, as he won the first race after 9/11.
Bill, he just melted into a big cheerleader this season. He is even worse on NN because he does not keep up with the day to day.
Anthem requires an applause. That was amazing.
YES! Great SSB!
JD- Brad doesn't even keep up with day to day in Nationwide? Uh, isn't that his job, or something?
Could have used "Jan" at the Kentucky race last night. My ears are still ringing from that rendition of the anthem.
Ladies and Gentleman:
With slightly more excitement than late night on RFD TV. More empty seats than a WNBA game. And more fake drama than a TruTV reality series, I present to you Sprint Cup Series on ESPN from Dover. Whos ready for some sleep!
Are you saying "Southern Fried Stings" is fake? Lordy! What's next, the Kardashians?
Those grandstands - Ouch!
The only fun part about Kardashians is trying to figure out what parts of them are real.
I'm hoping for a good race! Already mowed the lawn today, sitting down with a nice Oktoberfest & some sushi! Lets GO!
Good one AR I don't think their brains are real, (What do they do!!) Who are they?
Yeah, the grandstands look like a Monday make-up race. :(
Save by Allmendinger. Great job
WOW! Great save by AJ!
Didn't think that was possible! Nice save by AJ.
Ding didn't ding the wall! I thought Logano would be there to pay Ding back for his barrel roll!
Crowd is pretty pathetic.
If Bruton Smith buys the place he'll probably shut it down and move the dates to others of his tracks. Then we lose two great short track races and add more cookie cutters.
mist sightings according to spotters and drivers. rut row...
Rain. May save Jr.
Junior caution!
Tim said "or the bolt come unloose"
Poor Allen.
The Worldwide Leader continues to be informed by Mother Nature that she is the real Worldwide Leader.
Jeff up to 19th, better than 34th, where he was starting. Made progress fast.
If they are going to broadcast Junior's radio they better have the beeper ready.
Was that reral rain or was it Junior rain? I was outside.
Living about an hour from the track there is alot more rain that will be coming as the day goes on. Wouldn't surprise me to see the CC racing for halfway.
It "rained" just long enough to get Jr's car fixed.
Nothing new Alan talking tooo
much and toooo loud. Does he and
the rest of the (s) crew .. do they
think that talking in a normal
voice -- wont work because of the
sounds at the track ?
And it just gets worse. Now jabbbber jarrreet is in the loud
talk mode.
There is no hope for theeeee
worst crew in history
If that is the best Dover can do filing the stands, they should lose a race date. There is no excuse for this pathetic showing.
I was hoping for some racing, but it is starting to seem that the teams are setting themselves up for another fuel strategy race.
Espn normally removes the bottom ticker during the Cup races. Would be nice if they would do that today.
ALAN ONE LAST THING BEFORE I GET
OUT OF HERE
WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP
No screaming on my TV. The problem with Dover is it's a real PITA to park, get to the track and leaving is even worse.
Come on, what does that prove? Bestwick is a pro and Marty Reid was waaay worse.
Just blind luck that they waited til Jr. was in position for the Lucky Dog and just before another car got lapped. Wasn't the caution on lap 41 rather than 40?
Like I said .. Poor Allen
Come on, what does that prove? Bestwick is a pro and Marty Reid was waaay worse.
No one will listen to him/her/it otherwise.
They also seeded the clouds so it would rain!
Yeah. Like to know how they got the water on the camera lens for Jr.
I know a lot of people from here that usually go to Dover but can't afford it this year. Times are tough everywhere.
No ads on my Racebuddy today!
In fairness to Marty, he had a good race yesterday personally. I just feel like he needs some working on his stuff, but that's it.
Almost impossible to just show up and call a race. Joy and Bestwick have such a history in the sport, they can put things in a great perspective.
TV guys call it "framing" a comment.
That is still what AA struggles with.
Going back and forth between NA$CAR and the IndyCar race now and first thing I saw there was a Versus graphic spelling "Frankfort" Kentucky as "Frankfurt"
Oh, well.
That is hilarious.
come on, thats a touchdown! should be an easy review
Once again the picture jumps back and forth between 2 car battles with hypertight shots. I'm getting dizzy from it all, and my cure for dizziness is to change the channel
omg...just realized at 4pm, The Yankees, The Giants and Dover will be simultaneously running.
Mikey, I'm thinking sports bar.
Wow! Indy cars are so fast at Kentucky Wow!
hi all. ordinarily, i'd be at this race today but i've had to sacrifice it so i can get to the charlotte race in 2 weeks. still love this track: it's unique on the circuit and the atmosphere at the track is terrific! hope newracefan and lou meet up today.
that being said: i think i may have already lost the flow of this broadcast -- and i'm not even trying to watch 3 sports at the same time today.
i really need to get to a track to get re-excited about nascar, is suspect!
The best thing about the Race Buddy in-cars is that you can actually watch a car for several laps setting up a pass.
Flicking between NASCAR and IndyCar. Testing Rahal's twitter comment from last night, let's see what race is the joke.
They are sure beating the crew chief/driver story line to death
Espn really pushing that driver/crew chief plot today.
Media types talking drizzle.
Looks like we will haveto depend on rain for cautions today.
#hat's the pit wondow today?
ok, these shots of JJ in the seat & the impact of the forces on his head/neck are, i admit, pretty impressive.
So the Indy race is doing the side by side thing, and the box is like a thumb nail for the race view during commercial. It's a lot of tight tv shots too for Indy, but man are they hauling!
Well the good news is the Versus' IndyCar Non-Stop SxS box is no bigger than ESPN's NA$CAR Non-Stop SxS box.
It is not really good news, but it makes me feel somehow less bad
Lots of sports TV choices today and even more as the day goes on.
Yeesh.
ESPN commercial breaks seem longer than Versus. Versus went to commercial, ESPN was in commercial. Versus came back and ESPN still in commercial.
Is this turning into another Edwards snoozer? May be time to switch to IndyCar.
Franchitti doing 215mph laps at KY. That's Amazing
Thing about Carl is that he was saying yesterday how good his car was. I figured he was sandbagging, but apparently not.
Buschseries61: i was just noticing the same thing as i'm also switching between the two races. i suspect the commercial load for espn is significantly higher than for versus due to stronger viewership at espn.
jd, any idea on whether we're responding to an anecdotal perception or a reality?
A wide shot giving perspecrtive on where the leader is in relation to the resto f the field would be helpful about now.
Each live pro sports event has a commercial format agreed to well in advance of the season.
Each format is a compromise of time and placement of sponsors to turn the max dollars.
Formats are limited by time and often by the number of commercial breaks.
NASCAR has some 2:30 national breaks tagged with TV promos for 3 min totals.
IndyCar does not have the same format.
Thank you for the points update. 1 every 100 laps would be great.
Versus is running a mix of SxS ads and full screen ads. I wonder if there is a pricing differential there. I thought at first maybe the full screens are locals, but it does not seem so.
thanks, jd! having solid info makes it easier to understand what i'm seeing across two different series and networks.
The full screens are the local breaks used by the cable company to make their revenue on the channel.
The side by side are almost all the national commercials.
YAY CAUTION FINALLY
I think Nascar was waiting for a reason to throw the caution to tighten up the field.
Leaving for IndyCar. They're having a race. Here it's a parade.
No reason for that caution. Bliss just barely touched the wall if at all. Certainly no debris. The quick look I saw showed the yellow Goodyear lettering on both right side tires.
How appropriate that Espn plays Toby Keith's " I aint as good as I once was" going to break. Yep, that about sums it up Epsn right there.
What is the story on Hamlin having Emotional issues?
News to me. They talked to him on all the pre-race shows. Marty Smith did a long feature interview.
Apparently, Hamlin has been struggling after he messed up at Homestead and lost the championship to Johnson.
Denny has been seeing a aports psychologist.
Burton/Kenseth at Dover. Classic battle.
If you remember back in 2009 during Denny's fued with Keselowski, Brad mentioned in an interview "Hes got a lot of problems, both on and off the track" Always wondered what he was hinting at there, kinda like Tony's dead weight remark last week.
Chris K thats funny when most consider the mile and half tracks to be a "parade" Yet if Nascar was in Kentucky everyone would be saying how we need more tracks like Dover. Dover in unique as its concrete and one mile to the T, but the racing isnt much different when it gets into a long green flag run. So I just dont see why we have all the hate for Chicago, Kentucky, Cali and so on when to me Dover is somewhat of a snoozer id much rather see a 2nd race in Cali than Dover. But hey thats just me
Wonder if they have a social media psycologist yet?
Only half way??? It'll be dark before this one's over.
JD- If there's not one already, I'm sure it's around the corner!
No Gina today, bet shes at the races
2 observations:
indycar racers cannot do double file restarts worth a damn and
i was at dover for that burton/kenseth battle. bill is dead-on: it was epic!
HaHa -now that there is funny JD.
Jon - The IndyCar speeds are so fast at the 1.5 milers that they seem like a 1 mile track in NASCAR terms. The IndyCars also race differently on the cookie cutters than the NASCAR racecars. Apples and Oranges.
Sports Psychologists supposedly are common in many sports. Lots of golfers supposedly were using them years ago.
It's amazing how clowns like Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty can keep their jobs, Michael Waltrip can be hired and a solid analyst like Jeff Hammond gets demoted.
I think Gina said last week she would be at the track. I wonder what she thinks of the racing.
If I was Larry Mac, I would be looking over my shoulder. Just sayin...
And that's unfortunate about Larry Mac, too. I had forgotten about his situation.
Dave Moody saying Red Bull is dead and the team is closing after the season.
Not what NASCAR wanted to hear.
Rain less than an hour away
All these bogus caution are a classic example of NASCAR trying to dictate the outcome--and not have any chase drivers a lap(s)down.
Evernham was on Speed Center this morning. I thought he did an excellent job. With this "new norm", no one has job security.
Quite frankly I am shocked that Red Bull rejected all the offers. I was certain that Steve Turner would buy it.
Here is a difference for ya
Na$CAR just had a Debris Caution. No picture (as is more often than not the case). IndyCar had one awhile ago. Booth and Truck went to it so, as the booth said, "You can see it is real"
whos the guy doing the "pressure" ad for the race? He also did the opening of the pre-race?
Pressure is my finger pressing downward on my channel recall button to go to Indycar race every time that ugly dude comes on and talks about pressure
Tough Guy was on last week too. I figured people know who he is. I don't.
Wow-the crowd looks scattered at best...
Not to state the obvious and beat a dead horse, but there is no excuse not to show the debris.
Ron Perlman...stars in Sons of Anarchy.
Thank you, Sally
Ron Perlman was also Hellboy.
Welcome, AR.
Rahal may have been exaggerating a bit about that Truck race, but damn if the Indycar race isn't holding my attention to the TV a lot better than the procession at Dover.
Crowd isnt that bad place hold what 150,000 has to be 80-90,000 there still a hefty crowd. And look at the skys, when I tured on race day I thought oh no here we go again w the rain as the skys were dark so sure that hurt the walk up
good grief, this isn't even to halfway yet?
Halfway starts the ESPN Nonstop commercials.
Gotta say I've been impressed with Jrj watching his in car today. He has methodically driven his way through the field. Wouldn't have know it if not for RB.
This Indy Car race is crazy. More action on pit road of this race than on the track of the Nascar race.
how come Austin Dillon always looks like he just lost his best friend? kid needs to smile more..
Indy cars booo
they all look the same so hard to follow that series
Dale Jr. would do anything to win, even moving into the same garage as JJ. Still hasn't won a race in years.
Johnathan:
Better to not know who half the drivers are whilst being entertained than vice versa.
jonathan, i think that if you take the time to learn about the cars and series, you'll recognize these indycar teams as easily as you now recognize nascar teams.
it's a different style of racing and shouldn't be compared to nascar -- and i enjoy both.
Nascar I feel did the right move moving the races an hour later, most games are ending now and now many eyes will go to ESPN to watch the race.
hey to each there own... I like to watch American drivers in Cars that somewhat look like Stock Cars. If Nascar dosent entertain you then your A either jealous of there success or just like Indy cars... again to each there own bro but this isnt the Indy forum just saying
Guess there's no chance we could convince NASCAR/ESPN to do the same side-by-side format TNT uses on the July Daytona race, huh?
track is clearly changing: lap times are a full second less than earlier.
tagliani talking about how important it is to an indycar racer to have established, permanent traveling medical team in the series. he discussed how reassuring it is to know the personnel recognize you, know you well, and the lead doc is right there for you.
too bad nascar doesn't place the same importance on this part of the "safety issue."
Bill, it took fans five years to force this one change.
I don't think it will be anytime soon that the live race pic gets bigger.
I think it would be more effective to use the equal size side by side box.
Fans will appreciate those sponsors a lot more.
Bestwick sounds frustrated
Red, you are right on with your medical comment. Something which Nascar needs to remedy soon.
For those like me who love to know the points as they run, nascar.com has live points standings as the run and its free.
JD- I certainly don't want to rock the boat; it's certainly much better than it was, but I agree with the equal size windows, and perhaps a thinner border (unless they still have to compensate for SD).
Bestwick will never admit it, but he has to be tearing his hair out.
The new producer and the old director are combining for another typical scripted and boring telecast.
I got all kinds of fans complaining on Twitter that their driver is being ignored.
Been there before.
While still on the Indycar/NASCAR debate, do you think Nicole is watching her hubby race?
Dale Jr. would do anything to win except cross the finish line first.
Won't do that. Wouldn't be prudent.
GREAT side by side racing at KY w/indycar right now!
Nah, but you know she is getting updates on her phone. No IndyCar streaming since NBC put the whammy on them.
Why dont they just show the racing on the track?All this bs about a scripted telecast is just insane.I mean come on,its racing.If they want scripts they are in the wrong business.Just sayin.
About to have an epic finish here in Kentucky
Neither Carpenter nor Franchitti seems to be able to get an edge.
Anon, don't know if you read the blog regularly but that has been the question since 2007.
Why not just show us the best racing on the track regardless of position until we get to the last fuel run?
It makes no sense to jam these scripted scenarios down our throats that never fit the racing.
Fantastic last 20 laps in the IndyCar race. Carpenter wins!
Heart pounding last 25 laps on IndyCar
Jr has a loosee wheel. Bummer.
That WAS a finish @ IndyCar. I couldn't tell who won. Had to be told
Holy s***! Indycar finish was a barn burner!
Ed Carpenter and Sarah Fisher Racing win for the first time. Awesome. Great side by side racing and a feel good story for Indycar. That was cool!
I thought this blog was about Nascar and the Dover race. Silly me.
An avid reader of your blog,JD.More of a vent I guess.
Jimm57
It is actually, but comparing racing and coverage is part of it. That is my excuse, anyway
The side by side box on ESPN is actually a bit bigger than the one on Versus, but still too small. Part of it might be that they are fitting it for the non-HD screens.
OK, I'll buy that Ancient. At least its motorsports and not Golf!
If GinaV/24 is at the track she has got to be dying. Jeff is in 14th and Wesley is leading.
Bunch of those IndyCar types keep coming over to NASCAR and messing around.
Seems like a long time since Tony made the move.
So in the pre race Rusty and Brad talked about how the 48 was done and how Jimmie and Chad had run their course. Whos dominating the race now? Yep.
Sorry if people were annoyed by the indy convo, but there wasn't much going on at Dover. I'm done flicking now!
Do NOT need any rain to cut this short yet. Somebodys gotta get past JJ or maybe he'll spin himself out again
ok, so since it's a motorsports broadcast blog:
the indycar team kept their calm, giving solid information, analyzing laps and positions for 22 solid laps with no commercial breaks. they didn't recap the racers' histories and personalities or how the race had run all day. they focused on the immediacy of the moment and kept viewers informed and they used their professional driver to the best possible extent.
at the finish, they allowed the story to unfold, let the audio tell the story and now, they're talking with as many racers as possible and asking some tough questions: "what do you do as a driver and leader of the team to make things work?"
it's a very different broadcast from nascar.
Glad I know who won the Indy race, won't have to watch it after Dover finishes.
I worked many a NASCAR race with Bob Jenkins, what a great guy.
NASCAR Non Stop. Ohhh I get it ..
It is about the announcers in the
Booth - talking their A**ES OFF ?
But now I see. Stupid Aarons is
running their spots .. getting ready to charge their customers an
arm and a leg.
Ooops can i say that ...Today's
telecast was soo bad it hurt my
feet
But as long as Jimmy and Chad
got along ..what the hell else could we want...
I am going to pray. Amen
Why are they followinng the leaders!? Show the battles!
JJ has 6 wins at this track. Hey, Marcos is running fifth!
Apparently I turned the blog off by accident earlier.
Race is getting interesting, I will say this.
It is not all motorsports people here like to watch I have found, but there is a lot of flipping when IndyCars are on at the same time. Were it all motorsports then someone would have mentioned the Petit Le Mans on ABC, but no one has. I just glanced and it is still there. I have no interest in it though
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