Last weekend marked the first weekend of the Chase. Oh boy. It’s the time of the year in which I become more and more irritable when it comes to the television product that we get from week to week. To save some time this week, I’m moving my critique of the Furious 7 300 to a special Wednesday edition of the Critic’s Annex in the Newsletter. The critique was running a little long and there’s only so much that our editing staff can bear…
myAFibRisk.com 400
Sunday saw the Chase finally get underway. Naturally, with 16 chaps battling it out in this “playoff,” I wanted to compare and contrast with what ESPN did last year. Here’s what I wrote at the time when I critiqued ESPN’s broadcast of the myAFibStory.com 400 last year.
“ESPN basically did not preview the race. The whole show was spent focusing on the Chase and who was likely to move on to the Contender round that starts in three weeks. As much as ESPN wants to pimp out this ridiculous format that’s being used to determine the champion, it cannot be done at the expense of previewing the race. Anyone watching the show wouldn’t have had much of an idea who to look out for on Sunday as a potential contender to win the dang race. Let’s face facts. That’s really important. Not everyone is watching these last 10 races because of the Chase. I know I don’t watch late season races just for the Chase, and a good number of the people reading this critique don’t watch for that reason alone (in fact, some intentionally do not watch because of the Chase).
“The actual race telecast shows what teams that aren’t in the Chase likely will have to do over the next few weeks (Talladega is a likely exception to the rule because it’s Talladega) in order to get airtime. Either you have to have some kind of visible problem, or you have to be right up in the mix. Otherwise, you’re invisible.”
Needless to say, I was a bit sore last year, don’t you think? Unfortunately, what we got from NBCSN on Sunday was actually very similar to what I described above. The vast majority of the 90 minutes of pre-race was completely focused on the Chasers and what they needed to do to prosper in Joliet. Where NBCSN differed from ESPN was that there was less time given to what needed to be done to advance. Regardless, the race itself wasn’t really previewed outside of the Chaser view.
Granted, most of the race weekend was dominated by the Chasers, but given the way that it was presented, it was difficult for me to distinguish between previewing the race and previewing the Chasers.
During the race itself, we did have a strong Chaser emphasis. There were really only two non-Chasers that got a significant amount of focus outside of incidents. Those drivers were Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson. Dillon could have really sprung a surprise on the field had he not blown the tire and wrecked it shortly before Kevin Harvick’s incident.
I feel like the overall Chaser dominance of the weekend meant that NBCSN lucked out. All I ask during the Chase races is a complete view of the event as opposed to a telecast that is stilted nearly totally towards the Chasers.
Speaking of Harvick’s incident, NBCSN covered it pretty well. However, there was some disagreement as to their conclusion about how the contact occurred. They were convinced that Joey Logano running into the back of Jimmie Johnson led to the contact. Others believed that Johnson was responsible for the contact because he’s the one who hit Harvick. Needless to say, all the possible scenarios were covered before Harvick’s left-rear tire cut down and put him in the wall.
Later on, they used their Toyota racecar to show a close up of the exhaust pipes, which they believe caused the tire issue. While yes, that can happen, I don’t think that was the case on Sunday. Harvick had the left-rear fender rubbing against the tire and that’s what caused the blowout. Had Johnson’s exhaust pipe cut the tire, it likely would have gone down quicker and the resulting crash would have taken out a lot more people. Knowing what happened Sunday, if Harvick could have guaranteed that he would be ok physically, he would have preferred that scenario.
The restart issue once again reared its head. NASCAR chose to review the lap 145 restart where it appeared that Jeff Gordon jumped Kyle Busch. 11 laps later, NASCAR decided to do nothing. What should have happened is NBCSN getting someone from NASCAR to come and explain their reasoning for the move. NASCAR has made someone available in the past (usually Mike Helton) to come to the booth in these situations. I think NBCSN should have taken advantage of it.
The race was ultimately decided because of the final yellow, said to be a debris caution. I don’t like the idea of it being called a debris caution. The broadcast indicated that Matt DiBenedetto wrecked it in turn 2. Apparently, his car rode up against the SAFER barrier. Some metal parts came off the car. When NASCAR noticed that, they threw the caution. There were no replays shown of what happened to DiBenedetto. We just saw him dragging his slightly damaged Cosmo Motors Toyota down pit road. It’s unclear as to whether NBCSN had any or not.
Post-race coverage was pretty good. Viewers saw a few interviews during the regular post-race coverage, including one with Harvick. The fact that Harvick actually consented to the interview with Kelli Stavast given the circumstances is kind of amazing. We’re talking about a guy who, despite being very descriptive and forthcoming in some circumstances (see Harvick’s time in FOX booth for Xfinity races), is usually sullen and short with people if he doesn’t win.
Rick Allen explained that the interviews with both Harvick and Johnson were tape-delayed. As they were airing, heck nearly went down in the coach lot. Viewers got to see the video of Johnson trying to explain what happened and Harvick not having any of it and clearly losing his cool while his manager (I think) had to restrain him. If you didn’t watch the whole race, you wouldn’t have known that he was that ticked off. He seemed reasonably calm when he was talking to Stavast. However, earlier in the race, there was a replay of Harvick angrily pointing towards Johnson’s pit as to say, “I’m coming for you!” The replay led the booth to think that Harvick was gunning for Johnson during the actual race. Ultimately, he waited until after the race to get his revenge.
After the near-scuffle, there were more interviews that stretched into the post-race edition of NASCAR America. I found the post-race coverage a satisfying wrap-up to a race I was lukewarm on at best.
I’m not a fan of intense focus upon a certain group of drivers in a race broadcast. Anyone who has read my columns over the past seven seasons will have noticed that. Such an intense focus takes away from all the other stories going on. It’s frustrating.
Having said that, there were a couple of things that I did like. For instance, NBCSN appears to be using side-by-side replays. I’m definitely in favor of the move, but it seems to be in sporadic use at the moment. Perhaps that will increase as the Chase continues on. I also had no issues with booth enthusiasm or anything like that. I am concerned that 2015 might be another Chase filled with stupidity last year. Unlike a lot of people, I don’t believe fisticuffs in the Chase benefit NASCAR in any way, shape or form. It just allows people to point at NASCAR and deride our sport as a place for drooling morons.
American Ethanol E15 225
The Camping World Truck Series was supposed to race Friday night at Chicagoland Speedway. However, heavy rains forced a rare race postponement prior to the start of pre-race coverage. As a result, there was a brief cut to the Setup to explain the situation and show some highlights from practice before returning to MLB Whiparound. Given the circumstances, I wasn’t really surprised at that move. There was essentially nothing that could be done. The weather was too wild and woolly to allow the cameramen to stay on their perches, and it would have been pointless to leave them out there anyway.
The race was rescheduled for 9:30 a.m. local time Saturday on FOX Sports 2. FOX Sports 1 was busy covering a Bundesliga match between Darmstadt and Bayern München at the time. We’ve talked about the 40 million household gap in carriage between FOX Sports 1 and 2 in the past. It bites. It’ll only improve with the next round of major deal renewals. I do get FS2, but it’s only available in standard definition in a letterbox setup. It’s like going back to critiquing on a 22-inch TV like I did in 2009. Had to sit a little closer than normal.
I know for a fact that at least one fan in particular was quite peeved about the move, claiming that no American watches German soccer and that NASCAR is more important than soccer. That’s because he told me that on Twitter. I’d post the tweets, but they would make this particular fan look delusional (even though he is not), so we will not share them. However, I doubt this man was alone in his vitriol. Major carriers, like Comcast’s Xfinity service, still do not make FS2 available to subscribers. Those that do often force viewers to pay extra to get it. It’s not an easy channel to get. It’s a long-term project for FOX Sports.
With the 9:30 a.m. local start, there was no pre-race coverage at all. By the time the coverage started, the trucks were already on the track. No interviews, no command, no anthem, no nothing. Because of the situation, stuff started happening. I wasn’t even fully settled in for action before Daniel Hemric‘s truck started smoking during the pace laps. From the very start, the telecast seemed like it was going to be a rush job in order to get to Austin for the TUSC race.
FS2 gave viewers a rather front-centric telecast. Compared to last year’s race (which was also postponed a day and aired on FS2), the action just wasn’t all that exciting. Last year, Kyle Busch started in the rear because he didn’t sit in the truck prior to the start. The first 60 or so laps of the race were excellent. Then Busch got to the lead and the show was comprehensively stunk up.
On Saturday, Larson started on pole because he was the fastest guy in practice. As a result, there really wasn’t all that much action up front.
The whole situation with Tyler Reddick’s fluid leak was bizarre. NASCAR waited way too long to black-flag him. The black flag was thrown after he had been leaking fluid for what had to have been 125 miles. It was ridiculous. It’s like a NASCAR official looked at the black (instead of blue) TV panel and said, “Gee, that’s not right, better have them check it out.”
FOX Sports did a decent job of covering the saga. We had anecdotes from multiple drivers complaining about grease and/or oil on their windshields and pit reports about it. However, we never found out what it was that was leaking. Whatever it was, it had stopped by the time Reddick pitted, leading to Crew Chief Doug Randolph flipping out on the officials. I’m unsure if FOX Sports tried to get a comment from Randolph, but if they had, he would have had some trouble keeping himself composed.
As you know, Saturday’s race came down to fuel mileage. A number of drivers topped off, but the broadcast only really focused on Larson. Eventual race winner John Hunter Nemechek stopped as well, but that was unplanned. Turned out that he had an issue with the Romeo window on the truck bed that had to be fixed and they took the opportunity to fill it up.
Despite the race being a rush job so that FS2 could get to the TUSC race, truck viewers got a full post-race show with multiple driver interviews and checks of the results and points before FS2 left for Austin. Great for truck fans, not so much for sports car fans.
Because of that move, the TUSC race started off as an internet-exclusive. FOX Sports promoted the race as being on FOX Sports GO, but I can’t get that to work anywhere (my computer is not compatible because I can’t upgrade to Windows 8.1 and the video wouldn’t come up on my Nook or my iPhone). It’s definitely not like NBC Sports Live Extra, which I can watch on my laptop at home and my computer at work (yes, I listen to practice sessions clandestinely while working). IMSA.com had the race available with IMSA Radio commentators, so I had that on while I was waiting for Lone Star Le Mans to come on my TV.
FOX Sports was not given the best race on Saturday morning to cover. However, they did ok with what they had to work with. I just wish that there was a little more action for the viewers.
That’s it for this week. Next weekend, the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series are in New Hampshire for some flat-track action. Meanwhile, the Xfinity Series returns to Kentucky Speedway with the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards as their support. Here’s your listings.
Tuesday, September 22
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 2*# (from September 21) |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 21) |
| 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 21) |
| 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 1 |
Wednesday, September 23
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 2*# (from September 22) |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 22) |
| 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 22) |
| 5 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. | SPEED Energy Formula Offf-Road: Long Beach | CBS Sports Network*/ (from April 17) |
| 8 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Formula DRIFT: Monroe Insider | CBS Sports Network# |
| 8:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Formula DRIFT: Dallas, Part No. 1 | CBS Sports Network*/ (from August 21) |
| 9 p.m. - 10 p.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, GTS Class | CBS Sports Network* (from September 13) |
| 10 p.m. - 11 p.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, TC/TCA/TCB Classes | CBS Sports Network*/ (from September 12-13) |
| 11 p.m. - 12 a.m. | MotoAmerica: New Jersey Motorsports Park | CBS Sports Network*/ (from September 13) |
Thursday, September 24
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12 a.m. - 1 a.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, GTS Class | CBS Sports Network*# (from September 13) |
| 1 a.m. - 2 a.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, TC/TCA/TCB Classes | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 12-13) |
| 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 2*# (from September 23) |
| 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. | MotoAmerica: New Jersey Motorsports Park | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 13) |
| 3 a.m. - 4 a.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, GTS Class | CBS Sports Network*# (from September 13) |
| 4 a.m. - 5 a.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, TC/TCA/TCB Classes | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 12-13) |
| 5 a.m. - 6 a.m. | MotoAmerica: New Jersey Motorsports Park | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 12-13) |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 23) |
| 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 23) |
| 5 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. | Whelen Southern Modified Tour South Boston 150 | NBC Sports Network*/ (from September 19) |
| 9 p.m. - 10 p.m. | TORC Series: The Chicagoland Slam, Part No. 2 | FOX Sports 2*/# (from June 19) |
| 9 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Japan Free Practice No. 1 | NBC Sports Live Extra$ |
| 10 p.m. - 11 p.m. | TORC Series: The Big House Brawl, Part No. 1 | FOX Sports 2*/ (from June 27) |
| 10:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. | Indy Lights: Laguna Seca 100 | NBC Sports Network*/ (from September 13) |
Friday, September 25
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 1 a.m. - 2:30 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Japan Free Practice No. 2 | NBC Sports Network |
| 2 a.m. - 3 a.m. | NASCAR RaceHub | FOX Sports 2*# (from September 24) |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 24) |
| 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. | NASCAR America | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 24) |
| 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Sprint Cup Series Practice No. 1 | NBC Sports Network |
| 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Camping World Truck Series Practice No. 1 | FOX Sports 1 |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m | 1979 Daytona 500: Pop-up Style | FOX Sports 1# |
| 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Camping World Truck Series Happy Hour | FOX Sports 1 |
| 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | XFINITY Series Practice No. 1 | NBC Sports Network |
| 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Sprint Cup Series Qualifying | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | XFINITY Series Happy Hour | NBC Sports Network |
| 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. | ARCA Racing Series Crosley Brands 150 | FOX Sports 1 |
| 11 p.m. - 12 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Japan Free Practice No. 3 | NBC Sports Live Extra$ |
Saturday, September 26
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 2 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Japan Qualifying | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, TC/TCA/TCB Classes | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 12-13) |
| 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, GTS Class | CBS Sports Network*# (from September 13) |
| 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. | Sprint Cup Series Practice No. 2 | CNBC |
| 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. | Formula DRIFT: Dallas, Part No. 1 | CBS Sports Network*/# (from August 21) |
| 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Camping World Truck Series Qualifying | FOX Sports 1 |
| 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Formula DRIFT: Dallas, Part No. 2 | CBS Sports Network*/ (from August 22) |
| 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Sprint Cup Series Happy Hour | CNBC |
| 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion | FOX Sports 1# |
| 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m. | NCWTS Setup | FOX Sports 1 |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Camping World Truck Series UNOH 175 | FOX Sports 1 |
| 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | NASCAR Scan all 43 | NBC Sports Network# |
| 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. | XFINITY Series Qualifying | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Sprint Cup Series Qualifying | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 25) |
| 7:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Countdown to Green | NBC Sports Network |
| 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. | XFINITY Series VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 | NBC Sports Network |
Sunday, September 27
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30 a.m. - 1 a.m. | F1 Countdown | NBC Sports Network |
| 1 a.m. - 3 a.m. | Formula One Grand Prix of Japan | NBC Sports Network |
| 3 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. | F1 Extra | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | Pirelli World Challenge: Laguna Seca, GTS Class | CBS Sports Network*# (from September 13) |
| 7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. | motoGP World Championship Grand Prix of Aragon | FOX Sports 1 |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | NASCAR RaceDay | FOX Sports 1 |
| 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | NASCAR America Sunday | NBC Sports Network |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge: Circuit of the Americas | FOX Sports 1*/ (from September 18) |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | DTM: Nürburgring | CBS Sports Network*/ (from September 26-27) |
| 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. | Countdown to Green | NBC Sports Network |
| 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 | NBC Sports Network |
| 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. | V8 Supercars Wilson Security Sandown 500 | CBS Sports Network*/ (from September 20) |
| 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Moto3: Aragon | FOX Sports 1* |
| 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. | SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road: Long Beach | CBS Sports Network*/# (from April 17) |
| 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. | Moto2: Aragon | FOX Sports 1* |
| 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. | NASCAR America Post-Race | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. | NASCAR Victory Lap | NBC Sports Network |
| 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. | motoGP World Championship Grand Prix of Aragon | FOX Sports 1*/# |
| 11:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lap | NBC Sports Network# |
Monday, September 28
| Time | Telecast | Network |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30 a.m. - 1 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lane | FOX Sports 1 |
| 12:30 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. | V8 Supercars Wilson Security Sandown 500 | CBS Sports Network*/# (from September 20) |
| 6 a.m. - 7 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lap | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 27) |
| 7 a.m. - 8 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lap | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 27) |
| 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. | NASCAR Victory Lap | NBC Sports Network*# (from September 27) |
| 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. | NASCAR 120: Sylvania 300 | NBC Sports Network*/# (from September 27) |
| 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 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 password-protected online streaming. Check with your programming and/or internet service provider for availability.
I will provide critiques of the Sprint Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series races for next week’s edition of Couch Potato Tuesday here on Frontstretch. For this week’s Annex, we’re covering the Federated Car Care Fall Classic 200 from Salem Speedway for the ARCA Racing Series. This was the first race I’ve ever watched on internet pay-per-view. It was interesting for many different reasons.
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.
As always, if you choose to contact a network by email, do so in a courteous manner. Network representatives are far more likely to respond to emails that ask questions politely rather than emails full of rants and vitriol.
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.