Race Weekend Central

Couch Potato Tuesday: Martinsville Serves as Showcase for FOX Sports 1

2015 Martinsville I CUP Matt Kenseth Kurt Busch racing credit Amy Henderson

(Photo: Amy Henderson, Frontstretch)

Last weekend saw the Sprint Cup Series compete in the first of what will be seven point races (plus the Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star Race) on FOX Sports 1. It’s a pretty big deal. Last week, I noted that I would cover the Verizon IndyCar Series opener here in Couch Potato Tuesday as well. …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Dreaded Debris Rears Its Head Again

2015 Cup Fontana Greg Biffle Wreck Credit Jerry Jordan

(Photo Credit: Jerry Jordan)

Auto Club Speedway hosted a couple of relatively staid races last weekend. I cannot put it any better than that. However, FOX Sports still has a job to do, and that is to give viewers a good broadcast. Before we get into the critique, I wish I had good news to report in regards to …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Runaways Force FOX’s Hand in Phoenix

2015 Phoenix I NXS pit stops credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Phoenix International Raceway was the scene of a couple of races that really weren’t all that competitive. Knowing that, FOX Sports was in the position of having to make races that were so-so look decent. We’ll see how well they did below. Before we start, there are a couple of news items to cover. First, …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Harvick Shines Once Again In Booth

2015 Las Vegas CUP green flag credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the scene of a couple of butt-kickings last weekend, in addition to some tempers flaring inside of racecars (but not outside). We also had the return of Kevin Harvick to the booth. However, before we get started, a couple of minor news items. Recently, we noted the proposed trade between …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Atlanta Provides Challenges, FOX Meets Some of Them

2015 Atlanta CUP pack racing credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: NASCAR via Getty Images)

Before we get started on the critique, there are a couple of  television news pieces that need to be covered. First off, for most of you, being able to watch Saturday’s Hisense 250 on FOX Sports 1 was probably not that much of a problem (if you subscribe to the channel). However, for those of …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX’s Daytona 500 Weekend Coverage A Mixed Bag

2015 Daytona I CUP pack racing credit NASCAR via Getty Images

(Photo: Getty Images)

Doesn’t it feel wonderful to have actual racing to talk about? I know some of you were outright forced to watch the Oscars Sunday night as some kind of penance by significant others due to the action on Sunday. As far as Sunday is concerned, I’m happy no one got hurt and a decreased amount …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Clams Up When Drivers Cry Out On NASCAR Qualifying

Sprint Unlimited 2015 Daytona (2) Mike Neff

(Photo: Mike Neff)

I take it that you heard the rumbling sound coming out of your speakers this past weekend. That’s right; NASCAR is back, and not a moment too soon. The offseason always seems interminable. As I stated last week, 2015 will look relatively similar to 2014 here in Couch Potato Tuesday, but with some changes. For …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NASCAR On FOX Freshens Up For 2015

2014 Phoenix II CUP Ryan Newman pack racing CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photography)

Editor’s Note: Phil Allaway’s racing TV Critique column returns this season. Catch it on Frontstretch every Tuesday. Here we go once again, as another long season of racing is about to kick into gear. Yes, we’ve already had events like the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Chili Bowl in Tulsa. However, those races are …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: ESPN’s Field Of Four, Not 43

2014 Homestead CUP Denny Hamlin CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

I’m going to make a statement up front before I even start the critique: I hate watching championship battles. Why? The race doesn’t even matter, only the points do. That’s why I prefer final events in which the championship is decided ahead of time; that way, the races can be covered fully instead of picking …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Did “Chasing” Ratings Help Or Hurt ESPN?

2014 Phoenix II CUP Brad Keselowski Jeff Gordon pit road CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

At the very front of the field, the Phoenix International Raceway race weekend was not the most competitive out there. In 644 total laps of racing across three series, there were only 16 lead changes, and the most dominant driver in each race led more than 84 percent of the laps (interestingly enough, Kevin Harvick …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: ESPN’s Fight Night At The Races

2014 Texas II CUP Brad Keselowski postrace brawl CIA

(Credit: CIA Stock Photography)

The specter of violence has reared its head once again. Cripes. Before we even get into the critique, I’ll state for the record that this fighting is passé. Not only is it played out, it’s also ludicrous and makes the sport look bad. I do a lot more pertaining to motorsports coverage than critiquing TV …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: ESPN Cuts Away A Little Too Early

2014 Martinsville Cup Martin Truex, Jr., Casey Mears, Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers, More Wreck Credit CIA

(Photo: CIA Stock Photo, Inc. ©2014)

At Martinsville Speedway, trouble has few places to hide. However, there’s also a Chase to deal with. With the Chase in effect, focus can narrow to a significant degree. More on that momentarily. Before we get going, ESPN announced early on Monday morning that the network has come to terms with Ricky Craven for the …

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