Race Weekend Central

Couch Potato Tuesday: Bumper-Cam Overreliance Hurts Daytona 500 Broadcast

A pack of NASCAR race cars in the 2022 Daytona 500. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The Daytona 500 is the biggest day of the year for NASCAR.  This year, things were even more important since it was the very first points race for the NextGen car (which must be renamed soon because the name no longer makes sense).  The race ended up being quite a bit different than I thought it was going to be: a lot more like a slower version of last year that somehow ended up with the same number of lead changes

Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Still Leaves Question Marks Entering Start of 2022

The start of the 2021 Daytona 500

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

This week, Speedweeks gets truly underway with a buttload of racing to keep you occupied. Most notably, the NASCAR season gets underway today with the first practice sessions of the season. As has been the case since 2015, FOX will start off the season with Cup and Xfinity races. It will also have the full …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: For Me, Clash Broadcast Was a Nightmare to Watch

Kyle Busch takes the green flag to kick off the NASCAR Busch Clash heat races at the LA Colusseum.

(Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Welcome back to another year of critiquing of motorsports on TV. This will be my 14th year here at Frontstretch, giving you nuggets to think about in regards to race broadcasts. Crazy when you think about it. This past weekend, NASCAR ventured west out to Los Angeles to enter uncharted territory. The Los Angeles Memorial …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Martinsville Brings Brisk Action & Denny Hamlin’s Dirty Mouth to NBC

Martinsville

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Martinsville is a wacky weekend these days. NASCAR moving the race weekend to be the second-to-last of the season basically creates a scenario that breeds ridiculousness. Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series race is what you get when drivers go crazy.  We’ll cover that craziness later this week. Crikey. Sunday was not that ridiculous. That said, …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Kansas Provides Better Racing, New Issues for NBC Sports

Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 19, Chase Elliott’s No. 9, Alex Bowman’s No. 48 and Joey Logano’s No. 22 race four-wide at Kansas Speedway in the fall 2021 NASCAR Cup series race, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

After a fairly unsatisfactory race at Texas Motor Speedway, viewers got a much more enjoyable race to watch Sunday (Oct. 24) at Kansas Speedway. However, there were problems early. Hollywood Casino 400 Knowing that the race started about 14 minutes after the Formula 1 race, then almost immediately got red-flagged due to lightning, I do …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Texas Just Doesn’t Bring the Action for NBC

A pack NASCAR race cars at Texas Motor Speedway, October 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

We’re now in the Round of 8, where things kick it up a notch. Starting Saturday, drivers in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series each had the chance to lock into the Championship 4. Kyle Larson was able to do so in Sunday’s AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500, while no one did Saturday. Before we get …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Schumacher Provides Context but Not Necessarily the Content You Want

F1 Gp Monza

Tifosi Ferrari Fans Monza Formula 1 GP Monza. Foto Imago/Insidefoto

Last weekend was an exciting weekend of action at Talladega Superspeedway. I know. I was there. An astute viewer may have even seen me at the Infield Care Center in the rain Monday (Oct. 4), trying to get quotes from William Byron, Matt DiBenedetto and Ryan Preece. There is plenty to write about in regards …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Round of 12 Brings Heavy Playoff Focus to Las Vegas

NASCAR racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, September 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Las Vegas Motor Speedway began the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, and things got a little more serious since it is likely to be the least looney race of the round. Even with fewer intermediate tracks in the playoffs now, it’s still critical to put up a decent finish here since …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: NBCSN Gets Excellent Racing and an Argument at Bristol

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson make contact in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, September 2021 televised on NBCSN. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Bristol Motor Speedway is an interesting place. Hard racing, wrecking, loud noises and shenanigans showcased this weekend on NBCSN come to mind every time it’s mentioned. I have no doubt that you can think of more. Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race was something else. Fans of The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck have voted …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Richmond Brings Self-Reflection to NBCSN

2021 Richmond II Cup Martin Truex Jr. pack racing NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Richmond races for the Cup Series have not necessarily been the most competitive in recent years. Honestly, they’ve been Joe Gibbs Racing benefits. Saturday night’s race was no different, despite 21 lead changes. Naturally, given that Saturday was Sept. 11, the anniversary of the terrorist attacks was front and center. Countdown to Green had a …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: Darlington Brings a Somewhat Normal Cup Broadcast With Extras

Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson battle in the closing laps of the 2021 Southern 500. (Photo: NKP)

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Darlington Raceway is always an interesting place to watch a NASCAR Cup Series race. Yes, the 2021 Cook Out Southern 500 took over four hours to run, but that’s OK. Sit down and grab some popcorn for the Cup broadcast; the racing here takes a while. It also didn’t seem like there were 11 cautions …

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