A Glimmer Of "RPM2Nite" Appears On ESPN

Normally, Thursdays are a bit slow on the "NASCAR news" beat. This week, things are even slower with the NEXTEL Cup Series taking the weekend off. This "Thursday vacuum" has always led ESPN2's daily racing show, NASCAR Now, to struggle in figuring out what to talk about, and even who should do the talking. Viewers have seen a "veritable plethora" of talking heads visiting this show to talk about everything under the sun.

Yesterday, The Daly Planet documented the fact that ESPN News anchor Ryan Burr had hosted an outstanding fast-paced episode of NASCAR Now on Wednesday. What fans and viewers could not know was that on Thursday, Burr was about to host the best produced and most polished episode of this series since it began in February.

The sad case of Aaron Fike led this telecast, and Burr used Detroit News veteran Motorsports Reporter Angelique Chengelis for all the details. Chengelis and Burr work well, and these two professionals laid-out the problems and challenges that Fike will be dealing with over the coming months. Chengelis has been solid as a "hard news" source and always speaks in clear terms about these types of difficult issues. This segment of NASCAR Now had all the credibility of Baseball Tonight or Outside The Lines and is exactly what fans have been looking for from the network.

With the Busch Series race at Gateway on ESPN2, Burr did a preview of the event and the led to an interview with IndyCar's Sam Hornish Junior. Burr let Hornish describe his own feelings about NASCAR, and then critique his own performance in his part-time Busch Series role. Hornish gave the impression that NASCAR certainly is on his list for 2008. He hedged his bets by saying things next year would be mostly fifty-fifty between NASCAR and IndyCar. This interview is a great cross-over for ESPN and ABC, who now carry both the top two NASCAR Series, and the entire IndyCar schedule.

Continuing to touch base on the Aaron Fike story, Burr brought in NASCAR veteran Jack Sprague, who is a full-time driver in the Craftsman Truck Series this season. Burr took the time to ask Sprague about his own interest in the sport, and what he has left to accomplish. His answer was honest and heartfelt. Moving to the story of Aaron Fike, Sprague wasted no time in ridiculing the "young kids" of today by comparing his own meager beginnings with the apparent disrespect that some of the young drivers have for their fellow competitors and the sport.

"You had the golden spoon in your hand...and you dropped it" said Sprague of Fike and his alleged drug use. Sprague continued to emphasize the hard road that most drivers of his era took to "get up" to the biggest series in the sport. Burr got Sprague to endorse random drug testing in the Truck Series, and also the permanent ban of anyone for even violating the drug policy one time. Strong stuff.

For once, Tim Cowlishaw of Around The Horn fame was concise and on-target with his weekly "driver pick'em" segment. He had good information to make his picks, and explained his reasons without hype or hysteria. Even Cowlishaw seemed to be picking up on the new vibe of this show. He was actually entertaining.

Since February, ESPN2 has struggled to deal with the "bi-polar" personality of this one series. Sometimes oriented to news, sometimes loaded with hype, and sometimes just absolutely terrible, NASCAR Now seems to have gotten on-track with "hard news" leading into an interview, then a solid feature, and finally a closing segment referencing the upcoming event and the miscellaneous news and notes.

ESPN's other top shows thrive by being consistent. Although the stories themselves change every day, the "body" of the show and the personalities presenting it do not. NASCAR Now should be considered in the same breath as NFL Live and Pardon the Interruption. It should have the same credibility in viewers minds as thirty minutes of the ESPN News Network.

Thursday, NASCAR Now finally accomplished every goal set out for it by the network. No hype, no innuendo, and no ineptitude. This program sparkled from start-to-finish and will hopefully serve as the model for the thirty minute mid-week shows for the rest of the season. If this happens, ESPN may have finally put their mark on the NASCAR brand in the same way they have affected Major League Baseball and other professional sports.

On behalf of NASCAR fans nationwide, I would ask ESPN...could we have more of that please?

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Ryan Burr Returns To "NASCAR Now"

On Wednesday of this week, ESPN News host Ryan Burr returned to NASCAR Now, the program many viewers wish he would host full time. The Daly Planet has recently refrained from columns about this program's "other host" because there is no point in continuing to dignify his ineptitude with publicity.

Burr immediately returned to the show a "news feel" and fast pace that allowed the program to jump right away into the headline stories with reporter Marty Smith. Burr and Smith click like brothers, and are always in sync. Smith covered the stories, said goodbye to Burr, and was gone with his duty done.

The subject of the big headlines, Regan Smith, was then interviewed on the phone by Burr. This type of follow-up with someone asking informed questions is exactly what this show needs, and usually has with Burr at the helm. All the bases were touched with Smith including Ginn Racing, the driver moved aside for Smith, and his view of the future.

Continuing to follow the same news thread, Burr brought the always interesting Terry Blount in to continue to explain the dominoes falling since the Ginn Racing moves. Blount had all the latest info, and was outstanding in explaining the ramifications of the problems at Ginn. Brad Daugherty then talked in very general terms about credibility and NASCAR "team business" dynamics.

As always with Burr, his fast pace left viewers glued to the screen. Landon Cassill was welcomed in as a young eighteen year-old driver trying to make the Busch Series race at Gateway. Hendrick Motorsports is bringing this youngster along, and he already appears very professional and well-spoken on television. Burr allowed him to speak, never put him on the spot, and concluded the interview by wishing Cassill good luck.

Burr then attacked the obvious "NASCAR at Indy" story about Jack Roush never winning at The Brickyard. Terry Blount returned to remind viewers that Roush really is focusing on this Indy race as a goal for all his teams. With a new partner in the Fenway Red Sox gang, it might be a very good time for someone like Kenseth to deliver.

The unraveling Michael Waltrip saga continued, and Terry Blount finally raised the point many were making on Internet sites all year long. With Terry Labonte being brought-in to allow MWR to make The Brickyard race, Blount suggested that Michael step aside permanently and move into the management role.

In wrapping-up the show, Burr passed along the news and notes that made a difference on this Wednesday, and was gone. As The Daly Planet has said so many times this season, Burr's hosting of NASCAR Now allows this show to run just as it was intended to be. Absolutely chocked-full of NASCAR information and racing at full speed.

Never once was innuendo or hype included. Never once was anyone put on the spot, or challenged to make a choice forced by the host. No one was outraged, angry, or over-the-top when talking about racing issues of any kind. This crew put on their "NASCAR news" hats and let it fly for a solid thirty minutes.

When will Ryan Burr be allowed to host the one hour versions of this show and the high-profile Thursday and Friday editions? His ability to relate to drivers, reporters, and other guests on this program is tremendous in contrast to the "other host." With absolutely no one on the set, Burr flew through thirty minutes seemingly without taking a breath, and included more "real information" than some of the one hour programs with the "other guy."

There is only one week until the big Indy shows of NASCAR Now begin on Thursday the 26th. This time, ESPN will be handling the NEXTEL Cup Series and all eyes will be on NASCAR Now as the program to watch.

Next week, there better not be "pool reporters" filing stories on NEXTEL Cup races. The faces of the broadcast team for ESPN need to appear on NASCAR Now with a "race wrap" every Monday for the rest of the season. These same faces need to provide a preview for the Friday and Saturday editions. The pit reporters need to plan and tape pieces for NASCAR Now to air during the following week, including following-up on stories not able to be shown after the live race.

While NASCAR Now has not had to deal with the fall-out from the Fox Sports and TNT coverage, they need to be acutely aware that they must follow-up every story from the ESPN telecasts for the rest of the season. The different ESPN "camps" need to communicate with each other. Right now, the coordination between ESPN News, SportsCenter, NASCAR Now, and the Remote Production group that actually produces the races is a mess.

Using a veteran talent like Ryan Burr, Allen Bestwick, or Mike Massaro will cut through the hype and wasted content time plaguing NASCAR Now. For ESPN, crunch time is here, and this program series needs to look at the Wednesday show as a model of how this program can serve the network, the sport, and the fans. After almost six months of NASCAR Now, how hard can this be to understand?

The Daly Planet welcomes comments from readers. Simply click on the COMMENTS button below, or email editor@thedalyplanet.tv if you wish not to be published. Thanks again for taking the time to stop by.

SPEED's "Launch Hour" Not On Our Radar

Thank you to the many readers who have encouraged us to expand and deal with some other issues in the world of motorsports on TV. At this time, we are going to continue to limit the content of this site to issues dealing directly with the NASCAR TV partners for 2007.

We understand that some new program concepts, including the new Launch Hour on SPEED, generate strong feelings for many fans of actual sanctioned racing. There are message boards available at SPEEDtv.com and other fan sites to address those issues.

The Daly Planet only commented on "Melanie," the SPEED TV promo actress, because the promos were running during the NASCAR RaceDay program. The issue on-the-table was the content of the promos in the early Sunday afternoon daypart during family-oriented NASCAR programming.

We are determining how to expand this motorsports TV project for 2008 to include additional forms of programming. This first season has been a learning experience for all involved, and I thank the small group of dedicated people who have lent their time to assist with everything from spell checks to comment moderation.

Thanks also to you, the Internet readers, whose input has shaped this site and had a direct and dynamic effect on the motorsports TV programs on television today. This site is read every day by many people in the TV industry who create, schedule, and produce the NASCAR programming we all see. Thanks again for sharing your views.

The Daly Planet welcomes comments from readers. Click on the COMMENTS button below, or email editor@thedalyplanet.tv with suggestions.