College football is underway and originally the Nationwide Series race was protected by more than thirty minutes of "safe time" between programs. Since then, the college football game live on ESPN2 went into a lightning delay.
Now, with less than thirty minutes left to the NASCAR pre-race show, the decision is what do to at the top of the hour. If football is still in a delay, it will probably be NASCAR. If football has the players back on the field, expect NASCAR to wait it out.
Nicole Briscoe is hosting the pre-race show with Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty. She has been in these kinds of situations before and has proven to be a cool customer on the air. It looks like this might be another test for the pre-race crew.
Marty Reid, Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree are going to call the race. Vince Welch, Dave Burns, Jamie Little and Dr. Jerry Punch are reporting from pit road. Tim Brewer is in the Tech Garage.
This is a high-speed track where action happens fast but passing happens slow. That should make sense once the coverage begins. Two distinct grooves high and low are being used in the turns, but the frontstretch with the dogleg again is the challenge for the drivers. Yes, there is still grass in the infield.
The race is once again going to feature some Sprint Cup Series cross-over drivers. We need to pay attention to how the coverage balance the overall race with the "regulars" going for the driver's championship this season.
This post will serve to host your comments on the ESPN2 coverage of the Nationwide Series from Atlanta. To add your TV-related comments, just click on the comments button below. This should be interesting.
193 comments:
Hold onto your hats for this one!
So the only sport that plays in the rain is Indycar on ovals?
Almost decision time for the folks in Bristol. I suspect you're right, JD, about going to the pre-race show.
They seem to be sticking with highlight packages instead of switching to one of the many other ESPN/ABC games.
It was lightning that chased them. Rain came with the combo platter order.
Packing up early to celebrate Labor Day weekend:
#03 Scott Riggs
#41 Johnny Chapman
#42 Tim Andrews
#44 Jeff Green
#46 Chase Miller
#49 Mark Green
#71 Clay Greenfield
#72 John Jackson
#75 Carl Long
There's actual lightning in Ann Arbor.
But, I was at the Indycar race at Loudon. That was a bit bizarre.
Problem is the NCAA rule that stops all action if lighting is spotted eight miles near a stadium.
Any free mobile feed?
Nice job. Right on time with no hassles.
Nope, just free scanners at NASCAR.com!
CFB studio show made it sound like they were not coming back to the Michigan game, did I read that wrong.
Hey JD
Did you hear Tom Cruise is considering shooting his next film in Saltsburg.
Jerry, being told extended delay due to lightning and bad weather.
Reporters taking cover.
Michigan game has been declared over.
I understand mr. Editor, I'm wondering what happens if they get the all clear in Ann Arbor about 60 laps into the nationwide race?
Notre Dame has been in a delay for hours, not sure if they will play today.
I watched some of that trackside thing and saw a yo-yo demonstration and a cooking show. It was not what I expected.
Jerry, just been told the game has been called due to weather. Seriously!
Any doubt why Rusty wants Brad K
not to race in Nationwide?
Cha-ching
Well never mind then.
Charlie, you can leave Trackside comments on the earlier post.
Pretty big cluster today. Shame.
52 year old fan, I cannot believe he gets away with saying that!
Happy Race Night Planeteers <3 hope my friends in PA & Chitown get unblacked out soon :(
I tried to watch the pre race show. Made it about 7 minutes until Rusty used his first "flat flyin" for the night. Was gonna listen to PRN anyway for the commentary so just fired up my tunein early and now Im watching the Braves Game listening to the pre race. Ahhhhhhhhhh much better.
As much as I love Atlanta Motor Speedway and think that this race deserves to be on a major holiday weekend, this is really a bad weekend to have Nascar in Atlanta. Braves playing a 3 game set this weekend against the Dodgers, Georgia & Georgia Tech kicking off their football seasons and always a big kickoff game at the Georgia Dome (which this year just happens to be Georgia and Boise State). There will be a huge crowd Sunday but not tonight or last night. Its a shame though this is really a awesome track.
Hoping this race ends early so I can go watch some of the Boise State/Georgia game. Im a huge Tennessee fan, so that makes me a Boise State fan tonight haha.
You could almost hear the collective groan coming from Bristol CT when the woman on College Football Live goes "coming up next is the Nascar Nationwide Series". Wonder how much post race we will get tonight.
JD that's 52+ years of NA$CAR.
Unfortunately the demographic is
much higher. :+)
Nascar countdown is blacked on directtv espn2 in Chicago.... Have called and they are looking into it. Kinda funny. Hope the race isn't blacked out too!
I'm talking to ESPN now about why areas are blackout out.
I tried the scanner and all I get is the 14 day trial page.
I got the free scanner. Had to go to the most bottom right on the main page to find the right link.
Just now checking the guide. Looks like parts of the country had a USC-Minnesota game on ESPN2.
ABC and ESPN2 fed the different games over-the-air and on cable depending on where people were. Not sure that has anything to do with the blackout.
Still blacked out on Direct 209 in Central IL, which got the Michigans on ABC. I can see it in one of the 8 boxes on the Mix Channel.
Directtv said they are looking into it, but it is a broadcast issue (espn2) and there is nothing they can do.
Wait - it just came on! Hilarious. Still cant believe it was blacked out! At least they fixed it!
52 said...
JD that's 52+ years of NA$CAR.
Unfortunately the demographic is
much higher. :+)
Ha! Go you beat, Fireball Roberts lost his life the year I graduated from high school. I was already upset that there was some place called Daytona and it was nowhere close to the Ca. Bay Area.
Totally skipping pre-race, just can't listen and ignore them today. We did that this morning on Speed.
Here's hoping for a good race. Race Buddy would be good too.
ESPN just hit the switch. NASCAR should be back on ESPN2 for everyone now.
Yep, we're in business!
Just remember, we will go through this fun every week between now and November.
Any of you still wish the races were on NBC? They went back to USF-ND after their delay. Game probably won't end 'til 9pm ET
To John in Chico: Thats just the
number of years since the first
World 600 (I still have the ad from
the Charlotte paper). I grew up
going to the Hickory and Wilkesboro
tracks when they were dirt.
Good anthem but in need of some tenors:-)
Well that was a quick anthem
Anthem way too rushed.
Hi guys. Let's hope, like yesterday, someone else wins but the plethora of cheaters in this race.
#60 - Carl Edwards
#22 - Brad Keselowski
#18 - Kyle Busch
#38 - Kasey Kahne
#7 - Jamie McMurray
#33 - Kevin Harvick
And they showed Jamie Mac riding in the truck and he truly looked so bored. Too bad a driver who would have really liked to race could have gotten in the race instead.
Marty would not understand it if they let him crawl around the track
Now I'm working on NASCAR.com. Looks like they forgot to hitch up the scanners to the links on the pages before the race for the second event in a row.
Lovely bunch.
Nicole could stand to lose a few pounds.
If it was normal, Josh Wise would still be in that #7. But no, because Jamie Mac won last year, its not him in the #7. If JR Motorsports could fund a third team, or Hendrick put some money in, Get Josh Wise in the 5.
hahaha Marty said he understands the track. Sure.......
Nicole looks just fine the way she is. And I mean Fine.
Scanner will not come on for me last event and this one also, so no scanner.
I had to tune out on pre race.
Rusty and Brad looked like two
girls fighting waving their hands
while talking.
On the subject of female/NASCAR reporters, JD what was the deal you mentioned with Krista's blouse. I'm REALLY ticked I missed that one!
Promise I'll stay OT. That last post was a blue-name test. OMG a new pit helmet cam!
What a great shot of the start
Let's see if they mention any full time NW series drivers except Bayne or Stenhouse. We've already heard too much about the cup guys leading!
Didn't take long to become Cup-palooza, pardoning Stenhouse, Top 7 Cup drivers
OK, scanners are working. Man, I need to get paid for this.
Good start with the blimp on Green, but then tight...then in-car...then the SP parade, but why no intervals? Strung out big time.
bowl,
Unfortunately, Krista does not have a clothing budget. The other female SPEED reporters wear uniforms and are on pit road.
Krista has to use her own clothes and that is pretty strange in this TV biz.
Like she said, when you give me some more money or new clothes, things will change.
Nothing like being the only female pre-race host on that network.
To 52 year fan:
I'm jealous.
Edwards with engine problems? Already?
Really? Scanners are working? Im logged in, and get the Sign up screen, so I log in to my acct again, and keep getting the sign up screen again! Very frustrating, I've missed the first 16 laps farking with my laptop log in w/Nascar.com BS!
So John, am I getting this right? Speed brings on a new pretty face that no one knows or needs and of course pays her money for the job.
And Krista who does one of the best pre-race shows anywhere has to fish through the closet for on-air clothes?
The FOXification of Speed is through but not complete I'm sure....
Marty talks about Brad and never says anything about his going sideways. He must be reading something.
My god I am getting sick and tired of this. JD can him please.
Anyway, at least there's adequate coverage of NW Series Regulars. There's not adequate coverage of them in THE LEAD
They need to look at raising the minimum speed in the Nationwide and Truck Series. Its a safety hazard when you got cars running 15mph slower than the leader. Jennifer Jo Cobb is moving about as quick as our economic recovery.
Marty; "I don't know if you were with us for Countdown???" I wonder why (we weren't)!
I love this talk about the Rookie of the Year award. Anyone here ever heard of the guy who's leading it? this is the first time I've heard his name.
Actually the Nationwide Series one has been quite well covered, Timmy Hill and Blake Koch have been making noise on that. Hill has had some good finishes.
@Sally - I had never heard of that guy either.
Sorry that Josh Wise isn't in the 7 car either. Wow they are mentioned Ryan Truex.
Wow. Guess I haven't been paying attention. When they focus on the Cup guys I tend to zone out.
Jamie Mac's night just got MORE boring!
Already 35 laps gone, and already half the field is a lap down.
The Cup one has gotten no mention because there's only 1 driver left competing for it, Andy Lally.
OK now I have to decide, Top-10 CFB, the Must See 50 winged from Kalamazoo (Thanks CSN), or this?
Isn't Andy Lally the ONLY driver like Kevin Conway was last year?
Bot, that pace car sure is PINK!
I don't care anymore if ESPN puts on the best or worst telecast ever...as long as those three cup drivers keep driving in the series full-time, i do not want to watch...i want to watch racing, but knowing that one of only those three are going to win most weekend, has taken the enjoyment out of watching...and it has chased me away from a series i loved to watch before the ridiculousness started.
I don't think the first (nearest turn 1) pit stall is a big help anymore. You can't get to pit road speed until you get past the timing line. What a science pit-picking has become!
ok, Reds game over...trying to watch NW race...is it me or is the commercial load INSANE?
I've not tried to watch a NW live race in a long time. Geez
Did Carl E just throw water bottle out the window??
That sure is a bright pace car I like it. Poor Carl this is why folks are turning the channel, too much info on the cup drivers and the broadcast crew sounds giddy talking about them.
OK I see why Carl didn't get out, but I didn't like Marty's low-key approach to it. How about, "A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT..."
Oncoming storm may make my decision(s) for me. Well I tried live-blogging for a change!
They talk about 14 seconds stops. I remember when Benny Parsons had a deal for doing under a 20 second stop.
Didn't he say he would give the first team to do that something?
Then after some team did 20 sec. he moved the goal to 19.
Sorry was messing with the NASCAR.com scanners.
Charlie, Benny actually revised his deal in his latter years at the mike to sub-13 seconds for a 4-tire stop. There have been a few but not many.
That was some great racing.
3 ONE THOUSANDTH of a second at the line, not that Marty said that.
Marty sez: They are racing nose to tail here in Atlanta!
Thanks Marty.
Parsons would give a hundred bucks to each man on the team that was the first to do a sub 12 second( I think) pit stop.
I have been lucky enough to ride around Atlanta track in a van, then the gal that that was driving it and worked in there stopped at the top of the banking! Boy I was sure we were going to go tumbling and she kept on telling me we aren't going to. It was fun for us.
Why have a 5-minute ad spot AND the studio update under green? Do they just ASSUME we've all turned the channel?
OK a caution...now I can surf to ECU vs. USC (I still call South Carolina USC).
Hundred a man sounds right.
Harvick's using his Cup crew? Now that's just wrong.
Benny said a sub 14 second pit stop was impossible and he would give each pit crew member $100 if they could break 14 seconds, RAY EVERNHAM took his money
JD, troll alert 7:56
If there were no Cup drivers tonight, Bayne is leading with Sorenson 2nd and Brian Scott, yes Brian Scott, 3rd. Could have been a Boise State sweep in Atlanta tonight, at AMS and the Dome. But Kyle Carl Kevin and Brad are here, so theres a 1% chance that will happen.
You know the crowds for "The NNS Series" and the Trucks are at all time lows. People arent showing up just to see cup drivers. The only people who are showing up are diehard race fans who can barely afford to go. Diehard fans know who Stenhouse and Sorenson are. They dont need Kyle and Carl to make them watch.
My point is the time has come to ban the Cup drivers from Nationwide and Truck. The argument that they up the ticket sales cant really be made anymore. It all comes down to promotion and ticket prices.
Thanks!
"We don't expect anyone to pit."
Er...maybe the 62???
Come on, Marty!!
Roland, unless the Nationwide drivers start an outrage by starting to intentionally wreck them, I question anything is going to happen.
Yeah I dont think the day that Cup drivers are banned is around the corner. I wish it was. Would be nice if the Nationwide guys actually showed some muscle and make life rougher on the Cuppers. Since the Cuppers certainly make life rougher on them.
Kenny Wallace lost power steering and pitted to soon. Will they mention that.
Wish they would zoom out a bit more.
They won't ban cup drivers cause the owners claim they can't get sponsorship with nationwide/craftsman regulars. Really wish it was different.
Happy Saturday!!!!!!! Go TREVOR GO Carl!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wooooo This is some awesome racing. Go Bayne!
Severe storm watch, thunder outside. signing off for now.
In years past, you never had drivers this young and established driving for MEGA TEAMS like today, most cup drivers owned their own busch teams and only ran them a couple times a year, they had sponsors lined up wanting to get in racing. Today, NASCAR is the only one with sponsors, the ones they acquired from the teams!
pit reporter doing play by play, but returns to script.
Another Notre Dame weather delay! If they go back this time it'll say volumes about NBC's primetime lineup. Reminds me of a 19-inning late Saturday NBC GOTW in 1970s when Joe Garagiola was furiously promoting an episode of "BJ and the Bear," which never had a chance to air!
ND game will finish on Versus if weather clears. Started at 3:40 ET.
My life is now complete, I have been trolled.
Cup 1-2-3....again.
What a great segment that was...somewhat accurate race recap (Edwards came out 3rd when he got his penalty Brad), myriad radio reports, loose cars and absolutely NO racing!
Great racing is right I love Atlanta always have! I will never forget the day Carl one his first Sprint Cup race had to be one of my top 5 moments in the sport
Stenhouse is earning that paycheck tonight. Hes turning right more than hes turning left. Gun to watch.
This broadcast has just been downhill all night. Commercial overload isnt helping. They wont zoom out. Its hard to keep up with whats going on. A cluster for sure.
Fun not Gun. My bad.
I like splitting the tire run into two 35-37 lap segments. Anyone out of tires after this round of stops? Need Twitterer help!
They can't get enough of these cup guys! And I do have a problem with their cup pitcrews pitting them. A couple of teams did that last night in the truck race and our poor guy couldn't get a break because of that.
GOT TO say its fun to hear MARTY beg please guys tell me whats happening? I'm lost I dunno
Is Marty color blind?
ESPN and Marty fail
CAUTION and we go to commercial! Wow
CAUTION, is it on th track, NO MARTY its the satilite debris falling from the sky
wtf is that???? cautions out... no it not wait IT IS commercial
lol
MARTY sounds as dumb as BZF tonight
Can't stop (commercial) progress! Caution came out when producer said "5" in his countdown? ESPN makes their own bad luck and now gets hit with more bad timing. JD when can you stop a commercial-break countdown?
Marty is a Dumb A$$ this is awful.....just awful...and I am tired of it!!!!!!!
Marty cracks me up
James, maybe Marty thought it was Skylab falling from the sky onto the track!
Why do the pit reporters always say "Sunoco Racing Fuel" but don't say "Goodyear Tires?"
You could see the caution light flashing before they went to commercial. MARTY is that STUPID
MARTY sounds as dumb as BZF EVERY NIGHT!
Trying to see what NBC was going to do with ND game and how much it has cost the network tonight.
Moving it to VERSUS and a lot of money!
someone fire this guy.....my 6 year old could do a better job LOL
Interesting note: Its looking like Brian Scott is going to score more points than Boise State tonight.
I think he must put back a few... Maybe Atlanta allows coolers in the booth lol
Marty go back to Indy cars...
Marty has no NASCAR history. He can't go back and reference stuff to make statements and questions.
Also, DJ and Andy certainly do not go out of there way to help him.
I think they would be happy if he packed his bags for IndyCar and NHRA again.
WOW love the racing love the camera shoots this is what its all about
Someone has way to much time on there hands
Do you think the cups guys have an advantage.
I watched Bob Jenkins and Larry Nuber and Benny and the guys back in the 80's and 90's...miss those days
We just saw how far behind the best NNS team (Turner) is behind the cuppers. Allgaier gets the lead, and in five minutes, he's darn near out of the top-10.
It was fun back then, but very different. Regional sport and enjoyed being regional.
This whole West Coast and Midwest expansion has changed everything.
Nice to see the Rock getting a truck series race.
JD, if you want to catch another ND loss go to Vs. quick. And if Dan Hicks has to do golf Sunday, he's going to have a short night!
I agree JD The Rock was a great place to go in the 80's-90's the cup guys put on a great show, that was one of the tracks that even Kyle Petty ran good.
MARTY has either gone for a potty break or is in tears
Had a lot of fun at the Rock in the old days. All the folks and crews stayed back in Southern Pines area.
Talk about a party. Whew.
I watched the 92 Atlanta race where Alan won the championship...I was a big elliot fan and wanted him to win...been watching Bill since '85
The most ironic thing about this poor ESPN telecast is that this is the ONLY thing they did today from the track.
Everything else today, including practice and both qualifying sessons, was on SPEED.
No excuse!
The Nascar Nationwide Cup Light Series!
I hope you saw "The Day: 1992 Hooters 500" on SPEED this week.
Great memories of that time.
Throw fuel strategy out the window.
Kudos ESPN for breaking out of break!
At least Rusty got away cheap so far
JD missed it ill have to check my direct tv guide to see when they will re-air it
Yes JD I watched "The Day"...like I said I saw that race live in 92...brought back memories for sure...racing back then was different...for one thing..the cars actually looked like T-birds and Monte-Carlos...not all the same!
This coverage is just pitiful. Bush league. Its pretty obvious that everyone involved, from the booth, to the pit studio, to the production truck, to the camera operators, would rather be watching college football. If they had any excitement for this race it would show in the quality of the broadcast. What a joke.
Hey FCC
Please fine ESPN for multiple cases of conflict of interest.
That HOOTERS race was one of the most competitive I ever watched.
How many times in one night can I be proven wrong?? The first pit was a charm this time!
Whan Kulwicki tore up the car ar Dover everybody including him thought he was done, to come back and win it was really great, he never got to enjoy it
Roland,
The real question is just HOW MANY college football games the ESPN guys have on the monitors in the NASCAR truck tonight.
They are flat out to lunch.
yeah I was so depressed when we lost Alan and Davey in a few months span...it was tough...
Yeah! That was a difficult time losing ALan than Davey was tough, then Ernie got hurt, he was funny as hell
That round of stops was so stupid. Theres 30 laps to go. Why in the world the guys in the back didnt stay out is beyond me. Your running in the back anyway. Stay out, get passed, and when the caution comes out later on put on tires and pass em all. This race is pretty much over now.
in-car cams should never be used during a restart.
Kenny Wallace stayed out that last pit stop hoping for a caution and they got it.
All these guys need a swig of 5 Hour Energy Drink to get some enthusiasm in the booth.
I put partial blame on the Cup drivers. Keselowski was loose again, which caused the 3-4 wide there.
yeah I almost stopped watching after those deaths...and then Bill had a very long dry spell driving the McDonald's car...but I was loving it when he won some races in the #9 Dodge..including the Brickyard in '02...oh and he passed Crusty Wallace to win it! Yeah baby...
Oops, ESPN audio guy must have been watching one of said CFB monitors.
Great Clips has thrown everything into Kasey's effort since it's the Great Clips 300...he's the only man who can save the Monday Turner Motorsports meeting!
Bowlalpo - Jason Leffler is 5th sir.
Reed throwing Justin under the bus. Poor Reed because he did lose his doggy today.
Charlie. I agree! The same with bumper cams. The had some nice Blimp shots on the replay. Brad said during pre=race to watch the racing back around 18th, so oar they haven't showed more then two or three cars at a time.
HERE WE GO WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Sorry Adam I was relying on info from TV!
15 Laps to go.
PRN goes insane when Kyle Busch gets into the back of Kevin Harvick. Espn never showed it or mentioned it.
It was cool to watch the GT battle for 11th-13th...now back to the Prototypes.
That is not even anatomically possible. That is all.
back to the race :) Cars look nice under lights.
"Hacksaw the wheel" from the HACK!
Wretched luck for Kenny W. Good on ESPN to treat him properly.
Yawn
That was pretty freaking brutal. Would rather have SPEED do these races once college football begins.
ESPN brains clearly in other places.
Not the best show, not the worst. Gettin' ready for a 10-minute post-race with (my guess) > 5 minutes of commercials. Thanks JD for the opportunity.
Gosh, Jamie is so dramatic!
She's always breathless....
Thanks JD ESPN needs to concentrate on football, Racing is not their focus ups forte
All right, going to give it one more try tomorrow and watch the race.
Remember, its a night tilt!!
See you then for the live blog. Have a good night.
JD
JD, you mentioned SPEED coverage. Their qualifying coverage is lousy. The guys in the booth spend more time entertaining each other than paying attention to what is going on on the track.
Thanks JD
I thought the broadcast was ok. I've seen much worse from them this season. There were a few cringe-worthy moments, like Reid debating whether the caution was out until cut off by a commercial. The back of the Nationwide field was out of the picture early on in the race, still, ESPN did little to make us aware of their existance beyond the ticker. The front 16 cars put on a good show and received decent coverage.
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