It's a night to remember at Bristol, TN. ABC is the network for the Sprint Cup Series race, but there are some issues out there.
Some markets have local coverage of NFL preseason games on ABC tonight. In those markets, viewers who want NASCAR need to tune to ESPN2. That channel will be used for alternate distribution. In Houston, TX, viewers need to look for the ABC digital station that is carried by local cable systems.
The second story is Hurricane Irene. Should an ABC local station decide to continue with storm coverage, viewers will be told where to turn for NASCAR viewing. Our best guess is also ESPN, but some markets may distribute the signal locally on another channel. It's going to be interesting.
The race itself it all about Kyle Busch. He is the story and emerging as the driver to beat down the stretch. Defeated after an incident in the truck series race, he came back with a vengeance and won Friday night in the Nationwide Series.
Nicole Briscoe hosts the show from the Infield Pit Studio. She has Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty alongside. These three are located outside of the track due to limited space in the infield. Rusty and Brad are nothing if not enthusiastic.
Allen Bestwick will call the race. This is a big change for ESPN/ABC. Lackluster lead announcers have plagued this coverage since 2007. Bestwick should be right in his wheelhouse with Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree alongside.
Pit road communication is impossible under green flag racing at Bristol. This race is the ultimate challenge for pit road reporters. Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch and Dave Burns are the Sprint Cup Series team in the pits.
Tim Brewer is in the Tech Garage. With green flag laps taking less than 15 seconds, it should be interesting to see how the producer works Brewer into the telecast. The producer faces the same challenge for dealing with TV commercial breaks under green.
Bristol features side-by-side racing with cars close all over the track. Focusing on just one small group of cars robs the viewer of the experience of this race. ESPN's choice is to work to relay the reality of the racing or just to "make TV" tonight.
This post will serve to host your TV-related comments about the telecast. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. Thank you for taking the time to stop by.
439 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 439 Newer› Newest»Thankyou Allen for the pit update!
Talk about missing RaceBuddy. Imagine the difference that would make.
We Need Brewer To Explain Speeding....LOL.
GREAT twitter comment from Shane Hmiel:
"The new aarons comm w michael waltrip n wheelchairs proves I've won more n a row than he has his whole life"
hahahahaha!!
This is unreal.. Seriously.
Kyle Petty is facing a challenger in the rambling category. Slow down DJ.
Another Commercial?
MORE COMMERCIALS? I need some tequila!
Oy Vay!
This is abominable....coverage of such a historic venue and we can't even watch it due to LOUSY camera angles and TOO DANG MANY COMMERCIALS!!!!!!!...NONE of these products will get my attention nor patronage...
we could start a new drinking game -- every time they go to commercial, have a drink. Of course we'll all be falling down by the middle of the race, but then we wouldn't mind the terrible coverage.
Showing 30 cars on the lead lap
A 'thru the top ten'. Goody.
Heck with the lead lap - not seeing more than one or two on the TV. Good work, ESPN. You make me want to stab myself in the forehead with a spork to prove I'm not dreaming and people haven't gotten this lazy.
It's a short track. And y'all aren't trying.
I would love to see 10 cars in one camera shot.
Not the spork, not worth it.
Smith in the top 10 all night, and they finally mention him at lap 172?
Oh from the comments not a good telecast.
A commercial every 7 minutes?
It could be interesting this year...as much as people are tired of JJ winning the 10 race title, how would people react if Kyle gets it?
Spork fans UNITE!!
Gina, you mean you're not playing the commercial /drinking game.
ANOTHER COMMO AS I TYPE THIS!! MINE GOTZ!
I think a 30 minute infomercial has less commercials than this race.
I thought AB was the lead guy in the booth? What is with this everybody takes a turn and then we go to commercial?
Nope....no McD's chicken balls...no Cialis....no GM trucks....and Craftsman tools???..Heh...Nope!!!!
the "through the top 10" is the most coherent the broadcast has been all night.
i don't like to complain about commercial load because it pays the bills but it's just killed the broadcast. the booth can't get into a rhythm and everything just feels so random. it's hard to figure out what to focus on when you're playing catch-up all the time.
a short track like this needs some sort of PIP or RaceBuddy or something to help maintain flow and continuity. this just is not working tonight for me at all.
Mike, I'm in Detroit. I would rather deal with just about anything here than try to persuade myself that watching this - joke - is acceptable. There's better racing down in Flat Rock.
So I hear, anyway. Can't afford it.
If it weren't for beer, I'd be annoying certain groups with abject piracy. I want to see how bad it can get, and how deep the proverbial rabbit hole goes in mediocrity.
What's the logic of showing ads for Nascar....to people that are alreday watching the race?
Seriously considering blowing off this travesty,and just reading about it tomorrow.
Sally 8:08
We have been smiling thinking how the 48 haters and the KB haters would react. Gota' root for someone and it quite likely will come down to the two of them. HeHeHe
Want some irony, viewers? At the track, it's the best view ever!
Apparently not so much on TV.
@Anon/J I know,
Not even close to halfway and I have no idea of the storylines or what the heck is going on.
Jimm57, I would except with the hurricane and possible tornado watches all over the place, I don't want to be in a stupor if I need to take cover.
Of course with this lousy coverage, I may be cross eyed with boredom by the end.
8:57 should be the next break if the pattern continues.
Hmmm. Seems like that will include the majority of the fans, won't it? ;)
so who hit Jeff? was it his teammate the 48?
@Gina...Andy Lally.
I started watching Hot Pass and it's better than the TV coverage. Radio guys are at least excited.
@BS61...5 minutes early.
Loving hotpass no commercials
8:57 should be the next break if the pattern continues.
Way off dude three minutes early....
With this being on ABC you know there are a bunch of viewers that have never seen a race before and this is what they are introduced to. To bad.
Tv coverage can be done so much better then this.
any idea how many cars are on the lead lap?
(and the fact that i'm actually asking that question says a ton about the broadcast tonight.)
I feel disconnected from the race. We just see random cars and battles.
Wow! Commercial already at 8:54. That wasn't even 5 minutes
The last 125 laps better have Luke two breaks if not I feel like I should be paid to even watch this race
Looks like 24 cars on lead lap
thanks, Sally.
Wow. Timm tells me you use brakes to stop the car. Whoda thunk it?
Tim Brewer - "Brakes stop a car" hahahaha!
Sadly, for the first time ever, I'm turning off the race...just can't take anymore.
AB, you're the best, but, even you can't change this disaster.
I'm switching to hurricane coverage. I live Hawaii, I'm not affected. But, when they show the storm they don't zoom in on one raindrop!!!!!
Makiki
Honolulu
"We still have 287 laps to go in this race" and 287 commercials to show too!
pitcommand shows 24 cars on the lead lap. Bobby Labonte is the last car on the lead lap right now.
Switching to Weather Channel during the espn commercials helps me keep up with Irene....going thru my hometown at this moment..
Not paying even more money to watch this stuff than I have, Jerry.
There's a line that has been crossed where entertainment and a fair salary has become Roman style bread and circuses and totalitarianism.
Way things have been, if I'm not respected as a viewer...how will I be respected as a damn customer?
I'm not paying more, spending any more time than I do now, or otherwise investing myself to see a bunch of bad commercials and equally worse coverage. Not on Netflix, not pirating it, and certainly not on TV.
I sympathize with the drivers, but after a few million bucks a piece I expect you quit caring as much.
This. Sucks.
I wish to hell I'd never been introduced to this.
Yes! Weather update so I don't have to hear Rusty's blabbering
Makiki, I feel your pain!
Hey Gina! Count me in on your drinking game lol :) hope all is well
I've heard alot of talk about this the COT today. So my question is do you think they will do any changes to the newer COT in 2013??? I hope they do
They came back @ 8:57 and went back to commercial @ 9:02.
5 freakin minutes.
I laughed very good, "zoom in on a rain drop"
I was just asked by the Love of My Life....why was Harvick shown a lap down...I had to reply that I had NO IDEA....Imagine...
Wow green flag pit stops, can they keep up in the booth? well can they?
WOW they must have to pay extra for the split screen
at this point, I'm not sure even the booth has any idea who is running where and why.
You have a chopper in the air showing action on the track and you have a bumper cam looking at one car.
Which do you use to show on Tv?
The bumper cam of course.
Rapid fire pit stops
Very rapid fire, and the booth is still there! no commercials either, I feel faint.
ESPN always has trouble with ESPN I dont see why everyone is so surprised lol
sorry I ment to say ESPN always has trouble with Bristol. thats what I get for typing so fast
They can still pull this out. In TV, it's always what have you done for me lately.
9:02 commercials
9:04 Back from comm
9:10 commercials
It would be nice if, after green flag stops. they let the crawl cycle throught so we can get an update on where everyond id running. But, it's more important to get in those ads!
Wow they kinda stuck with the green flag stops, kinda,
Nice job on pit stops.
ESPN came on at 9:04 and left for commercial at 9:10. 6 minutes.
Later all-I can take no more.Great Blog JD.
Hi folks,
Why do they show green flag pit stops at Bristol?There's a race going on in the background and the viewers get treated to a full screen Home Depot pit stop. Geez.
I'm keeping up with the race reading Nascar.com Lap by Lap page, Pit Command, Hot Pass and the blog. Who needs ESPN???
The Last Definitive statement on
TV Spots.. OK Ready ..
If you want it for free.. Somebody
has to PAY for it $$
The last four times I've randomly switched from HotPass to ABC, they've been in commercial. Simply unacceptable.
I assume Jr. is now a lap down too?
I'm lost on how harvick is two laps down
Looks like 15 cars on the lead lap, Come on Regan
Just need more information from the announcers. Not fancy stuff, just info.
Yes and I believe Allen will be sucked into the vortex.
Maybe a small track really bring out the flaws in a Tv broadcast.
Hi, Jonathan. Hanging in there for right now. Heaviest part of the storm not due until early morning tomorrow.
As long as the power stays on I can manage everything else.
Yes, drinking game is the way to do this race with this broadcast. It's a shame. My guy is having a good run and it still isn't fun.
I hope they do away with the splitter, make them look more like the nationwide cars and then limit the # of races Cup drivers can run in nationwide.
I'd like NASCAR to be LESS controlling -- I never watched the IROC series and having a spec car does not make me interested in following the Sprint Cup.
this new bristol sucks, bring back the bullring
Is this race going to go all the way without any wrecks?
That segment was 9:12 - 9:17. 5 minutes.
We are lost and have no clue because the booth is lost and have no clue. Drivel from the booth and random shots of the cars does not make a telecast. It's filler.
Maybe a small track really bring out the flaws in a Tv broadcast.
Cannot have any continuity when they are on break every 6 to 7 minutes.
Alan why do you RAISE YOUR VOICE
just before the cut to commercial ?? It used to be cute
and funny . now it is another
Worstwick disaster for the ages..
9:12 back from comm
9:17 commericals
9:19 back from comm
JD...Is there anything in the tv contract that sets the maximum commercials they can show?
regular tv i think is 20 min per hour, i think its some sort of fcc rule
My theory is that ESPN wants it to be the old Bristol and it's not. They can't change and cover it like a fuel mileage race without a lot of contact or cautions.
Yes, there is a limit to commercials and it is all agreed to well in advance of the season.
The way the commercial breaks fall is called "the format."
Regan slipping , Dale Jr, current lucky dog
The commercial problem is not isolated to NAscar/abc. PGA/CBS, caught a $hit storm for the amout of commercials at the PGA championships a couple of weeks ago.
PS Harvick and rcr in general are having a bad night.
FINALLY I know what happens to harvick
Wow they snapped back to coverage!
wow
9:19 back from comm
9:22 to commercial
they do break out for wreck
Start: 9:19
End: 9:22
3 minutes.
broke out of commercial for caution!
good for them: they broke out of commercial just then.
Wow they cut away to a caution
wow, broke away!
good job espn comming back from the break
The tone changes and Jr. gets a lap back! Whooohoooo!
Non driving drunk Stremme dumps Reuty....and we get to see it on REPLAY!!!!....we are SO blessed....Meh...
Ok cut to tech garage,,,, oh I'm having so much fun!
Took 300 laps to get a wreck. Something wrong with this statement?
I dont see why ESPN wants this to be the old Bristol... its not hasent been since 2007 get over it! I love Nascar for side by side racing and we didnt get that w the old Bristol... it was a parade wreck fest and thats NOT racing
Call me new school but I like the new Bristol. seeing what Kyle did on Wednesday was sicking to me I lost the thread of respect I had for him when he did what he did to Sadler... but yet people were saying wow thats the old Bristol woo hooo.... not me ESPN FOCUS on the racing please
Remember ,this is the new and IMPROVED Bristol that now has races like MIS only with more lapped traffic. Feel the electricity in the air?
I think your comment was spot on JD.This ain't the old Bristol & they don't know how to cover it.
Totally agree Jonathan, need wrecks go to your local demo derby.
They promo it as bare knuckled brawl and get a smooth fuel mileage race.
Stremme is always going to be Stremme.
Is Stremme still dating Rustys daughter???....that would explain Wallace not commenting on why Reuty got dumped...
Ok....where we at here on this Bristol race thingy?
I switched over to the chronicles of Riddick on spike tv.
17 cars on the lead lap , Kasey Kahn is the current lucky doggie
Track position and fuel mileage. Where have we heard that before?
The "new" Bristol is done in the image of the typical cookie cutter tracks. It's smaller but the uniqueness is gone. It't gone from special to ordinary. When the specialness left the track, I did the same.
Ok....where we at here on this Bristol race thingy/
Nobody, no one knows.
Not for nothing but I'm missing parts of this race cause EAS warnings keep popping up for tornado warnings in my area
JD, I find it really annoying that they do all the promos from the "old" Bristol when it so clearly isn't.
I agree, Stremme isn't going to change. Neither will Mike Bliss.
First things first! Stay safe.
@lacboi.....stay safe....my thoughts are with ya!!!
For the love of all things good and holy, how many times do we need to see that dancing commercial?
Yeah, the tornado warnings are up at lots of places in NJ and PA right now. The rain and wind have really picked up. I just went up and packed a bag, just in case. The local news is showing a lot of red and yellow on the map. I am very very glad that it downgraded from a category 2!
Cars.com,.....good commercial...
lacboi: i didn't see the warnings. i'm assuming montgomery county is involved in the warnings? do you have a time frame?
sorry for the hurricane diversion, gang.
ugh, I cannot stand Brad D!! say something useful or shut up.
Did she just say "fan favorite" Kyle Busch??!!
@WB...Yes she referred to Sprints Fan Favorite vote b4 the race.....Wild Thing was the winner..
Please be safe everyone who is effected with this nasty weather!
Im thinking of you all
Well, one way to get a caution.
Mark Martin just made a Smart Car!!
OUCH....Dang, Mark....you done shortened that car a bit...don't worry though...Ol' Rick will build Kahne a bunch o' new ones...
first hurricane-related fatality in philly: car lost control, hit power pole. hot mess follows. 1 dead, 1 severely injured at first reports.
and we're not even in the worst of the storm yet.
@red the one's popping up were for S. Jersey nothing for montgomery co yet
Hard hit! This could be a really good race.
red, most of the warnings seem to be in atlantic county and NE cumberland county right now.
they just said SE delaware co for PA
thanks, lacboi and gina24!
Who's the cop wanna be trying to keep the camaras away from the wrecked cars?
bristol can't be a fuel mileage race, can it?
This was posted a few weeks back on this blog when comments were made about Mrs Harvick wearing hear cap during the National Anthem.
Civilian Behavior--
When the first note is played, all civilians should stand. Men should remove any headgear. All present should place their right hand over their heart. While singing is encouraged, it is not required. Unless you are singing, silence should be maintained until the last line of the song, when most people will begin to cheer. If you are walking or otherwise moving when the anthem begins, stand still until it ends.
If they show it (E$PN) I think it's gonna be a great finish
bristol can't be a fuel mileage race, can it?
the 24 can go to the end but not a GWT
Still hard for me to believe that ESPN showed only the top two cars finish last night and then talked for 40 minutes to drivers who talked about the racing on the last lap.
Sometimes, this sport makes me nuts.
Just so everyone knows...20 cars on the lead lap with David Ragan being the current luckest dog
Good call on Track Pass to have Keslowski, Gordon, and Kenseth 3 of the 4 tonight.
Went for a walk, came back - this is still boring! Camera work is horrible, what Bestwick? Awful.
This is Bristol - I said elsewhere...if this is what I can expect, I'm never going to this track.
This sucks.
why back to the small two box graphic package?
Also - I know this isn't my TV - have you looked at the screen quality? Jagged, awful stuff that looks like 1990 at the latest - pixelation, fuzziness, etc.
They decided to save money on this damn thing. These cameras look like throwbacks to races before. I think I'll be going back to a new hobby before long.
Remember, AB is just doing what he is told to do by the producer.
This coverage is chasing every casual fan trapped by the hurricane to NFL football or news.
Wow, Red. That's a shame. Well, my power has just gone to brown out twice in the last 5 minutes so I may be offline in a few.
Everyone be safe if you are in the storm area, in case I get knocked offline.
Good point JD, or as I said "Allen sucked into the vortex"
If you listen to the radio guys, they are absorbed in the actual events on the track.
This ESPN coverage is just watching it and talking about other things.
It's like they expect someone else to do the heavy lifting and they are just there to comment.
What's missing are the fundamentals of NASCAR TV that have been done by networks since the mid-1980's.
Keep your head down GinaV24, and everyone else out there dodging this storm
AB needs to man up make this race exciting. If he doesn't, he becomes a part of the problem like everyone else.
We have a modified on the track. (David Reutimann)
Be safe, Gina24! and remember: don't take children or pets outdoors tonight and if you have to go out, walk, don't drive!
19 cars lead lap, Bobby Labonte current lucky dog
Radio always does a better job because they describe the pictures you cant see. ESPN hardly shows the right pictures. Like they dont know what the right pictures are!
Guess we might not be seeing that #18 in Victory Lane tonight.
Things may get a bit wild
I wish they got excited when something happens like the radio guys.
wow, they just announced on wpvi septa is free until they shut down at midnight.
This has been rough to watch.
Is there an explanation on why the timing lines on pit road are so far apart at Bristol compared to other tracks?
You see that? the 9 is Hamlin and so is the 11! Who's doing the graphics?
pretty quick with the yellow flag...did that debris end up on the track
DPE, you're right PRN is doin a fantastic job. I'm enjoying the racing I'm seeing. Sprint vision also is doing a good job of going through the field and finding pac's of racing.
crap, tornado warning up in my neck of the woods.
JD/Editor - it should be a requirement that if we are stuck with this god-awful, three car, BS coverage...we should at least get to hear our driver fight through everything.
It's like the Million Dollar Flop - they have the cash, they have the technology, and they're already doing it.
When I can walk away from a race like - supposedly - Bristol, and come back, and stay as bored as ever...things are not too optimistic. If 2012 is like this - I'm calling it a day. Two years of money-grab stupidity is enough.
Nascar has lost it with their "leaders" - and I can find better things to do in the meantime - read a newspaper, get laid, buy a book, watch a crappy movie, or drive around and take right-hand corners when no one is looking.
This...meh.
I love how mark martins car looks now
Stay safe Gina!
Stick and ball jerk-offs. Stick and bakk jerks don't like to get dirt under their fingernails. Motor racing is complicated and is done without a coach telling the S&B jerks what to do.
Espn is run by stick and ball jerks not wanting or willing to learn the SPORT not a game.
STOPP YHELLING ALAN YOU SOUND
LIKE A MORON AND A CARNIVAL
HUSTLER. SHEEEESHHHHHHHHHHHH
STOP YELLING STOP YELLING
23 cars on lead lap and Casey Mears is the current lap dog
penske team obviously studied the timing lines and brad has done a much better job then kurt, but nascar can't be too pleased..sort of destroys the purpose of the lines with how fast brad was moving for that segment
Ecery time I hear DJ say someone as 'tough', it reminds me of the old Wrangler Earnhardt ads!
maybe espn could give that mexican soccer announcer from that Geico commercial a try to make things sound excited.
With all the technology used on tv & NASCAR.com, you would think NASCAR is aware how fast these cars are traveling at all times. It's pretty obvious Keselowski was going above the speed limit.
Listen, when you can, to the #24 engine. It sounds sooooo sweet.
Bet you, Mike in Detroit, that most of the unseen racing is among the lapped and crabby folks. 1 dollar, or a free beer. (you refrigerate.)
ESPN cheaped out on this - look at the camera quality, the shots...it looks like 1990. Looks like a VCR recording. And the coverage still sucks.
I can't say it here, family oriented, but **** this.
This is one heck of an exciting race on PRN!
Really enjoying Hotpass with PRN audio tonight.
Radio pxp is just so much more in the moment than TV.
That battle for 3rd just now was great.
Anon/J I don't give NA$CAR my heart anymore, so they can't break it ever again. I'll bet the cold beer,
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the results of a business strategy centered around Yes Men and delusions of grandeur.
Simple as that. Good night.
Man, this just sucks.
Well said, Rambo M! Huzzah!
This is you side by side new Bristol!
@ Rambo M very good I like that,
Chad Johnson, who the heck is that?
who's that slow car, and why was he slow?
FYI, I heard Comcast in Philly is out.
Remember how fast cars would get lapped here? Still 23 cars on the lead lap. Tires aren't falling off, cars can't pass. Yet another fuel and track position race. I'm really hoping this doesn't come down to another typical restart free for all.
This is hard to watch...man. I'm spending more time watching the Cowboys-Vikings game than this mess. I wonder if we'll ever see any decent race coverage again? Everyone in the hurricanes path, stay safe!
JD > I keep waiting for this great comeback?
Race is kinda losing some steam, can they go till the end with no more gas?
Im hoping it DOES come down to a free for all 5 lap wreck fest just to justify my time tonight!
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