Saturday, June 13, 2009

Live Blogging The Nationwide Series From Kentucky


Jerry Punch is winding-down his Nationwide Series activities for this season. The Saturday night race in Kentucky signals the point where only a handful of events remain on his schedule.

This is a big change from the previous years where Punch did double-duty once ESPN took over the Sprint Cup telecasts in late July. It will be Marty Reid stepping-in on July 25th to handle the rest of the Nationwide Series telecasts. Punch will concentrate solely on the Cup races.

On this day, the Nationwide Series has another opportunity to put on a good show without big brother overshadowing it. Although several Cup drivers flew from Michigan to Kentucky to race, there are some hungry Nationwide drivers looking for exposure on national TV and possibly a win.

Allen Bestwick and Brad Daugherty are working on the pre-race show with Rusty Wallace this week, who will then head upstairs to call the race. Wallace will join Punch and Andy Petree in the booth.

This race is going to be a very good test of just how ready Punch is to lead ESPN into the Sprint Cup Series. It is a stand-alone event in primetime without any other distractions. Punch, Wallace and Petree are "the show."

Shannon Spake is also off, so Jamie Little, Dave Burns and Vince Welch will handle pit road. This may be a busy place for several reasons. After the race begins, the start and park cars will be leaving the track and the real action and strategy will begin. It should be interesting to see if and how ESPN acknowledges the "valet parkers."

ESPN still has the best triple-split in the business for caution flag pit stops. Pictures and sound are normally outstanding and this event should be no exception. The cars under the lights at this facility really put on a show.

The criticism of ESPN is that sometimes there is a script. Tonight should be a bit of a clash as the network promoted a possible Nationwide regular as a winner, but now faces the possibility of another dominant performance by Kyle Busch.

Either way, here we go. This post will serve to host your comments on the ESPN coverage of the Nationwide Series race from Kentucky. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

382 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 382 of 382
red said...

nrf said (in part):
"The main reason this race coverage isn't bad even though KB is running away with it again. They are basically ignoring him."

excellent observation, nrf! spending some time on the n'wide regulars is great.

Dot said...

"The 33 car too fast on exit". Who would that be Jerry? Isn't that his job? Gawd, that bugs me.

Sure, say it now.

Poor 29 car :). Stephen L.

darbar said...

Somebody please, Throw a Yellow flag !!!! We need a phantom debris caution

Dot said...

Thank you David. Young mind over old mind wins every time.

Karen said...

JD, these posters are smart, aren't they? I feel like a knucklehead.

darbar said...

Does Rusty own his son's car?

darbar said...

Something is up with the pit road radar. This is interesting.

Dot said...

@ dar, from your fingers to.....

And to think Carl is a CUP driver acting like a NW driver. Timing and scoring off???

red said...

if i were in charge of nascar, the very first thing i would scrap -- (Oh no! someone is driving his guts out!) -- is that freakin' "staying out on the yellow to get the 5 points" nonsense.

ohhhh, cousin carl is angry! it may be a good thing his car is junk b/c otherwise, he'd be charging thru the field these last 50 laps!

Andy Marquis said...

I agree with Andy Petree ... there's something wrong with their speed traps.

Dot said...

Gee, how come SDDD hasn't been busted for speeding? At this rate, he'll be the only one on the lead lap. Oh boy for us.

darbar said...

OK guys, next week the Nationwide race is in Milwaukee. Maybe I can sneak over there and put a little sugar in the Shrubster's gas can. Slow him down a little. I'm not too far from the Milwaukee Mile.

Dot said...

Can Joey make a new comml yet?

@ red, re: Carl. And sailing by everyone.

Dot said...

@ dar, I'll reimburse you for the sugar.

The Loose Wheel said...

nothing wrong with the speed trap...if kyle busch and keslowski were clean, i cant buy something being wrong.

Newracefan said...

Dot KB and 7 of his closest friends. Bet someone really smart (Oh Chad are you watching) might be able to figure something out about all these speeding penalties. Me not so much

Vicky D said...

Maybe Bruton is "manipulating" the pitroad timing lines and every once in awhile he decides to spice it up!!!

Dot said...

Carl should do what DJ did one time. Drove down really really slow.

red said...

Dot said...

@ red, re: Carl. And sailing by everyone.

man, that cat has a (not so) great hot rod!

Daly Planet Editor said...

Maybe it's Carl's night to break something after the race!

darbar said...

Wow, that's some picky speed trap. A .03 over the speed limit??????? If this were me racing, I'd be 50 laps down because of pit speed.

Newracefan said...

OK the sweet tea commercials really have to stop what was the 3-4 in the past ten minutes.

Dot said...

I would just say "screw it" and drive on the edge of pit road (near the grass) at track speed. Yeah, I'm speeding now.

red said...

@darbar; actually, i believe they get 5 mph over the limit and then get busted.
but i'm right there with you: as far as i'm concerned, speed limits are just strongly worded suggestions.

Newracefan said...

Dar that's actually 5mph plus .03, Nascar gves them a 5mph tolerance.

TexasRaceLady said...

darbar said...
Wow, that's some picky speed trap. A .03 over the speed limit??????? If this were me racing, I'd be 50 laps down because of pit speed.

June 13, 2009 10:36 PM

********
Ah, but remember, he's actually 5.03 over the limit. hehehe

The Loose Wheel said...

you have 5 mph extra, people made a fuss we dont have digital timing, well the limit is set. he wasnt just .03 over, he was 5.03 over but he got that 5.00 free.

carl was speeding. period.

Sophia said...

Dang

Trying to get caught up on 200 comments as you all keep adding to them, is like trying to follow a conversation on Twitter. if the @person is not in your stream, you have to click on diff names to tie conversation together.

A change Twitter made a few weeks ago that still aggravates many. if the @ person is not in your stream, you no longer see the comments. Then sometimes you WILL.

I feel like I am reading scrambled eggs in words here tonight. That'll learn me not to check in earlier.

but honestly, I am losing interest. I am not buying all these gripes on pit road penalties. Something is off there.

I have no idea what is happening...

still playing catch up Soph

p.s. I DO miss the clean commercial breaks of TNT with no doofus videos. :)

darbar said...

What did I miss? They come back from commercial and don't tell us why there's a yellow??

Newracefan said...

I wish JP would give us the driver name when someone spins, crashes whatever I keep having to look up the driver on foxtrax. There is so much car swaping in this series I can't remember who is in which car

Unknown said...

@darbar- we need Kyle Petty here to ask what the caution was for.

darbar said...

Finally, once the stops are finished, they tell us why the yellow?

BTW, thanks for the heads up on the 5mph.

red said...

@darbar: thanks: i thought it was just me and that i phased out there for a second.

Dot said...

@ dar, something broke on the 70 car (Shelby Howard) and he hit the wall.

TexasRaceLady said...

nrf, you're not the only one who can't keep up with who is in what car.

darbar said...

Aw right Carl. Way to censor your language.

Haus14 said...

The reason KB and Kez may not have been caught is because of where their pit boxes are. If they are towards the end of Pit road they don't have a chance to get up to speed by the time they reach the last segment where everyone seems to be getting caught.

Daly Planet Editor said...

Come on Jerry, CRANK IT UP!!

red said...

Dot said...
@ dar, something broke on the 70 car (Shelby Howard) and he hit the wall.

or, to quote ward burton: "he done broke." man, i miss trying to listen to him.

Dot said...

@ nrf, that would mean JP would have to do his job. I can't keep track of who's who in the zoo either.

darbar said...

Dot, yeah, but they didn't tell us until after the pits stops were finished. Bad coverage--we like to know why there's a yellow, even if it's for a phantom debris.

Unknown said...

Kyle's pit box is not near the front.

Newracefan said...

A double file restart would have been pretty good, well couldn't finish that thought and off goes Brendan.

red said...

uh, dr punch? screaming thru the grass at over 100 mph is hardly "locking it down in the grass."
i'm just sayin'. . .

Haus14 said...

it sounds as if the drivers and Nascar are looking at two different lines at the end of pit road.

Dot said...

How can you be the leader while running 2nd? Did I hear that right?

Newracefan said...

Haus, I was thinking that too but didn't Carl get busted a second time and he nnever stopped in his box with the pass through?

Dot said...

@ red, you're sayin' and I'm laughin.

Haus14 said...

nrf, that would make sense because he never stopped so he was up to speed the entire time - just like the guys who would be at the beginning of pit road...

red said...

@dot: we aim to please . . . and i've decided the only way i can watch a night n'wide race is with some wine in hand and finely developed senses of irony, sarcasm, and humor.
and chocloate.

Sophia said...

i wonder how much the drivers loathe and detest the pretty green grass at some of these tracks?

Daly Planet Editor said...

Bad time for those in-car cameras. Really loses your perspective.

Newracefan said...

The saying that bugs me with JP is the "got into the concrete". Concrete is what the track in Dover is made of the thing Brendan hit was a WALL.

Dot said...

@ red, you're doing a great job.

Karen said...

Way to go, Rusty, throwing your crew chief under the bus for not pitting for tires.

Dot said...

@ JD, I like watching from the backseat.

Newracefan said...

Haus, lightbulb just lit, sorry the adult beverage made me a little slow on the uptake

Unknown said...

Imagine that! There are battles all over the track other than for the lead.

The Loose Wheel said...

nrf...they are concrete walls...

=p

Daly Planet Editor said...

And we are reminded once again why we like TNT and their wideshots...

red said...

jd, in my world, it's generally always a bad time for in-car cameras.
@dot: i guess if it's gray-ish, then by default, the dr believes it's concrete?

and again: "battles all OVER the racetrack . . . " please, sir, may we see them?

Anonymous said...

This broadcast tonight with these young men sailing while locking it down in the grass, flying up into the corners look theres Kyle Busch!, has really made me want TNT on air now! While they are battlin all night battlin for position isn't Steven doing a good job. Nonsense.

When the bspn portion of coverage starts I will use MRN & this blog.

Sophia said...

Red

I am with you on wine, but I like sweet mellow White Zin.

If not for a glass of that earlier, my newlap woulda become a rectangle frisbee. Also Chocolate can help fix MANY things.

I love dark chocolate for bits of medicine.

23 laps to go. This shrub show is not helping the ratings.

They really should NOT LET CUP TEAMS win the NW trophy in my opinion.

How has the camera work been tonight..when i have glance up, it looks like good use of wide shots but that's been intermittent glancing. not read any complaints here. :)

P.S. EDITED to SEE JD's comment about over use of IN CAR CAMS NOW.

SHEESH. Why does EVERYBODY SCREW UP the last few laps.

EVEN TNT Did it last week?????

sigh

Charlie said...

Rusty sure is bringing up how bumpy this track is. Wonder why? Wouldn't have anything to do with Kentucky maybe getting a Sprint Cup race there next year.

Sophia said...

WOW!!hard lick

Unknown said...

JP got it right this time. Bliss hit the wall, not the concrete.

Karen said...

Rusty reads TDP?

Anonymous said...

Pit road tonight is like driving to Darlington. Everybody gets a ticket going thru McBee.

BTW, what does SDDD mean?

red said...

jojaye: i couldn't get past the first 10 words before i started laughing! THAT was brilliant!

Unknown said...

That was a nice view from the back of the 38. I was able to see a lot.

TexasRaceLady said...

Jojaye said...
This broadcast tonight with these young men sailing while locking it down in the grass, flying up into the corners look theres Kyle Busch!, has really made me want TNT on air now! While they are battlin all night battlin for position isn't Steven doing a good job.
**************

Ding, ding, ding -- we have a WINNER!!! ROTFL

Andy Marquis said...

I really want Allgaier to win. But if he doesn't have enough racecar to beat Shrub, I hope Shrub says/does something that rubs it in to his haters' skin!!!

Unknown said...

@Anon:
SDDD = Shrubba Dubba Ding Dong = Kyle Busch

Anonymous said...

SDDD = Shrub a dub ding dong

@red - Thank you

darbar said...

Boy, TNT sure does come on early tomorrow with their pre-race coverage---9:30am for those on the West Coast. Kinda reminds one of the NFL.

Newracefan said...

Poor Mike Bliss should have know Leffler wasn't going to cut him any kind of break. Haven't really liked him since he dumped Reut for a win a couple of years back

Sophia said...

June 13, 2009 10:51 PM
Blogger Dot said...

@ JD, I like watching from the backseat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sooooooo many ways to go with a joke on that comment. All of which would get deleted, as well they should. ;-)

Daly Planet Editor said...

Boy, that was really rough. Great racing all over, Brendan coming back through the field with something to prove and all we saw were endless in-car cameras.

When the director chooses to make himself the show, we all lose.

One wide camera could have us all pumped up right now....

Dot said...

@ Anon 10:55, Shrubba Dubba Ding Dong.

I like those trunk views too.

Andy Marquis said...

Bring on double file restarts in Nationwide.

Daly Planet Editor said...

dar,

The SPEED guys got everything moved up so nothing on SPEED conflicts with TNT and also the end of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is on SPEED.

It will be interesting to see when ESPN starts in July what time SPEED puts RaceDay and the other shows.

JD

Newracefan said...

Good move Nascar red flag is definately the way to go, even though I hear my bed calling me. Guess it will have to wait.

Unknown said...

Leffler will wreck his own teammate for the win.

Anonymous said...

Wow & now a red flag - can't wait for the speeding penalties for this! It will make as much sense as earlier...

Anonymous said...

@Robyn Thanks. I got "Stupid Dumb..." and then decided not to let my imagination run wild. I figured it was the Shrub.

The Loose Wheel said...

mike skinner would wreck his own mother to win...

red said...

wait! the entire field is parked under the red and you only go to the first four cars? how about panning across the ENTIRE field during the red, huh? i know: you could call it "thru the field" or something catchy like that! how 'bout that, guys?

Dot said...

@ dear Sophia, too funny. You know what I meant. Glad to give you a laugh.

Sophia said...

JD

I continue to be FLUMMOXED at why the 'directors choice' of cams is so horrible. It's ruining the racing and nobody can tell me it's not affecting the ratings.

TNT was brilliant last week with cams and info..until the last few laps last week.

But heck, Fox and ABC can gyp the finish too with NO GOOD camera views OR INFO until then..but the end is when we need more wide shots.

Who thinks this over use of in car cam is good? Nobody.

Dot said...

@ David, I was going to say the same thing. Sometimes old and young think alike :).

Sophia said...

I am really missing seeing NPerformance. If it's on SUN before the race not a good time.

Also new guy is nice but I miss Bootie. That show deserves a Sat time slot.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry, what's Kyle's full name? I don't think I've heard it tonight....

Why in the heck can't they just say "Kyle", instead of "Kyle Busch"?!!!

Okay, so no matter how they say it, I'm not going to like it. Am sick to death of him...

Andy Marquis said...

thinks to self: please, Kyle, break another trophy!

Anonymous said...

@red - you could have maybe gotten a thru the field if we don't call it that! How about we call it a panoramic on the 28/58 of the race?

Maybe then the director will do it! ya think?

red said...

don't know why i find this headline funny but i do:
"Umpire ejects entire crowd during baseball game."

the crowd of 100 (!) was being "unruly, yelling and arguing" and the police were called as a precaution. it must be noted that the police officer said "he saw no unruliness himself."

i do love competitive sports!

Anonymous said...

He'll do the opposite tonight - handle it with kid gloves and great exagerating his velvet fingers!

The Loose Wheel said...

lol dot. glad to help.

should be an interesting showdown...

oh lord, jamie gives it a 2nd go

Haus14 said...

Finally live!

Andy Marquis said...

@Anonymous: Get your Kleenex tissues out.

Anonymous said...

Dang! Knew I should have bought stock in Kleenex!

red said...

Jojaye said...
@red - you could have maybe gotten a thru the field if we don't call it that! How about we call it a panoramic on the 28/58 of the race?

Maybe then the director will do it! ya think?


ahhhh, so it's the PHRASING that's stopping the director, huh? well, ok then: a "panoramic on the 28/58 of the race" it is!
oh well, too late.

(and did you know "cautions breed cautions," everyone?)

Anonymous said...

The race is far from over?!? doc for the love of pete, its 15 to go.

Cautions breed cautions - hmmm never heard that before - profound

Anonymous said...

He wouldn't know a "shoot out" if it happened right in front of his nose!

Dot said...

Was there really that much mess to clean up? This race would be over by now with 20 or so minutes left over. Oh wait, can't have that long of a post race. Stupid me.

Anonymous said...

Pockrass just tweeted that Shrub is eligible to win the N'wide "Dash 4 Cash" money tonight. Just another reason to root for anybody else.

Daly Planet Editor said...

RESET the field!

Anonymous said...

Have they missed any old tired over used words here tonight ?

Dot said...

@ Anon 11:11, that's just not fair. NW drivers only should get that. Like SDDD and Gibbs need it.

Anonymous said...

Whatever it takes for the fans??? How about a reset Crusty!

red said...

actually, the fans are on their feet for the restart. i'm guessing they'll be sitting again before the end of the race . . .

red said...

and now we start the lap countdown: "it'll be ten to go next time past the stripe" . . .

Anonymous said...

And the crowd goes wild!

Dot said...

Go Joey go!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

@Dot. Agreed. Too much to hope that Shrub would give the $$ to Sam Ard or to Brian Keselowski to replace his car...

Anonymous said...

Way to go, Joey! Oops! Way to go Joey LOGANO!

Daly Planet Editor said...

Got to give Rusty credit tonight, he did a solid job in the analyst role.

Anonymous said...

Driving them cars hard, look at the run, mo ment ummm, 7 laps to go , heres the great battle here folks, fresher tires.
Sigh groan. unreal these cats are stinkin up

Vicky D said...

We are a little behind with TIVO, but during the red flag I see the officials offering water to the drivers. That's good thing.

MikeC said...

Rusty's eyes appear to be on just one car at the moment.

Interesting in these closing stages how JP goes to the background and becomes silent and it's Rusty and Andy talking to each other.

Anonymous said...

Does SDDD talk to the media after or does he dump his car on pit road again? And will ESPN catch it?

Anonymous said...

Sorry, JD, the analyst part is a little late after all we've heard from Crusty tonight.

Vicky D said...

Yeah JD, Rusty's old faithful saying "they're driving their brains out!!!" I hate it!

Dot said...

@ Anon 11:15, too funny.

Newracefan said...

JD Rusty hasn't been to bad but he's starting to root for Brendan a little to hard at the moment. But then I just my be oversensative since I want Brad to get as many points as possible.

Unknown said...

I don't think that Rusty has overused "That Cat's driving his brains out" tonight.

Dot said...

Here we go. SDDD's gonna cry because he finished 2nd twice today.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Joey for winning!
Congrats to his fans & crew.

Daly Planet Editor said...

Anyone see the rest of the field?

red said...

anon @11:17: i believe the top 3 finishers are required by nascar to be available to media after the rcae or the driver faces disciplinary action.

Karen said...

KB predicted after the truck race he'd finish 2nd tonight.

Anonymous said...

I think ESPN actually showed all 10 cars on the lead lap finish! Wow!

Anonymous said...

What's a "celebratory celebration"?

Daly Planet Editor said...

Kyle should have some motivation for tomorrow.

MikeC said...

Maybe KB let Logano win to make right on his prediction from earlier. ; ) LOL

Anonymous said...

Gibbs domination again ...

And NASCAR wonders WHY the ratings are down ... Uh, hello NASCAR ...

Dot said...

What does it mean? replaces how do/did you feel?

Anonymous said...

KB "we always lose at the end" its karma kickback dude

Newracefan said...

Guess JD Gibbs will have to hold the plane, guess Kyle will just be thrilled to have to wait on his team mate the race winner

Dot said...

Oh, please. Excuse me, I have to go get sick.

red said...

Daly Planet Editor said...
Kyle should have some motivation for tomorrow.

getting paid very well to put his butt in a seat should be all the motivation he needs.

so he does one media moment, thereby dispatching his responsibilities, and he's off.

Unknown said...

Why is the 20th place finisher being interviewed? What about 3rd, 4th, and 5th?

Anonymous said...

What a jerk he is!!! (Kyle, that is)

That's Kyle BUSCH, folks, in case you didn't catch his name tonight...

Sophia said...

Kyle is such a brat.

Geesh, his demeanor screams "I'd rather be ducking you media people".

dayum.....will he EVER learn to win graciously?????

Congrats Joey.

Daly Planet Editor said...

A Bob Pockrass sighting on ESPN....

The Loose Wheel said...

Carl doing his kyle busch impression

TexasRaceLady said...

Anyone else feel nauseated at Kyle's "interview"?

Dot said...

@ nrf, funny. Also funny is SDDD didn't even race Joey. Like he wanted to finish 2nd.

Carl showed class.

MikeC said...

Doesn't sound like KB was happy that Logano just rode around behind him

Anonymous said...

The contrast between Kyle and Logano is just stunning, isn't it? Maybe SDDD is right--Joey DID learn from Mark Martin.

Sophia said...

Jamie AGAIN

'WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU'?

sigh...how does it feel replacement. sheesh

TexasRaceLady said...

Robyn said...
Why is the 20th place finisher being interviewed? What about 3rd, 4th, and 5th?

June 13, 2009 11:22 PM
*********
You took the words right out of my mouth.

Ahh, well, at least here comes 3rd -- Brad.

Dot said...

@ TRL, see my comment @ 11:22.

Sophia said...

TRLady

I am always nauseated from that boy. But yes, tonight his arrogant UNGRATEFUL SMIRK really burned my britches!!!

Lou said...

I think if I was a sponsor of KB . I would have a long talk with him. do ya think?

Anonymous said...

You guys can flame me - but I LOVE KYLE BUSCH. Two 2nd places is simply awesome. If it was Dale JR putting up these finishes every week, people would be going nuts. I love Busch.

Dot said...

@ Lou, according to SDDD everyone thinks he's cool.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you love Kyle Busch... He needs to have one fan somewhere....

TexasRaceLady said...

@Dot --- I didn't see yours, I was too busy consulting the porcelein god. ROTFL

Anonymous said...

Good try by AB to get Joe Balash on air.

darbar said...

When is either Gibbs or Nascar going to do something about Shrubbie? Back when Tony Stewart was with JGR, and he misbehaved, both Nascar and Gibbs disciplined him. And Tony was a winner, just like Shrub. But now, Kyle can do anything obnoxious and no one does anything.

red said...

nice followup by AB on trying to get balash on air about pit road speeding issues.

Daly Planet Editor said...

Thanks for stopping by folks! Marty Smith on NASCAR Now with Nicole at 10AM. Kid Rock, Tony Stewart and Roger Penske on RaceDay at 10:30AM.

12:30 for the TNT stuff. Lots of great features. DW is the Pride of NASCAR feature.

Have a great night!

Jd

Unknown said...

JP- just because a driver called Kyle Superman, doesn't mean everyone in NASCAR does. It's just not the same coming out of your mouth.

Newracefan said...

Way to go AB trying to get Nascar to address the speeding penalty issue

Anonymous said...

Good nite all

Vicky D said...

Congrats to Joey!

Unknown said...

JD- Isn't NASCAR Now on at 9am?

The Loose Wheel said...

Someone I race with online calls Joey this: The Brave Little Toaster.

Pretty brave pass for the win, heck of a drive by the kid. Id say he is getting it dont you guys?

Dot said...

@ Anon 11:27, you're not talking to yourself are you? :)

Oh no, Brad using Rustyisms. Heaven help us.

Anonymous said...

I hope they ask Kid Rock what he thought of Kyle Busch's guitar smashing. I bet he loved it.

There are a lot of us Kyle Busch fans out there. Just wait until Sonoma - there will be a lot of 18s in the stands.

Newracefan said...

JD NN is on at 9 not 10

red said...

night all. will catch ya on the flip side!

Newracefan said...

I'm out, tomorrow all

Anonymous said...

Get Brad to Cup. He is showing he has the talent. I bet he would be a better RCR driver than Mears.

My prediction: Brad goes to another team, and JR takes a seat on his own Cup team in 2010 with Eury on the box.

Lou said...

see ya all tomorrow. night

Haus14 said...

Brad K's interview had an interesting similarity to last year when Brad was the rookie and Denny was the "veteran" talking about how these "rookies" should be racing

The Loose Wheel said...

i was just about to say that haus

Anonymous said...

JD - Six Flags $$$ problems came back in 1998 when they got bought out by Premier Parks ... Long before Snyder & Shapiro ever got involved ... Throw in underpriced season passes ... Recipe for disaster that finally caught up with them past the point of no return ...

Daly Planet Editor said...

Yep, 9AM special time for tomorrow. Nicole, Angelique and Marty...always fun!

See ya!

stricklinfan82 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
stricklinfan82 said...

I appreciate the fact that ESPN's pre-race shows aren't afraid to comment in-depth on the serious issues of the day. It sure is refreshing after weeks of Fox's pre-race nonsense. Had Fox been covering this race with Brad and Rusty in their studio I'm sure the studio host would have addressed the Gaughan crew chief issue by saying something like "NASCAR has suspended Brendan Gaughan's crew chief for actions detremental to stock car racing. Alright, enough of that, time to move on to cartoon time!"

The disgrace that is the start-and-park reached a new low with not 1, not 2, but 3 teams being penalized on the pace lap for not having a crew chief in their pit box. Kudos to ESPN again for not burying their heads in the sand on that issue, and to Rusty Wallace for specifically praising Morgan Shepherd on the air for not being a start-and-park driver.

It was also a great call to switch away from the finish line shot for just a couple seconds to show a clear shot of the 15/38 race to the line.

Despite those positives, ESPN's yellow flag pit stop continues to be abysmal. It sure is frustrating to see them tease us with a triple-pit split and an overall pit road perspective for a few seconds, and inexplicably switch to a full-screen shot of one of those stops that was already in that triple pit split to begin with. Doing that makes the pit stop coverage nearly as inadequate as Fox's.

Memo to ESPN: Despite what David Hill might think, NASCAR fans are not simple-minded morons. When a pit reporter is calling a pit stop you don't need to blow that stop up on the full screen for us to know what they're talking about. Please watch TNT on Sunday and watch how they do it. They give us a constant nonstop triple pit split, a nonstop overall pit road shot, and 3-4 different pit reporter calls of stops.

Despite the meltdown TNT had on the last lap at Pocono last week, it sure was refreshing to finally have a network that treated the NASCAR viewers like intelligent, knowledegable sports fans. I sure wish Fox and ESPN would follow suit so the cartoons, poor attempts at a comedy show, inadequate yellow flag pit road coverage, and covering up the on-track practice/qualifying sessions with video packages and NASCAR 101 Teaching Sessions would become a thing of the past

red said...

agree without reservation with stricklinfan's post this morning.
some additional thoughts:
* in reviewing our comments this morning, i'm struck by the depth of knowledge and understanding, especially in regards to the S&P issue. seems to me that planeteers keep a sharp eye on those teams, know who's a legitimate team and who's a S&P and also understand and monitor the contest of "which S&P team will get in the most laps?" obviously, this is an area of interest that nascar needs to address at some point.
* as nrf pointed out, one of the reasons the broadcast was interesting to me is that we heard about other drivers while young mr busch was leading by 2 seconds or more.
*several posters noted that punch's habit of referring to the cars by number only and not by driver name is maddening. this is especially true in n'wide races, where drivers are less well-known than in cup and where paint schemes change with regularly and sponsor availability.
* sure hope kyle petty keeps twittering during the race today: he actually pushed the broadcast to give us information that had been overlooked. and we could have used that last night as well.
* some very rough moments like coming back from commercials into a yellow flag and no word on why until after the pit stops had cycled thru as well as the weekly irritant of using in-car cameras when a wide shot is called for to show us the racing. pit stop coverage itself fell off the bus in a big way as well.
* altho' no fan of young mr busch, he did go thru the motions as one of the top 3 finishers. some have been criticizing him for not being available at the end of the race for comments: well, he was last night. granted, it was b/c he was in the top 3 and required to be available to the media and equally granted, it was "vinatge young mr busch." but it was an interview -- of sorts.
* finally, krista voda is simply the best: professional, informed, consistent, accurate and just an all-around great broadcaster. she has earned a much larger role in this sport's media and i hope someone will expand her presence as a reward to not just her, but to us as fans. she is one of the best!

«Oldest ‹Older   201 – 382 of 382   Newer› Newest»