Things are always just a bit different at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. This week is no exception. Thursday afternoon the NASCAR TV cranks-up as ESPN2 handles the on-track activity.
It will certainly be interesting to see if Allen Bestwick has any voice left after this weekend. Bestwick, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree are set to do iron man duty this weekend as ESPN2 and ABC handle the coverage.
Thursday starts with the Nationwide Series on track for practice at 2PM ET on ESPN2. Jamie Little and Vince Welch are away working the IndyCar race in Las Vegas, so Shannon Spake and Mike Massaro will be handling the garage and pit road interviews.
The Sprint Cup Series cars take to the track at 3:30PM for practice and lead into ESPN2's most popular new show, Sports Nation at 5PM. Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle may be just the opportunity that most of NASCAR Nation needs to eat dinner between sessions.
The night time is the right time at CMS and the Nationwide Series starts a doubleheader at 6PM that leads up to Sprint Cup Series qualifying at 7PM ET. Charlotte was the first superspeedway to install the Musco lighting system and still looks great on TV at night.
That's a nice long day for Bestwick, Jarrett and Petree. In the past, ESPN has given the analysts a break and let the infield duo of Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty step into the booth for some of the Nationwide Series sessions. It should be interesting to see if that happens as NASCAR races in its own backyard.
Fans are used to SPEED providing this type of support coverage. It is always interesting to watch the two very different styles of the networks. Bestwick has done a very good job of getting things back on track for ESPN and it has shown in the consistent ratings.
Let's hope the network production team stays focused on the stories at hand and continues the outstanding Nationwide Series programming from last week. Since Jimmie Johnson's win, it will be interesting to see how the coverage frames the Chase during these practice and qualifying sessions. Remember the JJ overload of the past?
This post will serve to host your comments on the Thursday coverage from the Charlotte Motor Speedway on ESPN2. Please feel free to add your opinion or ask any questions about the telecasts by clicking on the comments button below. Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.
Mr Editor -
ReplyDeleteWonder of we'll feel AB, DJ and Andy overload - a la DW and Mikey after a marathon three days ...oh well, the mute button is at hand ...and SPEED will no doubt be a refreshing change
Walter
I remember the JJ lovefest. I get it that he's the current champion and he's part of the story. It's when they fall all over themselves to cover the 48 to the exclusion of the actual race that I tune it out and turn off the race.
ReplyDeleteNice thing is I plan to be at the track for the race, so I can watch it in peace without having to be annoyed at ESPN's coverage or lack thereof.
I evoke the spirits of the SI Cover Jinx to rise up and bite JJ's azz!
ReplyDeleteMichael, from your post to God's ears...lol. I can only hope they don't get like they were last year.
ReplyDeleteBTW, off topic, but...if anyone is in Charlotte--I thought the HOF was worth every penny. I've been to the NFL HOF and the Rock & Roll HOF, and I thought it stacked up pretty well. It helps if you like museums, of course, and looking at artifacts (ie..old stuff, lol). They had interactive things that I didn't bother with (tire changing & what not) but they had a full size hauler to walk in (even if it was Lowe's...) You can even sit in LaJoie seat & I'm telling you, you appreciate how hard it is to see. :) There are plenty of things for car buffs, racing fans, and driver fans (they have displays of others besides HOF members). I think Winston kelly said they have more stuff than they have room for, but I think must more & it'd be too overwhelming. But thumbs up from me. It's a shame their timing was just lousy from an economy perspective.
JD ... OT but,what's your opinion why? but I am surprised to find NO qualifying coverage for Indy Cars that I can find .... for their big season ending finale at Vegas?(because VERSUS is not involved?) I'm surprised but not shocked ... BTW , I have every confidence in AB that he can handle the load this weekend,DJ & Andy???
ReplyDelete77: IndyCar is going out with a whimper. Big end of season failure after alll the hype.
ReplyDeleteThe start of Sprint Cup practice showed JJ on the track and the talk began about JJ. Not until 5 minutes later did they show any other car on the track.
ReplyDeleteWatching the camera work of this practice looks just like the camera work they do during the race. Nice tight shots.
And so at 2pm Pacific time ESPN goes to what, Sports Nation?
ReplyDeleteI don't think so.
If I rember I'll be back at 3pm.
Sports Nation?
This is sweet a Thursday full of Nascar love it! Gina have fun Saturday night, i just bought my plane ticket for Phoenix going to the race in November. Nothing like being there live
ReplyDeleteThey dumped "NASCAR Now" to put "Sports Nation" in that timeslot.
ReplyDeleteIt's the new afterschool special. No one even knows Colin is on the show. It's all "the girl" for the teens and college boys.
ESPN is in love with Michelle Beadle.
HAHAHAAHHA they called him new guy on nascar now!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat was great from Brad K! I was howling. Nice move from Ryan McGee to slip in a "Stroker Ace" reference and bring up the St. Louis Cardinals in his Kenny Wallace interview.
ReplyDeleteFun show!
Don't go knockin' SportsNation. I likes me some Beadle.
ReplyDeleteAw isn't Worst Wick so cute...
ReplyDeleteHe said " It gets pretty wild with
a Full Moon...but no full moon
tonite."
He stil talks tooo !$@#% Loud.