Great fall weather at Martinsville means NASCAR gets an opportunity to put on a good show as the season winds down. The pre-race show on ESPN today is only thirty minutes, but the green flag does not fall until 1:58PM ET.
Russ Wallace, the father of Rusty and Kenny passed away last night after an illness. Kenny was replaced on SPEED's RaceDay by Larry McReynolds. Rusty will not be replaced, but the Infield Pit Studio will host several guests. Nicole Briscoe is hosting with Brad Daugherty alongside.
An interesting Marty Smith interview with driver Brad Kesewloski will air during the Countdown show. Also on the table will be the Chad Knaus pre-race conversation picked up by NASCAR.com's RaceBuddy at Talladega. Jack Roush again this AM denied team orders were in place last week, despite Trevor Bayne saying he was told to leave Jeff Gordon and pick up a Ford late in the race.
Allen Bestwick will call the race with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree alongside. On pit road are Dave Burns, Mike Massaro, Dr. Jerry Punch and Jamie Little. Vince Welch informed us he is off this weekend as his daughter has a cross-country track meet. Tim Brewer will be in the Tech Garage.
Martinsville is short-track racing defined. It will be impossible for the "hyper-tight" ESPN coverage because there is always a pack racing or something going on. The ability to pick and choose who to cover is gone.
It's a shame that ESPN did not experiment with Nonstop coverage for this entire race. One commercial of three minutes in length under green flag conditions seems like an hour at this track. Instead, only the final half of the event will have the side-by-side commercial format.
NASCAR.com will continue to offer RaceBuddy. This consists of a collection of in-car cameras with two fixed speed shots of the racetrack. Listening to the team radios should be interesting today.
This post will serve to host your comments on the ESPN coverage of the Sprint Cup Series on ESPN. To add your comments, just click on the comments button below. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
393 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 393 of 393Looks from the TV pictures like Carl Edwards is having slow pit stops. But this is the sort of day where they won't even update the championship leader if they can avoid it.
With the coverage we have today, it look like the only way to actually see the race at Martinsville is to attend it.
My condolences to the Wallace family.
This coverage is painful to watch.
Are the lenses stuck in zoom or what? Can't they actually zoom out a little?
Edwards just had a horrible pit stop not that we'd know it.
We went to the spring race at Martinsville this year and DVR'd it at home. When we watched the replay I couldnt believe it was the same race I saw. The TV coverage Sux.
Does Nascar have any say about how a race is broadcast.
If you bid on a contract to show a race could you just show one car the whole race and get away with it.
Even the cameraguys seem lost.
Are you sure this isnt a FO broadcast? Its all bumber cams!
How can you tell what position someone is if they are zoomed in so tight.
we are hearing about passes, but not seeing them. grrrr.
Battle for third missed wile we watch middle of psck. Disgusting!
A new low: A bumper cam shot with no one behind . Wow. And they stay on it! UN-FREAKIN-BELIEVABLE!
NASCAR's going to have to stop throwing cautions else they'll have to call the race due to darkness!
Tight shots, tight shots. Does it really matter what track we are at.
You sure couldn't tell where this track is or how big or small it is with this coverage.
Just ran to the store. Listened on the radio and enjoyed a great race. Too bad we're not seeing that race on TV.
Another battle for third completely missed while they locked in on 24. This is really awful!
Newman has fallen from the lead to 16th. Frustrating day for Stewart-Haas.
Wow that's a tiny side by side box,
No one will ever be able to convince me that anyone connected with NASCAR has ever watched the television product that their television partners deliver to the world.
Caution! 99 is a lap down.
On these non-stop commercials, the reality is that we are listening to the commercial (because we have to) but watching the race in the small box. That's whole idea of having non-stop commercials. So why not have a decent size box for the race (equal to or larger than the ad)? Wouldn't that recognize the way this feature is used by the viewers?
I have a 19" Hd tv I am watching and the side by side picture of the race is 5 inches by 3 inches.
WOW Edwards about to get lapped and the big question is will they show it?
gORDO IS leading at 1/2 way .. but
you cant possibly give him the edge
with all of the good cars right
behind him.
It is a stone toss of the coin..
and the fact that he had to go like
crazy to work his way to the front.. tells me that he had to wear out some of his stuff.
Hope I am wrong.
If allen can shut the heck up..
it would be a lot better
That side by side there would be perfect for the commercials.
Speed did the side by side yesterday during the Truck race and the box for racing was much bigger
oldnewenglander - Come pick your prize!
Here is what they do. Tight shot of a car. If a wreck happens show it in replay.
Schrader is racing today? Who Knew? Maybe BSPN will talk to him after the race.
Anon - He made it on tv once, only for Jamie Little to call him Greg Biffle.
Are they sure they want to show the race going green vs a commercial?
Kennys in 26th! YEAH!
When they show the MPH of two cars side by side, what does that really show.
Nothing. Just another toy that is useless.
Tried to watch RaceBuddy for a bit. Needs a couple more live cams for sure.
"Not the expectations that anybody expected."
"Through the field" is symptomatic of a focus on the drivers and not the racing.
"Not the expectations that anybody expected."
Lord have mercy
My humble opinion
Gordo had to use up more of his
stuff than the folks who are with
him in the top five. He came from
way back in the field.
hope I am wrong
good nite
So this telecast if being presented like this to attract the 20 year olds.
I am not the 20 year old group so I guess that is why I don't understand it.
In this situation, I am 20 years old, however, I don't get that presentation at all.
What is the reason to go to the infield studio during green flag racing.
The killer in all of this is that these are the playoffs and it's crunch time.
ESPN had 9 months of producing live racing and this is the result.
There must be no communication today. Little reports on Allmendinger while the camera moves to the #56.
Im also 20, they are definitely not presenting it in a manner that would attract fellow 20 year olds.
Quick fix for side by side commercial breaks. Build 1.5 million dollar TV control room. Put race feed into special effects unit. Push button to bring race box full screen. Do opposite coming out of break. Anyone have AD co-ord number to get counts in and out of breaks?
Jeezzz!! they go side by side and then go to bumper cam! Good Grief!
ESPN is the talent. These rubes doing the racing are just greenscreen.
Guess another caution will come out with Edwards about to be lapped again.
Where did Hamlin come from?
Anon.....that is hilarious.
how would we know where Dh came from? they don't show many passes.
Poorrrr BSPN! They cain't halp it! They were born with a single car shot in their mouth!
(Spoken in the southern drawl of my favorite former and now deceased Texas Governor)
Anybody notice the chasers are now highlighted in the crawl? Someone is reading, JD!
Vickers is up to 12th!
Fans on Twitter asking why NASCAR does not have a PPV feed so we don't have to put up with this awful ESPN coverage. Good question.
Foot-cam overkill.
The question now is why weren't the chasers highlighted for the first 300 laps?
Anon, I pointed that out. Wonder if it was a halfway thing or they just fogot to push the button.
Its nice to have Mike Massaro instead of Vince Welch.
The tight shot of JJ must have made the director mad. Another car was way to close to the 48 to get a single car shot but they hung in there and JJ pulled away so he did get that one car shot. Hurry for the director for hanging in there.
NASCAR doesn't believe there is a coverage problem.
"Problem? I don't have a problem! You're the one with a problem!"
Most of the incidents the NASCAR press write about are never seen or mentioned in the coverage, but NASCAR doesn't have a coverage problem. Yeah, baby!
my non-stop box on my 25 inch tv is 7 1/2 x 4 1/2. I can barely see it from where I'm sitting. useless..
Such a nice ariel shot, why don't they just set it on that and break the knob off?
So now we are getting 50 laps of JJ?
I can't even relay how awful this is and how good it could be just by opening up the cameras and showing us the action in the field.
Vickers the Pinball to 10th.
ESPN is out of stories and waiting to be handed some.
Even if you handed ESPN a race that was already recorded they would screw it up.
Do the networks use the same camera operators for the weekend or does ESPN fly in its own guys? Cause the camera work is just as zoomed in as it was yesterday.
"NASCAR doesn't believe there is a coverage problem."
I have a problem with the coverage not showing the racing. Its unfortunate that its the only coverage on TV in town.
ZOOM OUT. Its easy
Come on! You've got this good action with Stewart and Hamlin and you leave it for this stupid commercial. I hate ESPN.
And they missed another spin. Oh well, we'll see it on the replay.
Caution out for David G.
Can they make it from here? About 65 miles.
ESPN missing another good race ...amazing that AB is able to keep his senses with 3-5 minutes of live action before we're again inundated with commercial time ...oh well, another missed caution ...but that's right, we won't get go see what happened until they cue up the replay machine
Roland, some of the tech crew is contracted through the NASCAR Media Group and works for all the networks on site.
Others, like booth and infield studio folks only work for ESPN.
Did AB really say as you saw David brought out the caution? Maybe if I had a GIANT magnifying glass in front of my TV.
What do you mean AB - As you saw the caution is out.
I don't watch the Tv when you are in commercial so don't think everyone does AB. The side by side is a joke.
Playing "The Banana Boat Song" into commercials. Appropriate, since monkeys could provide us with better race coverage.
Correction, no replay.
Really JD? Then we need to be yelling at Nascar Media Group about their contractedn techs and this camera work. This is what they are proud to be showing on TV?
Thanks JD!
Anybody know why/how Gilliland wrecked?
Cameramen do as told by the director.
Buschseries -- the only people who know aren't tellin'.
Gilliland spun by himself, according to tweets.
I get tweets and texts from the tech crew. Frustrated that the ESPN guys are all into making these races something they are now, while the SPEED guys just show the action and relax.
ESPN has over-produced this sport since 2007 and this is possibly the worst short track race of the past five years.
I am getting deluged by angry fans.
Good shots of Kyle passing the 48.
JD:
Lesson learned - they can ALWAYS make it worse.
sorry..."something they are not."
Anon October 30, 2011 4:45 PM
The Producer and Director are all hired by ESPN. There is a very good Director I know of that turned down the offer by ESPN to Direct the races for various reasons. Camera crew, replay people and the likes are told what to do by the Director.
Thanks PammH, he had an great deal of side damage. Must have had brake issues.
Just think Nascar fans. We get 3 more years of this.
Will Nascar be around after 3 years or will we be watching V8 cars instead.
JD, we don't mean to deluge you, but this is the forum for TV coverage, good or bad TV coverage.
Its just ESPN has their agenda and their idea of how a race should be shown, and thats where we disagree. We're frustrated that our helpful advice is not heard, followed, or even tried.
Thanks for all you do JD. Greatly appreciated.
JD,
you had it right ...they ARE making these races into something they are NOT ...racing is not as "hyper-tight" or scripted as ESPN/FOX choose to make it out to be
Gee. I have been gone 45 minutes and there are still over 100 laps left on a tiny track.
But Gordon is leading. Wonder where Gina is.
Seems from the comments I have not missed much since I am aware of what a bumper looks like up close.
Comment fot day so far goes to whmover said that ESPN was trying to single car close up shots, but other cars kept getting in the way. Very good one.
Fuel mileage race at a short track? SMH
Get ready for the wave-around parade.
Have they caught a single wreck live today? Like had a camera on it during the whole thing? I dont think so.
They got the Ambrose/Montoya one earlier live.
jimm,
ESPN changed everything about NASCAR Now until they got it right. Then they shifted the times and effectively killed the weekday shows.
This year, ESPN dumped Marty Reid on the Chase races. That was huge. AB got the gig but the rest of the team is the same.
Everyone works for someone. If the director and producer are told to do it like this, we see the result.
One big problem is no one with a lot of NASCAR experience on the uppper levels. You can see how fundamental mistakes are not fixed.
Tough to be a fan right now.
Bestwick is starting to become Marty Reid. Just keep it short and to the point instead of a mangled cue ball analogy.
@RoadgeekAdam well I guess 1 out of 10 aint bad
That was awful from the green.
Caution #12, albeit the leaderboard thinks its 11. Had we had more cautions from 100 - 400, this would be 20 by now.
Up to 23 on the lead lap now. We just need a little more 'strategy' and stupidity on the track to add more cars that don't deserve to be in contention.
Caution #13: Flattening The Biff
A lengthy yellow for every little spin. Christ.
If fuel is something that is important why have the 14 pit without getting any fuel.
Have you noticed the screen on the Sprint smart phone INSIDE the commercial box is larger than the screen on which the race is playing? Jeepers.
Man just think of all the good racing we are missing because of these tight shots.
Caution #14: Big Mouth Gets A Big Push
Now, I guess Steve Addington was responsible for that, too.
damn, what was Biffle thinking?
No fuel in the 99 either. I thought they said this might be a fuel mileage race.
Charlie, think about that. We have probably missed 80% of the actual racing on the track since the green.
That is freaking amazing.
Before the 22 spun, I thought a race was about to break out at Martinsville!
Cautions breed cautions
Just of note, that's only the 2nd of 14 cautions they've caught live.
(One more ties 2011, one more after that, is the most of the year)
My question is who was calling the cautions in the truck race yesterday. Whomever it was get her/him in the box. Little slower on the draw.
NASCAR making it up as they go along again?
I saw a wide shot - I saw a wide shot.
This is awful.
Charlie - you must have been watching football. Change the channel back to the race.
Gee, JD. No need to yell at the poor Twitter.:0
AR, other than us hardcore fans....who in the heck would watch this on TV?
For those of you DVRing this race, go to the spot with 60 laps to go and you will see a Wide Shot.
JD
Like tyhat Brittni girl who looks like my first wife sings, "Nobody"
Caution #15: Yeah, You Saw That Coming
Record for 2011 so far
There goes the pinball. ESPN did a nice job following the trouble.
That was a great stretch of racing that ended with the caution - I'd have liked to see it in something other than a 12" diameter box.
Vickers again. Get the hook.
Sorry - 12" DIAGONAL box
Let's see if they tell the story of what just happened.
Looks to me like Matt got tired of VV.
This is now a complete free for all, aka 'strategy'. Some decent runs are about to be screwed up.
Bestwick is really getting on my nerves man.
Just got home a while ago. Was listening to the race on the way home....got several minutes of chatter about all the great drivers that haven't won there, the other series that race there, a brief rundown of the top 10, 3 minutes of commercials...and very little else. Then, I get home and see the TV coverage isn't any better!!! How can they blow covering a great short track race this way?
Caution #[16]: Well, That Didn't Take Long.
Sayonara 15 caution record.
Karma for the 17
There you go.
Karma!
The problem with RaceBuddy is it lags behind the TV feed. It was maybe 10 seconds early in the race, and now it's at least 20, so that it's a lap behind the TV coverage.
WOW! Major championship implications. Go Brad!
Rushing fail. Watch tire race.
Here we go. Even more stupidity. Didnt think it was possible
Hey! A tire!
Wonder how Espn will broadcast this race a few seasons from now. If they keep getting worse each year we might look back and say this race was well done.
OK, I'll say it. "You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel....."
Wow. This is a cluster for Ky Bu.
I think AB has just about had it.
THE HOTPASS CHANNELS HAVE WENT BLACK!!!
Carl: ROFL
Anon, I will tell DirecTV that now.
Who cares about the points as of now!?! Kenseth had the 'lead' a while ago and look what happened.
The 99's Hotpass channel is still one!
Now, Vicker's car LOOKS like an old school short track car!
Hrm, now cautions are not in agreement. I have 16 by count. NASCAR.com disagrees.
Next year if he makes the Chase they should promo it like a movie. List all the drivers and end it, "and with Kyle Busch as Senor El Foldo"
Every year. He finds a way.
Coming up on 6 PM. How much longer can the easily startled buffoons in race control drag this out?
DirecTV says the HD channels are having a problem, switch to the SD channels and you should be fine.
Working on the HD HotPass channels and expect to have that service fixed shortly.
ESPN call in line .. you can make
any comments you like Here ya go
1 888 549 espn Be nice ..they have kids working the phones :)
Edwards owes NASCAR a lot of favors for the free two laps.
Martinsville... The new Bristol.
Caution #17: ???????
...wow, can I call it or what?
If replay wasn't around yet this would really be a bad telecast.
Didn't see the need for a caution there.
Now I really believe had we not had the long runs earlier we'd have long passed 22 cautions.
Especially a chation this lengthy!
and finally...
why is worstwick yelling his
a** off all day long why ????
Some folls say that he is so short
that he tries to make up for it
I dunno
"Eatin' razorblades" -- good line.
So now Martinsville is THE Wild Card. Next week Texas will be THE Wild Card. Watch and see...
@KudzuCarl
I have not heard a version of that phrase since the late Joe Pyne who used to tell guests he disagreed with to to gargle with them.
15 Laps to go.
Jump around camera work and worse yet it was tight shot to tight shot.
Good call Ancient (and you must be ancient to remember Joe).
Still jumping from shot to shot and refusing to widen-out and show the track.
Caution #18: Oh Here We Go.
Vickers should be suspended for a race for this performance.
Petree, is a riot, lol.
Brian Vickers has wrecked more today than Matt Kenseth has the entire season.
Vickers needs to park that hunk of sht.
We're over scheduled time, but this race deserves a nice post race.
When ESPN coverage is over, SPEED comes on the air with Victory Lane.
Looking at race buddy you can really notice how dark it is getting.
Well there goes Brad K's title run. Thanks Dale Jr.
Poor Kez. Rand great all day, got punted at the end. Great for Tony!
TONY! THANK YOU!!
Caution-fest, Stewart wins, Mears finishes 12th in the underfunded team.
Have a good week folks. Thanks JD.
No Mr Worst Wick there wont be
a bump and run... awwwww tooo bad.
One thing is for sure....Worstwick
is still theeeeeeeeeeeee
worst worse that worst on the planet
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
worst worst worst and much worse
Smoke picked up 8 on Duckboy. So lousy telecast, but the results are not bad. Did not help Weasley measurably. He still has a fork in him.
The race wrap page is up. Bring it.
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