SPEED's "RaceDay" Continues To Re-Define NASCAR TV

Over the years, the network originally called SpeedVision has worked hard to re-define itself. Along the way, there were fundamental shifts in programming strategy that upset lots of viewers, and signaled the change from a niche network to a mainstream cable sports provider. Gone were the aviation and boating programs, and in were the lifestyle shows about car customizing and "reality" shows about everything from drag racing to dating a driver.

Lost in this mix originally was the NASCAR brand. SPEED continued to carry the NASCAR Images produced program Inside Winston/NEXTEL Cup on Mondays, but struggled to figure out how to approach the sport. As the network now called SPEED Channel found its footing, they filled-in the rest of Monday night with critically acclaimed shows that put NASCAR in a very good light.

SPEED continued to try and get a handle on NASCAR information during the week by creating, airing, and then cancelling a series of programs. Some focused on hard news, others on features, and one memorable effort combined NASCAR and Hollywood with disastrous effects. Then, SPEED decided to concentrate its efforts on the weekend, and things began to take shape.

The network committed to creating the "SPEED stage" at NASCAR NEXTEL Cup events, and using that "platform" to create a wide variety of shows. Simply put, it worked. Fans gravitated to this area to watch SPEED create both live and taped programming. One issue the network had was how to approach Sunday mornings. SPEED did not have any NEXTEL Cup races, and was clearly not going to be in that mix anytime soon. How then, to establish itself as a "player" on the scene when the host network was going to put on its own pre-race show? The answer was RaceDay.

Nestled quietly on Sundays a couple of hours before race time, RaceDay has expanded into a two hour event the likes of which has never been seen before on any NASCAR related TV network. SPEED's own "walk-on quarterback" John Roberts has turned into a mature and respected NASCAR media personality. He leads Jimmy Spencer and Kenny Wallace by the hand through a series of news stories, commentaries, interviews, and race-related features.

With the "SPEED stage" outside the track, the pit road and garage beat is patrolled by former producer and racing insider Wendy Venturini. As the show developed, it became apparent that Venturini was so clearly at home inside the track that SPEED declined to provide another reporter on the same "beat." This good decision allowed Venturini to become the single focal point for SPEED's connection to drivers and team members. The results continue to be fantastic.

Inside the track, everyone watches RaceDay. The drivers and owners in their motor coaches, the teams in the garage, and even the journalists in the Media Center. Without any opposition, RaceDay takes center stage each weekend and has clearly enjoyed the limelight. Like all TV programs, there have been some issues, but SPEED has proven to be flexible in listening to the concerns of the fans.

This year, Venturini has been allowed to prepare a feature during the week entitled "the Real Deal." It added a new twist to RaceDay, in that a regular feature prepared away from the track often times becomes the center point of the show. This week, Venturini returned with Mark Martin to his Batesville, Arkanasa local racetrack and spoke with Martin about the father-son issues that have dominated his life. Not only was the feature powerful, but it allowed both Jimmy Spencer and Kenny Wallace to react as "people," and not drivers, to this very touchy subject with racers.

This type of commitment by SPEED in terms of manpower and production dollars has allowed RaceDay to separate itself from the other Sunday NASCAR programs. Slowly, RaceDay has warmed-up to including the fans in the show, and hopefully this process will continue. The hundreds of NASCAR fans that stand for two hours watching this show should be allowed to participate a bit more than holding a homemade sign and smiling. Questions and comments from fans to the panel would really round-out this excellent program.

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ESPN2 Shows Only One Car Finish At Kentucky

Kentucky Speedway can turn-out a crowd like the Busch Series rarely gets to enjoy on its normal Saturday events. Often times treated like just an "after thought," viewers this season have seen the Busch guys put on a show for almost empty stands on several occasions. Phoenix in April was a good example.

After a strong pre-race show, the Busch drivers took to the track Saturday for a stand-alone weekend race televised on ESPN2. Only a couple of NEXTEL Cup drivers made the trip from Michigan to Kentucky to compete, allowing the Busch regulars to finally shine. As usual, Carl Edwards was the man to beat, but the race was any one's to win.

Marty Reid and Rusty Wallace provided the commentary, with a solid team of pit road reporters who cover this series like a glove. The chemistry between the pit road gang and the teams is one of the most outstanding elements of the ESPN telecasts.

On a hot night in Kentucky, NASCAR was smiling as finally some side-by-side racing was being show on national television. In primetime, the Busch Series put on some of the best racing of the year, and kept things clean and professional most of the time. It was clear that these guys like this track, and the fans were eating it up.

ESPN2 viewers of the Busch Series have a running joke about how many times Rusty will mention his son Steven, and how many times Steven will be mentioned because he hit something or someone during the race. Normally, they almost even out because Steven is definitely working on his car control and temper about as much as Rusty is working on promoting his race team. Saturday night at Kentucky was no exception.

The Busch Series has great human interest stories with its young drivers, and this Father's Day weekend proved to be a perfect scenario for this race. Young Brad Coleman is going to be huge in NASCAR in a couple of years, and ESPN pit reporter Jamie Little talked to Brad's father as Brad was leading the pack late in the race. One could see where Brad gets his patience and balance, as Mr. Coleman was a calm and supportive father to this young man.

As things strung-out, it became clear that the ESPN technical crew had again put on another sparkling race. The driver and crew chief interview by radio at the beginning is a great touch, and having the driver continue as the "in-race reporter" is a lot of fun. This week with Stephen Leicht was even better as he won the race.

Unfortunately, the ESPN production crew became caught-up in the excitement of having their "reporter" win the race. As Leicht came across the finish line, he was alone and unchallenged. The problem is that viewers only saw Leicht, and no one else finish the race.

Young Brad Coleman was not shown finishing second. Former Cup driver Scott Wimmer was not shown finishing third. It was amazing that ESPN would not show Aric Almirola or Marcos Ambrose, two high profile Busch drivers, finish the race in 6th and 11th respectively. This was a really big mistake, and it needs to be corrected.

Earlier this year, Fox Sports decided that after four hours of hard racing, the fans at home only deserved to see the winner cross the finish line in NEXTEL Cup races. It was suddenly more important to see one car slowing down and a pit crew jumping up-and-down than it was to see the remainder of the field screaming toward the checkered flag. Saturday, ESPN joined that club. No one other than the winner finished the race unless you were seated at the track and watching live. How fair is that to the viewers?

There was no graphic display of the cars as they came across the line, no "wideshot" on-camera to watch the beating-and-banging, and no thought given to the stories on the track that were still in-progress. As I type this late Saturday night, I feel as though I was cheated out of the end of a good book, or the last inning of a baseball game. I have no idea who was racing to the line, what happened in the last lap, or why my driver finished where he did. If you were pulling for someone other than the winner, you were just flat out of luck.

For a series chasing fans at half-empty racetracks on Saturday afternoons, this ESPN snub is a tough one to take. The Busch series was finally alone, in primetime, on the regular TV network home of the sport. The stands were packed, the cheering crowd was awesome, and the storylines were fantastic. One can only imagine the battling to the finish on this fun track under the lights. ESPN made that decision for us, and told us very clearly. If you wanted to see the finish of this race, you should have bought a ticket. Tough end to a great race on a good track for NASCAR.

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ESPN Finally Lets Mike Massaro Shine

Longtime NASCAR fans like to tell Mike Massaro stories. The time Massaro was drowned out by the helicopters because the only place he could do interviews was the helipad. Massaro soaked in the rain on the access road. Massaro leaning into car windows to ask drivers for comments. Race after race, with ESPN kicked out of the NASCAR race tracks, there was Mike Massaro by the side of the road...waiting.

Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway, Mike Massaro had to wait no more. Finally, ESPN gave Massaro an opportunity to step-up from pit road and host the Busch Series pre-race show called NASCAR Countdown. The results were fantastic.

Alongside of Rusty Wallace, Massaro got right into the Earnhardt Junior story and aired the interview that he had taped on Wednesday with Junior himself. This included the RCR and the "three car" comments that were omitted from NASCAR Now by a technical error. This got the big news out of the way, and allowed Massaro to re-focus the show on the Busch Series.

Massaro made sure to include Brad Daugherty, who is either ESPN's expert analyst or the "voice of the fans," in the Junior comments. As the season has progressed, the racing issues being discussed are more serious and require the perspective of someone who has been there. Judging by the expressions of Rusty Wallace, he perhaps believes that Daugherty is just a little light on experience to be a NASCAR "expert" on national television.

When the Busch Series races as a stand-alone event, there is a feisty and fun spirit that exists in the garage area and on pit road. Its as though a bunch of teenagers have just realized no grown-ups are around and they have the keys to the car. ESPN's pit reporters have been excellent in capturing this spirit and having fun with the drivers. Introducing the new Busch stars was supposed to be an important key to why ESPN is back and telecasting every Busch race. This time, they actually did it.

Massaro has solid experience in dealing with a wide variety of broadcasting situations, and on Saturday that proved to be a big advantage. Massaro directed traffic between the booth, his analysts on the set, Tim Brewer at the cut-a-way car, and the pit reporters. Massaro looked at home on the new high-tech ESPN set, and hosted a fast-paced and fun thirty minutes.

With the impending arrival of Suzy Kolber as the host of NASCAR Countdown, this was a solid audition by Massaro as both her back-up, and the host of the stand-alone Busch Series race preview shows. Earlier this season, Allen Bestwick also stepped-up from pit road and hosted two solid and informative pre-race shows. So, for ESPN, its good to know they also have the worst case scenario covered.

Massaro also manned the infield studio anchor position for Busch qualifying and the race itself, giving the network a good look at his ability to deal with flexible situations in a live environment. Maybe, after all the years of hard work and long nights, ESPN might consider allowing Massaro to host some mid-week editions of NASCAR Now. You know, its always good to have an experienced back-up quarterback waiting on the sidelines. One never knows what trades management might be considering as the season progresses.

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