Before we start, I should explain something really quick. I’m not a fan of the Chase. I don’t like the way the champion is determined. I don’t like the idea that Kyle Busch is even eligible for this Chase. I know ISC (and by extension, NASCAR) felt responsible for Busch’s injury, hence the waiver. In the context of Couch Potato Tuesday, the presence of the Chase results in a complete shift in how races are covered. I find that shift repugnant.
Federated Auto Parts 400
For the past few years, the September race at Richmond has been one of my least favorite races of the year. Everything is predicated on the Chase. Doesn’t help that it tends to be one of the most boring races of the year. It’s a shame. Richmond used to be really exciting. Now, it stinks. The race broadcast, sadly, wasn’t much better.
I’m fine with the colored bars underneath the drivers’ names to denote who’s in the Chase and who’s not. NBC’s been doing that since Watkins Glen. It’s not intrusive. Richmond saw constant points updates and updates on those trying to race in. It’s OK to do that stuff within the flow of the race. As far as I’m concerned, most of what I saw Saturday night didn’t fit in the flow of the race.
Matt Kenseth’s domination was actually less than what Brad Keselowski did last year. However, we really didn’t see all that much action away from him. Most of the action that we did see seemed to be Chase-related in some way, shape or form. All I ask for with races like Richmond is to cover the event like it’s any other race. Seems like NBCSN, like ESPN before them, is incapable of doing that. Maybe the 2016 rule package with less downforce will help a little bit with the racing at Richmond, which has more or less stunk for the past few years. Can’t blame the pavement. The current surface has been around since 2004.
To many viewers, one of the most spectacular moments of Saturday night’s race was when Michael McDowell hit the safety truck on the backstretch during the fifth caution. NBCSN clearly didn’t think so. We only saw one brief replay of the incident going to a commercial break after a round of pit stops (pictured above, via NASCAR’s YouTube channel). Afterwards, Rick Allen explained that NASCAR had called McDowell, his crew chief and spotter to the truck so that they could get the what for, and that was it. No further discussion of the incident, no radio chatter to figure out what happened, no nothing.
No offense, but given what’s happened in motorsports in the past couple of years involving safety equipment and racecars (not just in NASCAR), that was a much bigger story that NBCSN chose to bury because of the Chase. I’m sure Rutledge Wood was having a grand time stretching his legs out on the stationary bike and enjoying some ice cream like he’s Harry Hogge, but there was a story out there that should have been covered more closely. NBCSN swung and missed here. There wasn’t even anything on whether the safety crew was OK (sure, they looked fine on TV, but every little bit helps).
Post-race coverage was more or less delineated into two parts. The regular post-race coverage concerned the race winner (Kenseth) and those didn’t make the Chase. The NASCAR America post-race show covered those that did make the Chase. NASCAR made that into a bit of a party for those who decided to stick around. Let’s be honest, I don’t need a party for this Chase.
Overall, Richmond might have been the most boring race that NBCSN has covered all year. That’s not just in Sprint Cup. That includes Formula 1, the Verizon IndyCar Series and the various regional NASCAR series that the network airs. Their solution to that problem was to double down on the Chase for much of the broadcast. Doing that masks what’s really going on in the race. If a regular joe watched this race and wasn’t a NASCAR fan, he or she would know who won the race and that people like Aric Almirola missed out on the Chase. Besides that, I’m not sure what else they’d take away from the night.
To be fair, NBCSN did try to cover some other stories during the race. For instance, there was a fair amount of coverage given to Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the somewhat decent run he was having. The 16th-place finish Stenhouse had was placed into the larger context of Roush Fenway Racing’s overall struggles in 2015 and showed that the team is taking baby steps. I actually liked that portion of the broadcast. Sadly, there wasn’t much else that I liked.
All I ask for with this race at Richmond each year is for the event to be properly covered like a normal race. Richmond has regular storylines in addition to everything having to do with the arbitrary cut-off and the points. No one ever seems to want to play it straight. It makes the race miserable to watch every year. At least next weekend won’t be quite as irritating.
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On Friday night, the Xfinity Series returned to Richmond for their second visit of the year. For NBCSN, the big story of the night was their jumbled booth. Carl Edwards made his return to the broadcast booth. It created a bit of a mess of times.
During the races Edwards worked for ESPN, he more or less worked in place of Dale Jarrett. When he first started out, he legitimately had no clue what to do, and admitted as such on-air. It sounds like he watched the races on his DVR and thought that commentary could be fun. As a result, Edwards had someone pitch him participating in a broadcast to ESPN a couple of years ago.
Over time, Edwards’s cadence and commentary improved under the tutelage of experts like Allen Bestwick and Andy Petree. By the end of last season, he was decent. However, what was not mentioned on those broadcasts is that Bestwick exhibits a fair bit of control over the proceedings. Yes, he’s quite friendly, but there are some things that he would generally not tolerate in his broadcast booth.
I’m pretty sure that Edwards would not have gotten away with outright dissing Bestwick on-air like he did to Leigh Diffey Friday night. Edwards appears to not be familiar with Diffey in general. So, he took the opportunity to bust Diffey’s chops repeatedly about his pronunciations of words like “drama.” Then, he kept doing it. It became an annoying, running joke through much of the broadcast. I’m sure Edwards did all that with a smile on his face so Diffey could see that he wasn’t being malicious, but viewers can’t see that during on-track action. It just seemed mean, or mean-spirited at least. That is not the way to cover a race, or endear your booth mates to you, Carl.
Outside of the blatant dissing, Edwards actually did provide some decent analysis based on his experience with drivers like Erik Jones. When he wasn’t busting Diffey’s chops, he could provide some good commentary.
Even though Chase Elliott won, Friday night will probably be best remembered as the coming-out party for Josh Berry, JR Motorsports’ development driver. Berry, who was only making his third career start (first of 2015) was excellent. He showed great skill in tire conservation and was very fast when it counted. Unfortunately, his crew let him down. It happens. NBCSN gave Berry a decent amount of coverage that was quite complimentary. We also found out that he went to school with Josef Newgarden (Newgarden apparently texted Diffey during the broadcast and told him that). Small world.
Post-race coverage was quite decent, despite running up against the end of their time slot. Viewers got a half-dozen driver interviews, results, points and some analysis. Not half bad.
Overall, I enjoyed the NXS race quite a bit more than I thought I would. Without a Chase in play, there was more focus on the race itself. Busch didn’t stomp the field like everyone thought he would. Once you get away from Edwards being inconsiderate toward Diffey, it was actually an enjoyable broadcast.
I particularly liked the piece that aired on Countdown to Green where we got to know a little bit about Daniel Suarez. We know he’s from Monterrey, Mexico. In this piece, Suarez showed viewers a little of his hometown (open-wheel fans might remember the CART/Champ Car races held there at Fundidora Park). In addition, Suarez talked about his love of his old-school Volkswagen Beetle.
That’s all for this week. Next weekend, all three of NASCAR’s National Series will be in action at Chicagoland Speedway for the first week of the Chase. Meanwhile, F1 returns to Singapore, where haze will be an issue. Finally, ARCA makes their second trip of the year to Salem Speedway. Here’s your listings.
Tuesday, September 15
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 2*# (from September 14) |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 14) |
| 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 14) |
| 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 1 |
Wednesday, September 16
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 2*# (from September 15) |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 15) |
| 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 15) |
| 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Global RallyCross Lites: Los Angeles | NBC Sports Network*/ (from September 12-13) |
| 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 1 |
| 7:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. | NASCAR Scan all 43 | NBC Sports Network |
| 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. | British Touring Car Championship: Rockingham | CBS Sports Network*/ (from September 5-6) |
| 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. | DTM: Oschersleben | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 12-13) |
Thursday, September 17
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12 a.m. - 1 a.m. | British Touring Car Championship: Rockingham | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 5-6) |
| 1 a.m. - 3 a.m. | DTM: Oschersleben | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 12-13) |
| 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 2*# (from September 16) |
| 4 a.m. - 6 a.m. | DTM: Oschersleben | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 12-13) |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 16) |
| 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 16) |
| 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 1 |
| 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. | K&N Pro Series East UNOH 100 | NBC Sports Network*/# (from September 10) |
| 9 p.m. - 10 p.m. | TORC Series: The Chicagoland Slam, Part No. 1 | FOX Sports 2*/# (from June 18) |
| 10 p.m. - 11 p.m. | TORC Series: The Chicagoland Slam, Part No. 2 | FOX Sports 2*/ (from June 19) |
Friday, September 18
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12 a.m. - 2 a.m. | Red Bull Global RallyCross: Los Angeles | NBC Sports Network*/# (from September 12-13) |
| 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 2*# (from September 17) |
| 6 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 17) |
| 6 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore Free Practice No. 1 | NBC Sports Live Extra$ |
| 7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 17) |
| 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore Free Practice No. 2 | NBC Sports Network |
| 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Camping World Truck Series Practice | FOX Sports 1 |
| 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network |
| 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. | Sprint Cup Series Practice No. 1 | NBC Sports Network |
| 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | XFINITY Series Practice | NBC Sports Network |
| 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Camping World Truck Series Qualifying | FOX Sports 1 |
| 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Sprint Cup Series Qualifying | NBC Sports Network |
| 8 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | NCWTS Setup | FOX Sports 1 |
| 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. | Camping World Truck Series American Ethanol 225 | FOX Sports 1 |
Saturday, September 19
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 3:30 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. | Camping World Truck Series American Ethanol 225 | FOX Sports 1*# (from September 18) |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore Free Practice No. 3 | NBC Sports Live Extra$ |
| 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore Qualifying | CNBC |
| 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Trans-Am Series: Road America | CBS Sports Network*# (from August 29) |
| 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Lone Star Le Mans | FOX Sports 2 |
| 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Sprint Cup Series Practice No. 2 | CNBC |
| 2:45 p.m. - 4 p.m. | XFINITY Series Qualifying | NBC Sports Network |
| 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network |
| 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Sprint Cup Series Happy Hour | NBC Sports Network |
| 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Countdown to Green | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | XFINITY Series Furious 7 300 | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 12 a.m. | FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas | FOX Sports 2 |
| 6:45 p.m. - 9 p.m. | ARCA Racing Series Federated Car Care Fall Classic | ARCARacing.com$$ |
Sunday, September 20
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30 a.m. - 3 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore Qualifying | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 19) |
| 6 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore Qualifying | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 19) |
| 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. | NHRA Carolina Nationals Qualifying | ESPN 2*/# (from September 19) |
| 7:30 a.m. - 8 a.m. | F1 Countdown | NBC Sports Network |
| 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore | NBC Sports Network |
| 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. | F1 Extra | NBC Sports Network |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | NASCAR RaceDay | FOX Sports 1 |
| 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. | NHRA Carolina Nationals Final Eliminations | ESPN3$ |
| 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Formula DRIFT: Monroe Insider | CBS Sports Network# |
| 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | NASCAR America Sunday | NBC Sports Network |
| 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Lone Star Le Mans | FOX Sports 1*# (from September 19) |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Countdown to Green | NBC Sports Network |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | MotoAmerica: New Jersey Motorsports Park | CBS Sports Network* (from September 13) |
| 3 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Sprint Cup Series MyAFibRisk.com 400 | NBC Sports Network |
| 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, GT/GTA/GT Cup Classes | CBS Sports Network* (from September 13) |
| 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Blancpain Endurance Series: Nürburgring | CBS Sports Network*/ |
| 6:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. | NASCAR America Post-Race | NBC Sports Network |
| 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. | NASCAR Victory Lap | NBC Sports Network |
| 8:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. | NHRA Carolina Nationals Final Eliminations | ESPN 2*/ |
| 11:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lap | NBC Sports Network# |
Monday, September 21
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lane | FOX Sports 1 |
| 12 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, GT/GTA/GT Cup Classes | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 13) |
| 1:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m. | Blancpain Endurance Series: Nürburgring | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 20) |
| 2:30 a.m. - 3 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lane | FOX Sports 1# |
| 5:30 a.m. - 6 a.m. | Formula DRIFT: Monroe Insider | CBS Sports Network# |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lap | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 20) |
| 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lap | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 20) |
| 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lap | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 20) |
| 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. | NASCAR 120: MyAfibRisk.com 400 | NBC Sports Network*/# (from September 20) |
| 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 1 |
* – Tape Delayed
/ – Highlighted Coverage
# – Repeat Coverage
^ – Available via free online streaming
$ – Available via password-protected online streaming. Check with your internet and/or programming provider for availability.
$$ – Available via online Pay-Per-View
I will provide critiques of the Sprint Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck series races from Chicagoland for next week’s edition of Couch Potato Tuesday. In addition, I plan on purchasing the ARCA broadcast from Salem and critiquing it for a future edition of the Critic’s Annex. It is available for the relatively low price of $9.98. The price is actually in honor of Saturday night being the 98th ARCA Racing Series event at Salem.
If you have a gripe with me, or just want to say something about my critique, feel free to post in the comments below, or contact me through the email address provided on the website in my bio. Also, if you want to “like” me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, please click on the appropriate icons. If you would like to contact either of NASCAR’s media partners, click on either of the links below.
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Phil Allaway has three primary roles at Frontstretch. He's the manager of the site's FREE e-mail newsletter that publishes Monday-Friday and occasionally on weekends. He keeps TV broadcasters honest with weekly editions of Couch Potato Tuesday and serves as the site's Sports Car racing editor.
Outside of Frontstretch, Phil is the press officer for Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y. He covers all the action on the high-banked dirt track from regular DIRTcar Modified racing to occasional visits from touring series such as the Super DIRTcar Series.