Sunday, October 23, 2011

Live Blogging Sprint Cup Series From Talladega (ESPN - 1PM ET)


Rarely has a Sprint Cup Series race had the national media spotlight like the race today in Talladega. On the heels of IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon's death, motorsports has come once again under the glare of the mainstream media's spotlight.

Publications like the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times barely even acknowledge racing, but are quick to jump on the bandwagon of blame when a serious incident takes place. Online sites like the Huffington Post suddenly "discover" racing when they can lead with a powerful headline referencing death.

Add to this the fact that SPEED has been replaying the death of Marco Simoncelli in the Malaysian MotoGP race today. Adam Alexander has replayed the accident in NASCAR programming all morning long. Even SPEED straddles the line.

Nicole Briscoe gets the assignment of opening the NASCAR Countdown pre-race show. Her husband is IndyCar driver Ryan Briscoe, who was uninjured in the accident that took Wheldon's like. Both families are longtime friends.

Brad Daugherty has just announced a new crew chief for 2012 and the return of Bobby Labonte as the driver for JTG/Daugherty Racing. Daugherty joins Rusty Wallace on the pre-race show with Briscoe. Wallace continues to struggle for sponsors for next season in the Nationwide Series and has recently denied reports his team might suspend operation. Needless to say, it should be interesting to see what topics are discussed on this pre-race show.

The Chase continues under this new points system, but the type of dynamic stories of the past have yet to emerge. Three drivers are still realistically in the game, but the type of tag-team racing that Talladega now demands will no affect the ability of some teams to contend.

Allen Bestwick will have to try and describe the tag-team action and somehow frame it in a Chase context. That is simply not going to be easy to do. Rumor is that teams have designated pushers and that the Chase drivers in contention will always be pushed to the front by any and all teammates as the ultimate goal.

Dale Jarrett had his appendix out this week, but rallied to get to Talladega. He has strong opinions on safety and it should be interesting to hear what he has to say. Andy Petree partners with Jarrett and Bestwick upstairs. Petree continues to be the foundation of this coverage as the only original member of the NASCAR on ESPN team in the TV booth.

Dr. Jerry Punch, Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Dave Burns are the pit road reporters. Little and Welch were involved in the IndyCar coverage from Las Vegas. Little was sent from the track, still in her firesuit, to the hospital in Vegas for updates on Wheldon's condition. There is little doubt that emotions are still raw.

ESPN's coverage is deeply affected by the tag-team racing. The cameras are now forced to frame four, six or even more cars at a time to keep the action in a single frame. It is impossible to isolate on one car, as there are only "combo's" on the track under green.

SPEED produced the truck series race on Saturday and framed the coverage very wide, integrating aerial shots on a regular basis. Effectively mixing the high and low camera angles relays the incredible speed of the track. Lazy directing results in long periods of high angle coverage, which loses the feel of the speed and results in a feeling that the race is actually "boring." No such thing at Dega.

Let's hope the racing is as safe as possible today and NASCAR walks away with the storylines in the media relating to the racing. As usual, eyes are also on Dale Earnhardt Jr. at this track. There is little doubt TV will forget that element.

This post will serve to host your comments on the ESPN coverage of the Sprint Cup Series from Talladega. To add your TV-related opinion, just click on the comments button below. Thanks for stopping by.

384 comments:

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Sophia said...

palmetto

only thing I can agree on the tandem deal, too...Does seem to take out less cars in a wreck.

just got off phone in time to see this.

Jonathan said...

that wasnt me delete that comment please mr i have no life grow up

saltsburgtrojanfan said...

JD

fake Jonathan at 4:00

Sally said...

Bummer for Harvick! Maybe he can still push a teammate to the front and get a good finish by default.

Roadgeek Adam said...

I disagree to some degree. Looking at the 500 in February, the Big One took out at least 18 cars.

Roland said...

Harvick finished 2nd in this race last year with a damaged car. He aint done yet. None of them are really.

Daly Planet Editor said...

SBTF, jonathan....if we could just get that kid a date!

Daly Planet Editor said...

Standing O for KyBu taking car to garage.

Rambo M. said...

Let's not forget the gigantic mess of a wreck that happened near the end of the Truck opener in February. If I recall, the extent of the carnage was very much attributable to "Siamese Twin racing" and not being able to see where the hell you're going if you are the one pushing.

Sally said...

What happened to the 24-5 tandem? Split up now.

Buschseries61 said...

With the old car, Harvick would still be in the garage. I can't believe how well teams can patch these cars up.

GinaV24 said...

Hi, Ancient - yes, they are broadcasting both cars plus the spotters on one channel via pit command, so that may be what you are hearing.

Hey, Jonathan. I'm doing well. the front stretch was full at the beginning of the race, but the place emptied out over the race. One, as the evening went on it got pretty cold and there were a lot of people who didn't have coats with them. Plus as is the norm, once Jr started having problems, his Nation bailed in absolute droves.

That it was absolutely one of THE most BORING races I have ever sat through in person. No passing, it was getting late and people left.

Sally said...

Especially since they don't have to worry about going thru post race tech!

GinaV24 said...

Turn 2, huh, Palmetto? Our seats are as you come out of turn 4 onto the frontstretch.

Love Martinsville, but I liked it better before they raced the brick.

Palmetto said...

Theory - ESPN introduced 'Nonstop' to minimize viewers switching to NFL at commercials and then not coming back.

Buschseries61 said...

I think the Wheldon memorial is nice so far. Can't go wrong with the voice of Bob Jenkins. As for the musical guests...random?

GinaV24 said...

Sally, the 24-5 team is working their way up to get to the 48-88.

Sally said...

Thanks, Gina.

Sally said...

Boy, Kyle Busch has no luck in the final 10 races, does he? Kinda like Denny. And Joey.

Buschseries61 said...

They only blocked half the field with the Monday Night Football promo.

Sally said...

Gotta say I'm tickled to see Robbie Gordon and Trevor Bayne hooked up and doing well.

Sally said...

Man! Tough for AJ.

Palmetto said...

We've sat in Turn 4 at M'ville a few times. We moved to 2 when they closed the handicapped parking behind 4; the only handicapped left is at the other end. I actually like the seats better; the sun isn't in our eyes. On the other hand, it takes longer to get out from that end.

How 'bout my boy Kenseth? Just passed the #33 for most laps led.

Buschseries61 said...

Might be a good idea to get the damaged bricks off the racetrack.

Sophia said...

re: Wheldon Memorial, don't know name of blond singer singing beautiful song but Franchitti's face & Kanaan wiping his eyes, gorgeous pics of Dan w kids...too much to bear :(

Clicked off & now laughs talking how Wheldon fell asleep during an interview conf call after long day of his 1st 500 win :)

DVRing...will check out later.

harvick smoking..bad news.

John in Chico said...

Why can't ESPN post the time/laps behind the leader?????

Rambo M. said...

Only time we've been to Martinsville was the '98 spring race, the weekend of a monster rainout. Is the parking still as horrendous as it was then? It was such a muddy mire that the tour bus we took to the race needed a tow truck... followed by the tow truck breaking down and needing a tow!

Palmetto said...

John in Chico, they haven't all day. It can't be because the positions change too quickly, because they and the other networks have done it for plate races in the past. Must be a technical failure.

Roland said...

Palmetto, Ill expand on your theory about the NFL. I noticed that once NFL started ESPN started putting the bottom line up during the Cup races. Before, they took it down for most of the race. I think they want the NFL scores up in hope people wont switch over.

AncientRacer said...

Harvicks car came by us with pretty strong smelling rubbery-oily smoke coming out. They may have got it back out fast, but maybe it was too fast

Palmetto said...

Don't tell us what lap the cars need to reach before they can run to the finish with one stop UNLESS you're going to show the lap they're on and not the laps remaining. Don't say they must reach lap 142 but show us 64 left; what's the correlation?

GinaV24 said...

Palmetto, I didn't realize they had closed that handicapped parking area, but I'm not surprised. they change parking around all the time.

Ancient, yes, the just posted the 29.

Roadgeek Adam said...

Rare sighting of the black flag with white cross.

Palmetto said...

Wow! They hit Harvick with the death penalty!

Daly Planet Editor said...

Thank goodness for Bestwick. At least he is giving it to us straight and not trying to dress this up and make it something it is not.

Buschseries61 said...

They pulled out that flag fast!

KudzuCarl said...

Note to ESPN: There is no reason we can't see these long and wide camera shots from you every race. Please, please, use them on the next mile and a half track.

rich said...

Wow, finally got to see something in the split screen Nonstop

Palmetto said...

Okay, 'Nonstop' just earned its keep. 4 car spins; caution.

GinaV24 said...

I think the theory about WHY espn went to side by side commercials being related to the NFL is probably correct. However, for me to stay tuned they need to show me something other than one car in the box alongside.

Of course that hasn't held true for Dega because of the packs.

Anonymous said...

Kayne to pit road? Out of gas?

Sally said...

Seems that most action lately is happening during commercial. at least with the sxs we can see it as it happens. that's a good thing. Too bad they can't put up some info on what it was.

Anonymous said...

Hate to say I told you so, but this nightmare can't end soon enough for me. What a sad spectacle and sad excuse for a race.

Sally said...

Okay, I can't resist. Vickers spins a teammate out at a plate track. Where have we seen this before?

Anonymous said...

Note to self: Email Old Spice Marketing and let them know how horrendous that commercial is.

Buschseries61 said...

Both Kahne & Martin will be thrilled when lame duck season is over.

JD, you're right about Bestwick. He views it as silly as we do.

Palmetto said...

The blonde in the Aaron's ads; does she know where the bodies are buried?

Anonymous said...

Palmetto LOL My DH just said something similar.

KudzuCarl said...

Is it still "Nonstop" racing if they show us a driver sitting in his car and a crew working in the garage during the commercial?

By the way, I agree with this commercial that says "Jimmy Johnson would do anything to win" -- he's been known to cheat to win. I think that cheating qualifies as "anything".

Anonymous said...

The commercial should be Chad would do anything to win and he has and will continue to do so.

Sally said...

Don't understand why they can't at least show the laps down cars....

Daly Planet Editor said...

Man, this is just soo weird to watch.

Palmetto said...

Anybody else think Tony's car looks a bit like one of the King's old STP schemes?

Sally said...

Watching cars jockey around to hook up with someone...it just ain't right!

Anonymous said...

Robbie Bayne may very well win this one!

Zetona said...

Too. Many. Commercials.

Anonymous said...

There is more racing off of pit road to fine their drafting partners than on the track. AB is laughing at this racing which is entertaining in itself.

rich said...

Can't keep TrackPass running right now.
Ready for them to start racing now.
AB is struggling to keep it going.

OSBORNK said...

You can hear it in their voices. The booth is just beating in time until the last 5 or 10 laps just like the drivers and the rest of us.

Buschseries61 said...

@ Anon - ...continuing the surprise victory by Mike Hornaday yesterday?

Palmetto said...

Lesson learned: Don't use Old Spice or you'll drown in gold like a Spanish conquistador.

Palmetto said...

Boy, did you see the empty seats in that shot?

GinaV24 said...

I'm watching the GB-Vikings game. Will come back to the race when they get serious with 10 to go.

Anonymous said...

There are ALOT of empty seats and alot of empty spots in the infield too.

Anonymous said...

This is Espn at its worst---total preoccupation with Robbie Gordon and his bumper cover. Just ridiculous.

jimm57 said...

Isn't Robby in The Chase? <-sarcasm

Anonymous said...

Oh look a Jr sighting.

Sally said...

And once again, JJ is in front of Jr. Boo.

Anonymous said...

Edwards is wisely playing the rope-a-dope game and will probably win from the back of the pack. It would certainly be fitting. Please put us out of our misery, Lord.

saltsburgtrojanfan said...

Jr. please put JJ in the wall

Debby said...

I hope the 16 pushes the 99 up to the front and then passes him for the lead!!! LOL!!! Karma...

Debby said...

Should have said the 16 passes the 99 for the WIN!!

jimm57 said...

Im with ya SBTJF

Daly Planet Editor said...

If someone unknown who is not being covered by ESPN comes from the back and wins this.....

Palmetto said...

JJ is already toast as far as the Chase goes.

Roadgeek Adam said...

Only two cars have not gotten one mention today: the 71 of Lally and the 32 of Terry Labonte.

Buschseries61 said...

Can we skip to 10 to go already?

Anonymous said...

JD do you mean something like the Mich State game? LOL

Palmetto said...

JD, it's like Debby said. You have six Chasers hanging out in 21st or worse. They're playing rope-a-dope. Biffle and Edwards have been ignored all day.

GinaV24 said...

JD, I think a win by someone other than the ESPN chosen ones would be awesome.

Cover the race!!

Sally said...

Have they mentioned Mikey? did I miss it? Thank goodness!

KudzuCarl said...

Blaney! There's a guy I'd love to see win today.

Roadgeek Adam said...

Well that's a way to get a mention. Both wreck

Buschseries61 said...

Brad - "opportunity"
Rusty - "drive your brains out"

- The Infield NASCAR Cliche Factory is back in business!

Palmetto said...

Remember, '5th or Better and Kids Eat Free!' Go Dave!

Okay, Lally and Labonte got their mention.

jimm57 said...

Ah! Theres the 32 and the 77. Oh well

Debby said...

Lally & LaBonte mention!

saltsburgtrojanfan said...

ESPN will have to cover the drivers besides the ones they want to.

Sally said...

Hey! If JJ's car is 'aero compromised', he may HAVE to push Jr.

AncientRacer said...

It is quiet now as they go round and round two by two so I will tyell you my new best favorite thing to eat here is a charbroiled pork chop sandwich with some horseradish spread.

Yoops, wreck! Right close by

KudzuCarl said...

Come on. Get us a camera shot of the damage on the 48. We don't need to see the driver.

Sally said...

Glad to see running in the back worked so well.

Palmetto said...

And a little something extra for you JJ haters.

Buschseries61 said...

The #48 has lost his supernatural luck.

rich said...

Was that Ray E that I saw on 48 box??

Roadgeek Adam said...

About supernatural?

GinaV24 said...

Ancient, that sounds delicious!! I gotta go make some supper myself.

Palmetto said...

It's Splitsville for Trevordon Robbayne.

Anonymous said...

Trevor pushing Ambrose

Buschseries61 said...

This is when the real race begins

KudzuCarl said...

Come on. No commercials now. And they're wrecking.

Buschseries61 said...

...and ESPN takes a commercial with 15 to go.

Anonymous said...

Kurt Busch is done

jimm57 said...

So theres Kurt Busch. Haven't seen him all day

GinaV24 said...

wow, that's not too good. it's a shame there isn't any audio during the side by side commercials.

Buschseries61 said...

...and they wreck. Idiots.

Anonymous said...

Bobby is hurt

Anonymous said...

An earlier post said we had a caution every time we went to commercial. Unbelievable. What a mess. Probably more cautions to come.

Zetona said...

That was way too late to have a commercial at Talladega. No credit to Nascar Nonstop, because we should have been watching that full-screen with 15 to go.

Anonymous said...

ESPN has an unsurpassed and uncanny knack for going to commercial seconds before a game-changing event occurs on the track

Anonymous said...

Way to go Mikey

GinaV24 said...

Wow, that was ugly. Sorry to see Bobby moving so slow. I hope he's OK

Palmetto said...

Guys, 15 to go here is almost 14 minutes. We'll never get 14 uninterrupted minutes at any track, except on a Monday.

Buschseries61 said...

Bobby was walking very gingerly. Two hard impacts in one wreck.

Sophia said...

Anybody else getting brief blackouts on ESPNHD? just happened for 3 seconds and earlie today for maybe 1 or 2 seconds. Sunspots deal.

LaBonte could've been helped to the ambulance..geez....looked quite stunned & uneasy.

Daly Planet Editor said...

I'm with you, waaaaay to late for commercial!

GinaV24 said...

anyone notice that Mikey is not that good at pushing in this new style?

Hasn't he been involved with a wreck in all the RP tracks? Or do I not remember correctly?

Palmetto said...

Sophia, I had one earlier in the day.

Buschseries61 said...

Anyone else laughing that the 70s/80s iPod commercial bumper music has been replaced by dramatic music?

jimm57 said...

Sophia, no blinking signals ESPNHD Time Warner in Raleigh...yet

Anonymous said...

They keep saying its sunspots.

KudzuCarl said...

Gina - I think you're right. He has pushed a couple of guys into wrecks in the last couple of plate races he's run. I think that this type of racing takes a lot more "touch" than the old style of drafting.

Last Call for alcohol said...

Time to quote Kurt Bush who said..

" Finding a Dance Partner towards
the end of the race .. is like
being in the Bar around closeing time. "

Anonymous said...

The sunspots affect those with satellite TV.

Buschseries61 said...

"Any damage from the debris?"

Vince, a CAR hit the #48. Come On!

jimm57 said...

Let the stupidity begin!

Anonymous said...

And step one two 3 three find your partner

KudzuCarl said...

When you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with.

Apologies to Steven Stills.

Buschseries61 said...

Can they make it 10 laps?

Anonymous said...

There ya go

jimm57 said...

HARD HIT

Daly Planet Editor said...

Man, that did not look good.

rich said...

Wow that was a hard hit. Hope he is ok

KudzuCarl said...

I hope Regan is OK. Man, that was a hit.

Roadgeek Adam said...

Violent hit for Regan

Anonymous said...

Martin, Smith, Ambrose, Hamlin,

Anonymous said...

Martin, Smith, Ambrose, Hamlin,

Sophia said...

Not a safe wall where Regan Smith is now? Cars a mess...but he's walking ok

Palmetto said...

Man, Regan looks great. That looked too much like Dale.

Sophia said...

ok was SAFER barrier but wow

Anonymous said...

Denny caused that one

Roadgeek Adam said...

Well, now all 3 cars for Joe Gibbs have been in a wreck.

KudzuCarl said...

Same thing I thought Palmetto. Ugly.

Anonymous said...

The booth wasn't aware of it, but Hamlin was 11th after that last restart, but wasn't in the Espn ultra tight camera shot. Let's get this over with and move on.

Buschseries61 said...

Another hard impact! Smith missed turning Jeff Gordon by inches.

Daly Planet Editor said...

So weird the accidents this tandem racing cause. Mostly triggered by partners.

Anonymous said...

Feel bad for Smith running a great race all day

KudzuCarl said...

I'd guess green flag with three or four to go. Going to be tough to go from the back to the front.

w17scott said...

Chad called that caution...typical 'Dega

w17scott said...

Mikey's pushing skills in tandem racing eerily like his booth skills ...over the top and at the wrong time

jimm57 said...

T Bayne and J Gordon hooked up now

Anonymous said...

w17Scott and always too much at the wrong time.

Sally said...

I'm not sure this is that much better than the pack racing, as far as wrecks.

Sally said...

This is going to get very ugly.

Zetona said...

Really, when the walls need repair late in the race, they should throw the red flag.

Roadgeek Adam said...

Poor Bobby, that must have been painful

KudzuCarl said...

I'll think I'll stand up for these last three laps and the GWC.

TerryG said...

Glad Bobby is ok. Wonder what happened to the fan who needed to be airlifted out?
These last couple laps are going to be ugly.

w17scott said...

airlift not necessarily a serious situation ...traffic movement difficult here, so copter much better to use

Palmetto said...

Gordon should stick with Bayne. He might learn something :-)

Palmetto said...

Clint Burton. I can live with that.

KudzuCarl said...

Bowyer!

And free food for all courtesy of Blaney.

Daly Planet Editor said...

Well, at least the finish was solo!

Anonymous said...

I'm pleased for Clint, but that was one butt-ugly race! Enough!

TerryG said...

Blogger w17scott said...

airlift not necessarily a serious situation ...traffic movement difficult here, so copter much better to use

---------------

True. Didn't think about that.

Congrats to Clint! Nicely done.

Buschseries61 said...

Dave Blaney in 3rd! YES!

Sophia said...

Ha! this is a sneack win...that's the problem with Tandem...friend or foe !!

But what about DAVE BLANEY finishing 3rd. WOW...had to start & park, struggling...hope this helps that boy out.

Sally said...

Hanging out at the back...great strategy, Chad. Worked out for HMS cars, didn't it?

Palmetto said...

Probably shift to Speed pretty quick. ESPN will want to close on the hour.

KudzuCarl said...

Johnson is more than a full race out of first. Only four races to go. That makes this an especially good day.

Palmetto said...

Hendrick finishes 20, 25, 26, 27. Junior won't buy into that again.

Roush at the top of the standings.

Geez, bad enough the #78 lost a car. Looks like they're losing a hauler too!

rich said...

Trevor's mama taught him better than to treat people that way

Anonymous said...

88 wanted to run up front but Chad over ruled. Guess he might listen next time. Fans do not pay to watch cars run around the back anyway.

GinaV24 said...

well the 21 hung the 24 out to dry there. I guess when they threaten your job if you help another brand, it makes you do things like that.

It's OK, Gordon didn't wreck and he said on the radio he'll remember. Maybe the next time Trevor needs a mentor he'll think about why Gordon isn't going to be it.

Anonymous said...

Gordon is not writing trevors paycheck. Best to listen to boss.

Roadgeek Adam said...

Blaney gets to tie his finish at the....2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400. We know what happened between 1 & 2 then. ;)

GinaV24 said...

congrats to Clint Bowyer, I wish him luck going to MWR next year.

So at mile and half tracks, it's all about aero and boring follow the leader races, at RP tracks it's can't race without a partner. one of the prime dumb ideas NASCAR has come up with its brick on wheels.

Daly Planet Editor said...

Thanks everyone! Before you leave, please leave us a comment on the new "Race Wrap" post!

That was weird, but in many ways typical Talladega.

Thanks again for spending time with us here at TDP.

JD

GinaV24 said...

Agreed that Gordon isn't paying Bayne, but what goes around comes around. Trevor may be looking for a job one of these days and want a ride in something that isn't a Ford - just sayin

Palmetto said...

Thank y'all. I'll wave to you from M'ville. If you live in eastern NC, don't forget the UARA / USAR double header at The Rock on Nov. 5th.

OSBORNK said...

Gina: It might be better for Trevor. The car owner will know he will follow orders and do what he is told.

Corine H said...

Gotta love what is considered non-stop racing. Could the screen get any smaller?

Boring race. Way too many commercials. Time to start taping, then fast forward through.

Sophia said...

ps Needed distraction today...so watched most of the race live. Wow, better camera work ESPN.

The race was so so but the cam work Good! and not interrupted by the ANNOYING bumper/incar/jump to another bumper cam.

Was there a different truck person or was the usual guy hog tied in a closet!!

anyway, it was a great distraction & nice camera work considering the weird tandem racing.

shame about Mikey wrecking LaBonte but this is all risky business!!

Fed UP said...

Looks like I didn't miss much by NOT watching the race, and Talledega use to be one of my must watch races.

On the plus side, Brad K. still has a chance to win this thing after all....

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