This is really the final telecast that can be used to judge the ESPN Nationwide Series team. Next week in Homestead there will be lots of extra bells and whistles, along with special TV programs and lots of ESPN executives on hand.
Today at PIR there is just the hardcore crew that has worked on these telecasts for the entire season. This is the only NASCAR series where the ESPN family of networks handles the races from start to finish all year long. Daytona to Homestead, the races are all on one media source.
Allen Bestwick anchors the coverage from the Infield Pit Studio. Bestwick is solid and has been a master at dealing with his duo of Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty. Wallace is a walking conflict of interest where this series is concerned and Daugherty continues to be a NASCAR cheerleader on any topic.
Marty Reid cut his teeth on the Nationwide Series before stepping into the bigger and longer Cup races this year. In Phoenix, Reid is going to be happy at PIR that he only has to track the race since the NNS championship has been decided.
Dale Jarret and Andy Petree have been doing double-duty again this season and it is the Nationwide Series that suffers. Rather then bring in Ricky Craven and the still suspended Randy LaJoie to generate some excitement down the stretch, the network continues to use the announcers now focused on the Cup Series telecasts.
The good news is that PIR is a great track for the Nationwide Series. The drivers and teams are going to be running all out for this win and the series has lots of good things happening for next season.
ESPN is again working with the NASCAR Media Group to make great pictures and deliver outstanding audio. The lack of any technical troubles in the Nationwide Series telecasts this season has been a fantastic tribute to the television engineering and technical folks involved.
This post is going to serve to host your comments on the ESPN2 telecast of the Nationwide Series race from Phoenix International Raceway. To add your TV-related comment, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for stopping by!
203 comments:
1 – 200 of 203 Newer› Newest»Hey folks! Sounds like we have some tired announcers on the air from PIR.
Hope the race is a blast!
Happy Afternoon Racin' Planeteers :) <3
How can they be tired? They didn't do anything yesterday :(
Lots of folks watching college football today. Going to be a very small crowd.
Hi folks, just finished up trying to beat the green mass (ie hedges & rampant grapevine) into submission. Time for a rest - hope the race goes well. I hear AB doing the recap of last week on countdown
don't fancy that snake I thought they had folks to shoo them away
Thanks to all those hard working folks who bring us Nationwide races in whatever form its delivered.
We appreciate your efforts. A heartfelt thanks!
Posted this on the last blog. Was late in. So I'm posting it again just because I'm so very vain...
Comment and question.
Comment: Just finished watching trucks from last night. Read the Planet live blog first. Interesting and enriching experience. Y'all oughtta try it. Those people on the Planet are really perceptive. KyBu did not win, though, which means Bowyer cheated somehow, because (repeat after me) "Kyle Busch will win!"
Question: What disclaimer? What did not apply to JD? I checked Jayski and did not see one, though I did vote in the poll. Travis has Danica by 10 points. He is all good, and I have a 13 yr old and all his buddies to prove of it. "If NASCAR is good for Travis, then maybe it is where you get to compete when you grow up and not just for my decrepit dad," seems to be the logic amongst that crowd.
Any bets on if we keep getting updates on "owner's championship points as if now" all during the race?
Yes, Sally.
Brad just did it now. It will continue
Man, I like Ray in the booth so much.
Oh geez, Allen, that is lame, but funny, too. Reminds me of same Bat time, same Bat station.
AR, Jay gets all kinds of different blog posts from folks since he opened up his article/story links beyond the mainstream media.
Getting linked on Jayski gives smaller blogs and independent writers a huge boost.
I have been on that site since 2007 and have a good relationship with Jay, others are upset because what they forward to him does not get linked.
Jay sold his website to ESPN a while back. They bought it because at the time they had NOTHING online about NASCAR and the network had just spent hundreds of millions on getting races.
When something is not linked, lots of times the writer gets upset and blames ESPN's ownership for compromising Jay. It has not happened yet and I certainly doubt it will.
That help ya out?
Hi, AncientRacer - LOL, I'm still not drinking the KyBu koolaid! I would have preferred someone besides a cup driver winning the race last night though.
alright alright alright time to go racing! Hi to everyone hope this is good!!! I love PIR wish I was there looks like a much better crowd than the April nationwide race
Yup. Helps me out! :)
Hi, Jonathan -- yeah the weather looks great. We've never been there -- anyone know what its like to go there in person?
I want RaceBuddy.
@GinaV24
Yes. Nice facility. Good views all around. Too flat for my taste, but good racing, friendly folks, and Alice Cooper always has a presence there from his "Alice Cooperstown" restaurant. Fun to meet Alice BTW
Gina all I have to say is you NEED to go! Been there the psst 3 years for the Cup races and one Nationwide race! Theres nothing like it!!! Its so beautiful I takes my breath away everytime I go there :) Just a great track
AR, thanks for the info. We've been to NH and I can't say that flat tracks are my favorite either.
My brother has had this mad idea that we should fly out, take the airport shuttle to the race, maybe sleep overnight, maybe not or take the redeye back.
Doesn't sound much like a vacation to me!!
Brewer frightens me. Now it looks like he has his eyebrows waxed. Usually I comment about his manicure.
I was at the first Nationwide night race. Sat in seats coming out of turn 4. I have been to many Michigan races. I found the slope of the seats pretty flat. If someone 10 rows in front of you stood up he blocked your view. At Michigan a person 2 rolls ahead is not in the way.
It is a nice place.
That was a great call by Harvick's teammate! It looks like they are having a good time in spite of the pressure, doesn't it?
Gil is not going to hear the end of that one! Hilarious.
Are they ever actually going to get this race going?
I wonder if it's the opening of deer season there, too. Firearm deer season starts Monday AM here in Michigan. Between that and college football, doesn't look like too many came out to watch the race, does it?
JD - loved the "walking conflict of interest" description for RW!
Pace laps seem to be proceeding nicely without a debris caution.
Jonathan and Chad, thanks for the info too. We always try and sit up high. Hmmm, maybe I'll talk to my brother about the Feb race -- here in NJ, I'll be ready for a warm vacation by then, why not at a race?
We went to Daytona twice and it sure as heck wasn't ever warm when we went there. Bad timing I guess
I agree, I'd love to have Racebuddy too
Thanks Cath, if Rusty just left it alone he would be fine but he just can't!
In-car cam lap 2. Gotta love it.
Wow, S&P at lap 3? Man that has to be tough for a racer.
RW, like his brother, Kenny has NO filter.
Yeah Gina I say go for it! Middle of the desert hot and sunny! No rain
4 S&P cars out by lap 5. Wow...
I didn't see the disclaimer either AR :(
Probably hard to S&P after 3, but for those who made it in with NO sponsorship it works.
I got some great PIR stories. Went there for both CART and NASCAR every year. Went to Scottsdale for tennis twice a year.
Pretty cool area. Lots of driving to see stuff, but it's worth it.
To bad they didn't move the camera shot to 3 wide first. Danica is ok but racing 3 wide is better.
@Gymmie
As was said in "Shakespeare in Love":
It's a mystery :)
So what airport is best to fly into for access to the race? You guys are making me think really hard about this for next year.
we need more tracks like this
Side by side baby, it's all the rage! Wait, how does SPEED cover a race at the same track without split screen? Hmm...
Jonathan, you mean not a 1 1/2 mile track?
awww, Charlie, everybody LUVS Danica. Didn't you know?
JD, amazing isn't it? Speed has less people and yet, the coverage last night was great (except for manic mikey)
Gina I fly into Phoenix International Airport but my cousin lives in Chandler Arizona and the racetrack is in Avondale id say its a good 45 minutes to an hour away from the racetrack
well yeah we need more tracks like this one mile, unique a drivers race track
Jonathan, thanks, that's not too bad. Heck we drive 9 hrs for races in NC, so an hour is cake.
I think most fans are in agreement that more unique tracks and less 1.5 D shaped tracks would make most of us happier.
If you stay in Scottsdale, you have a long drive to the track but lots to do and some great hotels.
If you stay out near the track, you have absolutely nothing to do but a shorter drive.
If you stay in downtown Phoenix, you are completely nuts.
Maybe I should start a new blog: TDP travel tips!
OK, it was time to go shut the windows. Temps fall fast when the sun goes down.
Daggone, they are still in commercial
JD, awesome advice. Hey, I think JD's travel tips would be a good idea.
I will try and avoid the "absolutely nuts" choice.
Wow, that shot showed really empty grandstands
I would go there every April and play golf and stay with a friend that lived in Glendale. The area out by the track is building up with the new stadium out that way to.
You will love the weather and some really nice shops. So if your going plan to spend a few days. Lots to do and don't forget about different places to eat.
Go to hell, You just need to stop bashing ESPN. It's not going to change diddly poo. Marty Reid is awesome, the directors do a fantastic job and you need to stop posting bad things about ESPN
AR--yuppers!
LOL! JD :) Sadly that is the bad thing about many tracks. Either stay a million miles away & have lots to do or stay close & have nothing to do. But of course if you're one to stay out at the track from the time the gates open until after the days events might be too plumb tuckered out to want to do anything anyway.
Is there some reason that they don't build tracks with a north/wouth orientation so drivers don't have to squint into the sun? Bristol is that way...sun sets behind the backstretch grandstand.
Scottsdale is beautiful and you can find a budget hotel if you look. That desert lifestyle is a very different way of life.
OK
Phoenix Int'l is good, but HAVE NONE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN THERE ever been to Alice's? Never got a "BIG UNIT?"
BTW: The best place to stay is the Ritz Carlton on Camelback Rd. Of course since I never pay for anything it is no problem for me to stay there...
Is that the place where they cut your necktie in half? I fell for that hook, line and sinker the first time.
Ever notice how many shots we see from BEHIND the cars ?
Lots of rear bumpers.
This has been an issue of mine with the ESPN coverage & it really came to light at the finish of the Talladega race when the cars took the white flag.
Director needs to switch the shots much quicker so we do not see rear bumpers.
With dozens of cameras to choose from, in my mind we don't need to see so many shots from behind the race cars.
Take a minute and watch. Its amazing how many shots are from BEHIND the action.
Director and TD need to step it up.
Tight shots that jump all over.
Zoom out and let us watch the race.
I'd love to be able to stay a few days. Traveling with my brother though usually results in NO sightseeing, we're here for one thing - to go to the race.
But I sure like the sound of Scottsdale from what all of you have described. Maybe I can lean on him a little - he does like warm weather.
JD: Rookie, Tenderfoot, City Boy. Take your choice.
Just thought about this, this and next weekend will be the last time we see the older style cars in Nascar what do you all think about this???
AR- holey moley, the Ritz! Wow, I'd love that, but it may be out of my price point.
LOL, so there really is an Alice's restaurant?
Ken-Mi and one car shots!
Hey JD -
By the way, if you haven'd checked out the RACING TRAVEL TIPS website I'm affiliated with....check it out.
I know you don't like us posting websites, but you should check mine out.
We plan on visiting Phoenix in 2011 for a complete travel tips review.
Not a bad telecast. Half decent. Glad the announcers are tired they seem calmer. 30 minute pre race show was just right.
@GinaV24
Yes, Ma'am. Google it. Alice Cooperstown, Home of the BIG UNIT! :0)
Jonathan, you mean in N'wide, right?
I still think Chevy is making a terrible mistake not using the Camaro in Nationwide. They look great on the street and who wouldn't pick that over an IMPALA?
So now we've had the danica update and its off to commercial
Gina so you know when you go to PIR they go all out they even have grocery store right before the tickey gates so you can get everything you need if you decide to stay around the racetrack for sat and sun
yeah well in the top series in Nascar the old style is done for good unless you go to and Arca or K&N Pro series race
Now to the infield booth. Why.
AR, I will, that sounds like it would be fun.
And timely considering how close to Thanksgiving and its time to play Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant on Thanksgiving here in the Philly area.
Sally, I had never thought about the orientation of the track before -- hmm, makes sense to me.
Jonathan, I do like the idea of grocery stores nearby. I understand that you can bring in soft drinks & water and I assume food, but no alcohol, is that correct?
Hermie Sadler not a fan of TV announcing the S&Pers
@GinaV24
Now with the caution I must ask...do they play that? On what station? Can I get it by internet? And (inside joke warning) It was never my envelope at the bottom of the pile! Really. It was not. It belonged to Arlo and he got it from Dennis Hopper.
Gina, listening to Alice's Restaurant on Turkey day is a personal tradition of mine! Small world!
AR, yes indeed. Let's see, in Philly it would be on 93.3 wmmr and I believe that you can indeed stream that station online.
Pierre Robert usually plays it on Thanksgiving morning around 10 a.m. EST and then they replay it.
LOL, you are cracking me up -- Dennis Hopper indeed.
Oh, did I hear...KyBu is leading? Oh, myyyyyyy. It is hard to be humble
You bet, Sally. And singing along!
you can get anything you want ...
So after you listen to Alice's Restaurant do you listen to the long version of Innagaddadavida.
I was busy starting dinner and couldn't comment, but MR is back to his "Meat in the sandwich"!
Man, lots of tailpipes today.
AR, wait a minute! that would be Edwards! LOL
I cant wait for Stenhouse to be in the middle of 3 wide with his Angus Beef sponsor & then Marty can say .."he's the meat in the middle of this sandwich".
My favorite is the 8x10 glossy color pictures with circles and arrows.... ;-)
@Charlie,
No, but I do listen to 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at Easter.
Gina no beer correct! not sure if you can bring anything in to be honest! Chicagoland Speedway announced this weekend you can bring coolers and beer plus single race tickets will be on sale no packages! Oh and the store is run only for race weekends its next to the souvenir stands right outside the gates! The race track is in the middle of the desert nothing around it! Sand beneth your feet and cactus all around lol
Charlie, you know that's the 2nd reference to Iron Butterfly I've read recently, but the answer is No. Not unless Pierre happens to play it.
JD, the camera person seems enamored of the rear view of cars today.
These shadows are rough on TV.
Jonathan, well, that's good that Chicagoland is making a change to benefits the fans. If they want people in the seats, they need to make it easy for them.
I don't mind the sand and cactus, but I am a little bit worried about SNAKES.
Ken-Mi -- now that is a classic idea. Kind of like Tony having the BK sponsorship.
AR- your boy is falling back. Did they do 2 tires?
Looks like a really nice day there at the track. I wish they would show and mention our guy, David Starr, but he's a lap down and not a cup guy either!
If you just turned the Tv on would you know if this was a race or a practice.
Ah, 5 laps of racing and commercial break. How wonderful
I'm missing Ricky Craven and Randy LaJoie right about now.
Chicagoland and Nascar in general needs to advertise more if I wasnt a Nascar fan I wouldnt even know of Chicagoland Speedway! That will bring more buts in the seats as well! I drive on the highway everyday and always see signs for Baseball and football but never see any advertising Nascar thats where I feel Nascar falls short they need to remind everyone that were still here lol
KyBu is just permitting Duckyboy to pace him.
@ Charlie
Long time ago in a faraway land at the Macon GA Coliseum I reached up, had hold, and tried to steal the ring of IB's lead guitarist. I failed. What a show...but I was young then and bold.
@ GinaV24
Yes. 2. Liein; in wait Team Eminem is by golly.
Jonathan-I think ads are a track thing. I live near Bristol, TN and they have billboards near the interstates year round trying to sell tickets. Of course, NASCAR is a major event around here where it is a small blip on the radar in Chicago.
AR, so you're saying that KyBu is being a snake in the grass?
Wow, are we doing a thru the field? and all the way back to 13th. Amazing
Did she say Martin Truex?
Received a nice reply back from Hermie. He's not a fan of the timing (i.e. battle going on for the lead & mentioning the S&Pers) & also feels that many probably don't like the negative attention it brings to them.
@OsbornK
There is a billboard observable to the crowd that gathers in Chicago near the Oprah studio. That is great placement. :)
How about this.....
12 laps of coverage and never saw the leader of the race on screen.
I appreciate covering the other cars competing, but you have to use 2 boxes and show the leader.
I'd like to see Allgaier win myself just for a change of pace.
Jonathan, I understand the advertising but that may be more a Chicago thing. I know that there are billboards in the Charlotte area, NH does it, Pocono (heaven help anyone going there) and Dover just by my own observation.
OSBORNK that could be but I also mean advertising Nascar in general! They now have the billboards that change every 10 or 15 secounds and I always see adds for say MLB PLAYOFFS On FOX and what time and such! NBA games I remember seeing one for the Lackers and Celtics I dont know maybe im wrong but I just dont see Nascar in the mainstream ad other sports! There always a step behind (streaming races & online content is a perfect example)
Thanks ESPN, the only way we see David Starr is when BK is passing him.
Gymmie,
No one has the right to edit the reality of what is actually going on in the race.
That is the fight I have with Rick Allen all the time. You may remember we discussed this topic in reference to Marty Reid this season.
Reid will not play the NASCAR game, neither will Mike Joy. Allen once did a truck series race where over 15 of the 36 teams started and parked. He never mentioned a word about it.
All comes down to how you do your job and whether you are there to represent NASCAR or the TV network.
Ken-Mi, well, if the leader has a big lead and they are doing a through the field, I don't know that I mind as much, but they could use the split screen.
There was some good racing earlier, but the coverage seems to be falling off right now. I am channel surfing because I do not watch commercials.
GinaV24 queried
"AR, so you're saying that KyBu is being a snake in the grass?"
AR: But of course. And the problem might be?
Tight shots and chit chat.
Not the way to do a race.
Marty's favorite term has become "lets go back and take a look"
Trying to watch this live without internet assistance is impossible. They just suck the excitement out of the racing.
Well I came back to a caution and then more commercials.
JD, I'm with you on this. I just want an accurate honest call of what is happening at the track. I don't need someone to edit for me.
AR, why did it have to be snakes?
I see Edwards held serve there off pit road.
If the S&P's don't like the negative tone of being called out, either attempt to run the whole race, or stay home. It's pretty simple.
The booth is just about out of steam and only halfway through this race. Need Craven or LaJoie for NW races, that's for sure.
LOL @ gina and snakes ha dont go on that hill in Phoenix if you dont like snakes lol
Vicky we need both of them for Sprint Cup it would be soooooooooooooooooooooooo much more watchable!!! JD looks like ESPN is sure taking your advise w making changes this weekend lol
ESPN=FAIL
Jonathan, I plan to stay off the hill. And wear boots -- tall boots!
"lets go back and take a look", "Meat in the sandwich"!, "in the mix".
@ Rich - I thought Marty's favorite phrase was "side by side". In Indycar it meant they were going to commercial but still showing the race. (I'm glad we don't have to hear his other phrase "lock step") And he just said "Let's go back and look" so you might be right!
Charlie - you got that right - just heard "in the mix"
stop whining, DP!
Good stuff w Danica
and she hits the wrong guy and everyone thinks that's OK?
Geez
@VickiD
Craven is what we must devoutly wish for. But I do not have a goood feeling about them letting him do it. The guy would make them look bad by comparison.
@GinaV/24
Yes. It MUST be snakes.
@ Jonathan
I do not go out there. There might be snakes. My cats do not like snakes.
Uh, oh. Danica is trying now. Shall we, GinaV/24, send her to the JG school of in race elocution?
We need a good Danica post-race fight. That would save the sport....right?
Commercial again?
Hey I was watching the Nascar Classics race from 08 and Ill be honest (never thought i'd say this) but Jerry Punch was better than Marty! He knows a lot more about Nascar and it showed... yeah the if you just joining are coverage was there but still but I dont know if you had your choice for next weekend last race of the season who would you all want JP or Marty
JD. I'll challenge her as long as she lets me ... um, well, I;m going nowgere good with this. Never...mind.
I have to admit that I get a kick out of that ad with the #99 and #12 haulers. Gives me a real 'Smokey and the Bandit' moment. Makes me smile.
AR, JG could teach her a thing or two about payback. At least he used to be able to, not so sure now.
JD, DP and Jr need to have a post-race fight -- that would SAVE nascar for sure.
Personally and this is just me, I think that if she walks down pit road and stomps her foot at someone, she ought to be prepared to get smacked. I was always taught that if I picked a fight, I'd better be prepared to take the consequences. Girl or not!
They have to try Bestwick. Punch failed and Reid is miserable.
The ratings are in the tank, the meeting they had solved nothing.
This is not about NASCAR, it's about ESPN getting ratings back up for a billion dollar property they own for a couple more years.
Sally, I love that commercial too, but I loved Smokey & the Bandit movie a lot.
AR, warning, warning. family website!
Marty: "Michael Annett got the Free Dog"... The what???
Put Allen in the booth for the cup series. Marty was doing OK, even when he didn't know much in Nationwide.
AR, happy now? boo hiss
That's what puzzles me, JD. ESPN is 'stuck' with Nascar for a few more years, and they can't afford to just write off what they paid to cover it. Isn't it in their best interest to do the best job they possibly can? Why have they been so reluctant to try something different to see if it works better? It's like insisting on covering just the chase, not the race!
Cathy, didn't you know that's ESPN's latest promotion? They are working with the SPCA - get your lap back and get a free dog
Yes I do JD. That's why I don't get those who are against it. Yes we "know" who they are however it's still a part of the story for those 300 or 500 miles & fans need to know what's going on whether it's a "name" or someone whose only known by their mama.
Danistar delivering some payback there :)
@GinaV/25
Thank you, Will Robinson.
Can't they just call NASCAR and say - we're sorry, we really don't want to cover it after all - make a deal with Speed to cover it, then we might get decent coverage.
Gina, you are killing me!
@ Gina - her "foot stomping" is what turned me against her. I tried to like her, I really did. But hearing "they have to respect me!" and then watching her disrespect the other drivers turned me off.
And there are the rakers again!!!
well only 50 laps of this coverage to go and a lot of that will be in commercial.
AR - this broadcast is lost in space
Just think how many races this broadcast team has done together this season and this is the best they can do.
I was told these guys spend all their time working on the Cup prep stuff and this is just mailed in.
Sounds like it.
Gee Marty, they didn't want to go back to the race recap with Danica even if you wanted it. I guess the race was still under green.
The race is good.
The coverage is not awful.
The company is finest.
And GinaV/24 and I seem to be wavelength for wavelength today.
Like Buster Poindexter sang: "Hot! Hot! Hot!"
Thank you JD. Without you...we would all be moping about talking to ourselves.
No. 18 Low tire. One lap for tire with less than 40 to go. Doable.
Cathy, yeah, I would love to have a female racer in either series that I could respect and follow. I watched Danica in that first Indy500 and thought - cool, but there's been too much queen of hype and too little substance for me to continue to get on board.
Plus I object to the GoDaddy stuff. I'm no prude, but like the extenze, frisky painters/ rakers/bathtubs in the backyard commercials, the soft corn porn aspect leaves me unimpressed.
The TV stuff is so much better than 2007 it's amazing.
Weber gone, Musburger gone, Erik Kuselias gone, Doug Banks gone, Tim Cowlishaw gone, Jimmy Spencer almost gone....the list goes on.
I tuned in for a few during halftime and commercials from the Auburn / Georgia game.
Now I realize why I no longer can take a full race on TV. It's a rerun every week - Cup drivers running in top 4 positions, and Danica, Danica, Danica. THANK GOD FOR NCAA & NFL football.
JD, if they spend all their time prepping for Cup, it sure doesn't show.
They send all there time on the Cup broadcast??? The Cup broadcasts arent much better
do they gather at a bar and drink all night cause it sounds like it me no energy no nothing like your at a libary
Yes, they have made some changes in their broadcast team that have been a godsend. Now, if they can ever figure out how to cover the races the way they did long ago....
wow.... is AB going to take it to the finish ???
RW says if a caution comes out, this could be one great race, but we won't see it!!!!
It's very weird. AB, Rusty and Ray would be a good match for Marty, DJ and Andy.
ESPN will not drop the infield studio, even for NNS, and mix up the line-up in the booth.
let me complete that sentence -- it should be - it doesn't show on Sunday.
AR- I agree, the company today is excellent and thank you JD for indulging us in our conversation. I'd be throwing something at the TV set by now, if not for this site and all of you folks to have fun to ease my pain.
No Ken, this is a lead in to a commercial.
Gina - I completely agree on the Go Daddy stuff. Completely tasteless - although I think the Jillian Michaels one (where all the guys are holding their breath and she says "I want to go back in") is kinda funny. Have never had the urge to "See what happens next" on godaddy.com
JD Musburger is NOT gone. Did you see him trying mightily to explain the chase to his football boothmat (FSU v somebody game). Nop. Brent has just figured out he is not smart enough for NASCAR. Good voice; No play.
yeah, the voices of intelligence -- Ray and AB
This is just my opinion, but I think ESPN needs to replace Marty Reid on all these broadcasts.
It's been well documented on this blog that he didn't have much NASCAR experience prior to this gig, and it shows, but he's not getting any better.
The fact that he makes more mistakes during one race than most PBP announcers make in an entire season, and his overuse of tired expressions (in the mix; meat in the sandwich) all indicate to me that perhaps he's exhausted, or he'd rather be doing something else, or both.
When Marty first started calling these races, he seemed to infuse a much needed breath of fresh air into the broadcast booth, and I initially enjoyed his enthusiasm, and his resistance to sugarcoat certain problems in the sport,(such as pointing out when start & parkers pull off the track), but he seems to have gone steadily downhill, especially this season.
I think he's a talented broadcaster, but I think he may have just lost interest in his current assignment. Or maybe having to pull "double duty" on every weekend that both series are at the same track has just worn him out.
I agree that all three sound tired, and it's not surprising when they're on the air so much, but Jarrett and Petree are holding up far better. Of course,that maybe due to that fact that they simply know the sport better, and aren't struggling with Reid's steep learning curve.
One more set of races to go. Perhaps we'll see a different lineup next season. Just my two cents.
do these guys not notice the tire rub on KB's car?
AR - I missed Brent doing that. Might have been entertaining.
Hmm, they can smell something burning and they think it might be Team Eminem? Maybe KyBu is just hot under the collar?
The producer that recently was terminated by ESPN after being arrested was one of the primary reasons Allen Bestwick was not given an opportunity in the booth.
Now that Neil Goldberg is gone, look for a big scramble in the off-season..especially after a 25% drop in Talladega ratings.
wait, did Marty just say they were peeking out the window?
do that more often!!
Hey, Marty said they're "peeking out the window"! So he knows it's there....
Allright
(NOTICE TO EDITOR: potential foul coming)
Why would anyone care about DP doing the GoDaddy thing?
First time Marty looked out for a very long time for sure.
Remember last week? Yeee...
She is one of the original Go Daddy girls.
Well, that producer needed to have his head examined for more than one reason. Why shoot yourself in the foot and not use him when you have a PXP talent like AB, just for personal reasons? Stupid.
I vote for AB for Cup - put Dave Burns in for Nationwide - he did a credible job, I think its too much for one broadcaster to cover both series. You can tell how tired they all get -- Mike Joy, DW, Marty is no different. It seems like it is a hard gig with all that travel. Either that or it is a young man's game.
It just seems incompetent to me to keep your best players 'on the bench' (to use those stick and ball analogies they are so fond of.) With AB, Craven and Ray E, Randy La Joie, they have th potential to have somee killer commentary and PxP. Yet they stick with Brad and company?
How many times did they mention Kenny Wallace or Mike.
Wow, that was exciting! Go back and get him Justin
I agree with Dave Burns being used again as a PxP. I don't care for him that much on pit road but I was impressed when he did do the PxP.
NASCAR Performance is on tonight at 10PM on SPEED.
NASCAR Now tomorrow 9AM with Mike Massaro on ESPN2.
AR, sorry don't mean to upset you about the GoDaddy thing. Sex sells and that's fine. For me, as a female, it bothers me.
Each to their own and again, I didn't mean to offend you.
This is really something, this booth is more concerned with KyBusch going through the field than most of the cars in the top 10.
@GinaV/24
You are absolutely correct. Mr. Editor's most interesting comment was his 6:30.
Duckboy. Duckboy. Duckboy wins
I have one of his hats.
Thanks guys!
-30-
Well, it's now official. Marty is just lost.
That was a horrible call to the checkers by Marty. He really struggles with calling the start and finishes of the races.
@GinaV/24
You did not offend me. You couldn't. You validated my right brain. XOXO
:)
And these are short races at Az. I'ts gonna be a loooong race tomorrow!
Roland,
Marty has been calling these NNS races since February. That was just horrible and it's the next to last race for the entire year.
Lord help us.
To continue the musical analogies we've been on -- Marty is dazed and confused.
AR-- we cool then?
Its all good
JD thanks for keeping up w all thats on TV ill make sure to tune in tonight much appreciated! Thanks everyone so so race I guess lol Goodnight have a great Saturday night and if you drink enjoy one for me :P Goodnight all get ready for tomorrow woowoo
JD - Couldnt agree more
AR -- I work with engineers every day - I know all about right brain thinking.
Glad that we are all having fun, that's what matters and as I think you and I have said before, what fun would it be if we all agreed ALL the time.
Variety being the spice of life.
See you guys here tomorrow for the Cup stuff. Saturday NASCAR goes against college and Sunday NASCAR goes against pro football.
Maybe this season should end in late August? Just sayin...
@GinaV/24
Right is female, right? Or is left? Whatever the female side is you feed, and splendidly too.
Thanks, JD, for the blog. As Sally said, tomorrow will be a long day if today's broadcast is any example.
BTW, did I say that I'm rooting for someone other than Johnson to win tomorrow? Actually, I'd like for Johnson's "disgraced" pit crew to help JG to his first win of the season. Keeping my fingers firmly crossed.
Enjoy the evening, folks. Time for dinner.
AR, LOL, could be. I thought left brain was the artistic side but I could be wrong.
I'm pretty much a straight line thinker myself. I don't know if I am a case of nature or nurture, but more than 20 yrs of working with engineers, you gotta tell them what you think, not what you feel or no dice.
Of course, I think it would be alot of fun to just be howling mad some days, too, but I can't make that work for me.
Maybe in my next life.
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