Friday, June 11, 2010

Nationwide Series Finally Gets Some Online Support


The little engine that could is still out there and this week the Nationwide Series teams head to Kentucky Speedway for a stand-alone show. The race will be telecast Saturday on ESPN, but the TV news is actually about the drivers' meeting.

NASCAR.com is going to televise the drivers' meeting live online using the Internet rights held by the Turner Sports folks. This could be the start of something big.

Here is the official info:

NASCAR.COM and Nationwide Insurance announced today the first live webcast of a drivers’ meeting will be available for free at NASCARnationwideseries.com on Saturday, June 12 at 6:45 p.m. ET.

NASCAR fans will be able to see their favorite NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers and listen to the important pre-race information and rules review NASCAR delivers to all teams prior to the start of this year’s Meijer 300 presented by Ritz, from Kentucky Speedway.

“Nationwide Insurance is proud to partner with Turner Sports and NASCAR to be the first to offer race fans a behind-the-scenes look at the NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers’ meeting through a free webcast on the official website of the NASCAR Nationwide Series,” said John Aman of Nationwide Insurance.

To take part in this historic event, visit NASCARnationwideseries.com on Saturday, June 12th and register for the free webcast.


We have talked many times about the lack of online support for the Nationwide and Camping Truck Series. Perhaps, this is the start of putting live timing and scoring for all the on-track sessions online along with team radio scanners.

As we know from the last several years, the Nationwide Series gets completely plowed under by ESPN come September when college football begins play on Saturdays. Combined with the fact that ESPN also televises the Sprint Cup Series races starting in late July, the poor old Nationwide Series gets shuffled to the back burner.

Adding any online live video streaming would be a plus, but focusing on the drivers' meeting on this stand-alone race day is a good first move. Hopefully, we will see the NASCARnationwideseries.com website begin to grow and develop into a dedicated place for fans to get live pre and post-race video and online highlights.

Happy to get your feedback on this topic. 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 The Daly Planet.

14 comments:

Richard in N.C. said...

While I do love NASCAR, this weekend I will be focusing a lot more on F1 and, especially, Le Mans.

sbaker17 said...

This is long overdo. Also, some of the funniest quotes com from the driver's meeting. Should be interesting. Too bad I'll miss the TV broadcast, as I will not watch anything with Rusty Wallace in it.

Anonymous said...

I hope it leads to more support for the Pick 'em ups & N'wide. It'll definitely be fun to peek in and see some of the behind the scenes stuff. :)

I think it's a neat idea and am glad to see them doing this!

Tom said...

I am with Richard on this one.

Tom
Inverness, FL

Daly Planet Editor said...

If the 24 Hours of LeMans looks anything like the 12 Hours of Sebring, it will not be what it was in the past.

sickofdw said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Vicky D said...

NW & Trucks definitely need some mojo to get more fans out to the tracks and watching on tv. Last week at Texas for the trucks there were a lot of empty seats around us we were sitting on the front stretch pit road exit. And I think the trucks have the best racing too. Nascar needs to step it up, I don't really know what they need to do, but definitely need something perhaps televising their driver/cc meeting would be a start. Looking forward to this weekend as the NW racers are in KY so that we won't be watching a lot of cup drivers in the broadcast, at least.

GinaV24 said...

Finally! For those of us who use our computers as much as TV to follow things, this is a definitely plus.

It will be interesting to see the driver's meeting, but I have to agree with sbaker17 - not looking forward to Rusty in the booth. I'd be really happy with just Marty and Andy with Allen.

Daly Planet Editor said...

sickofdw,

Try it again without the insult.

JD

maynard in deep gap said...

sorry about the insult[first time i've ever commented on a website forum] no excuse. just got a little wild. Had a great deal of respect for jaws,just cant stand arrogance, regardless of talent. formerly sickofdw.

fbu1 said...

This is a long overdue development. I hope the online attention is extended to the trucks. Getting up to date truck info re: practice lap times and qualifying is difficult.

Donna DeBoer said...

Anything additional they can get out for the fans of NNS, great!!! And I don't mind Rusty back ;)

Richard in N.C. said...

JD, the Audi's are at Le Mans, French terf, 1,200 media. Should be a hoot.

Anonymous said...

That was nice of them to do hope they do more. Had expected the meetings to be longer but I guess with no questions that added to the short time. But very nice to view :).