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The TV program “Trackside” returned to the air for the season premier on Monday evening on Speed and viewers got more than they expected when the show returned from the first commercial. |
(YouTube video had to be removed – it got blocked because of a copyright claim against the poster on YouTube… our apologies)
The show started with host Steve Byrnes and panelists Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Hammond and Larry McReynolds in a studio located in the infield. It wasn’t in the usual setting of the Speed stage or live set among the fans where we are used to seeing the show.
The show came on air with guests, Rick Crawford, the veteran Camping World Truck Series driver, and Sprint Cup Series driver Paul Menard. Both drivers talked about their upcoming seasons up until it was time for the show’s first commercial break.
When the show returned, it was clear something was not right. Viewers saw someone cross in front of the camera carrying a ladder from left of the shot to the right side of the studio. Then, we heard voices.
The voice was that of Jeff Hammond. He was talking to the exiting Crawford and he said, “You know we’ll have a full field here, but when we get to California, you probably will not have a full field or just barely a full field. But if they don’t have a full field, what the owners are bringing up is, they already have an allocated purse, why that money is not distributed evenly, from top to bottom, what’s left over is what we don’t understand”.
Larry Mac asked Crawford, “Where’s your all’s third race? You go here, California, where’s the third one?” Crawford answered, “Atlanta”.
Waltrip, “Then you go forever, then you have like six weeks.”
Steve, “Six weeks!”
D.W., “It’s a long one.”
(Hear pecking on mics, the panels mics are turned down.
Steve Byrnes said, “NASCAR did this market study and they said that fans did not like that there were no pit stops.” He was talking about the recent talk about a possible rules change in the Truck Series.
D.W. “Oh, they’re not going to but if there’s no fans there, who cares. You know what I’m saying?”
D.W. “Hey, we won’t know if it 2009 or 1999 when we come here because this is Daytona. Everybody that’s broke drags everything they got down here to Daytona because they know they can make a buck if they can get to start the race. But when we get to California, it’s going to look like a ghost town.”
And suddenly a commercial was started, stopping the candid talk by the panel.
It was very clear a mistake was made by the network and no one was supposed to see or hear what was broadcast out to how ever many homes that were tuned into the first show of the season.
It goes to show, problems do exist in all three series of the NASCAR brand, but the only way we, as fans, are going to hear any real truth to the financial problems with NASCAR are going to be accidental.
After the show returned from the second commercial break, nothing was mentioned about the mistake because the show had been taped earlier in the day. Which makes this BIG mistake even bigger. This was supposed to be an edited version, all dressed up and ready to be shown to the fans of NASCAR. By the time Trackside was shown on the west coast, the goof had been fixed and the fans did not get a chance to see the blunder.
Sad part is, this is exactly the kind of honest discussion we fans would like to hear. Not the usual “everythings going to be fine” talk NASCAR has been trying to tell us for some time now. We know the economy is in trouble and that racing is in trouble too.
At a time when sponsors are nervous about spending the enormous amount that teams require, a goof like this could make or break a deal that could mean running all the races or just the BIG one in Twenty-four days.
(photo of Darrell Waltrip by author Steve Langley)
I had no idea Trackside was on last night. That is awesome that you picked up on this blunder and published this. Fans do want to hear this kind of discussion, though I think the things that DW and the boys said are known facts. Unfortunately, they are not at true liberty to speak their minds, because they are on such a national stage and, of course, cannot ruffle NASCAR’s feathers. Fortuantely, websites like this one and the other one I write for, Frontstretch.com, can afford to publish unbridled commentary and say what is on our minds and on the minds of other fans.
If the real truth was known how would the panel talk about ,the top 35, the new car, the chase. On air it is all praise, off air what do they really think?
If they want to keep there jobs and the space at the tracks they will follow the Nascar mandate.
I watched the you tube video and I am sorry to see that they could not really say what they felt and seeing it was even funnier than reading about it. When will the suits at not only NASCAR figure out what the fans really want but the Speed Channel and the other racing media outlets as well.
Yeah, too bad we can’t get more of the “real” scoop of what’s going on in our sport instead of NASCAR’s company line. Let’s hope for another technical malfunction sometime soon!
No heads should roll. 1st amendment
Maybe if ticket prices would come down (some Are) it would help.
NASCAR is still the best show in town but could cause its own demise.
Glad to see what the panelists really think,not what Brain wants them to say,however we will not see any more of this.I am sure the phone was ringing at speed.
Wow. Had no idea that was on and sorry I missed it. I agree with everyone — this is the kind of honest talk that fans want to hear. We all know that there are troubles with NASCAr so why try to sugar coat it?
Well The fans need to demand the truth.
If NASCAR would share the truth, Im sure that they(NASCAR) would find a lot of people willing to help.
Racing wasnt born OF Nascar. Nascar was born of racing. Mabe Nascar needs to fall on its face and be humbled.
Racing needs to be Racing, Let the boys be boys (drivers) within reason and saftey.
The Racing class(drivers-Fans) need to dictate to Nascar.
The Nascar heads are trying to be loyal to the wrong elements. They are nothing but crying squaling brats fighting over the candy and marbles not wanting to share.
The drivers and owners need to start out like in monopoly with the same amount of money. Use what you come with the best that you can.
Lets put good ole common sense tecnology back into racing.
Lets go back to the begining using the basic tecnologys of this time era.
Just like the ole days. Let the enginuity fly.
toomoons57
Many of the ‘talkers’ for the sport have become ‘shills’ for the sport. That was always the strength of ‘stock car rac’en’. When you asked a question you got an answer. That’s gone. Kyle Petty is about the only person talking. The rest are shilling. And, David P, it isn’t the pitcher for the Red Soxs.
“This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Twentieth Century Fox. “
I am 68 years old. I purchased, via Daytona Speedway, tickets for the Shootout and purchased through a friend for the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday races. Total cost was over $1,600 for my wife and I, add in the lodging at the Hampton Inn, 239 per night plus five nights at 435 plus tax (10 nights). My wife stated next year, add about $3,000 to it and vacation in Hawaii. The two tickets to the 500 were $350 each. I have been to the 500 in Daytona many times, but Hawaii is starting to look good. As of today, no one can release the entry list?
Racing is still ahead of baseball and when I see the salaries baseball pays, I think they will have a problem long before NASCAR. I haven’t gone to a baseball game in the past 15 years.
I smell Vince McMahon .
Well, you have to admit that it’s nice to know all of these paople aren’t idiots with their heads in the sand, and that they really are just slinging the company bull—-.
Anbody and everybody who is more than a casual fan can see whats happening to the sport and the results of tough economic times. Sponsors need to be more careful and its wrong to paint a pretty face on an ugly doll at their expense. Teams needed a reality check on their spending and its here. I still think there’s a place in this sport for the best and the brightest, not just the best funded.
The most dis-heartening thing I see is that its mostly the truck series – the last bastion of real racing in the big 3 series – thats going to take the real hit here. But that what you get when you market a product on appearance and not on quality.
I said this many times before; that NASCAR needs to get their heads out of the sand! Too many rules and too many penalties! They need to let the teams build the cars; and let them run what they brung!
If a car doesn’t pass postrace inspection; you just send them back and make them fix whatever needs to be done! You don’t penalize, you don’t ban them or suspend them, you just make them fix whatever’s wrong. No big fines, or loss of owner points or drivers points.
What the drivers and the owners need to do; is that NASCAR needs to be put in its place, and refuse to start their engines until NASCAR realizes that they are not God contrary to their beliefs!
I’m 60 years old, and I’ve been watching racing as an avid fan for most of those years, but if NASCAR doesn’t get back to basics; they can color me gone!
NUFF SAID,
MagicMan
Nascar like all other major league sports don’t like the negative talk, but reality is they are there own worst enemy, they created this corporate monster and have been caught off guard on the economy thing or are playing dumb.
Other series will benefit like IRL, Woo, NHRA etc because of the low cost to run a team, they keep trying to lower the cost but they keep getting more money, is Carl Edwards team worth 25 million a season? I don’t think so, so who it getting the money the Drivers? some one is and the fans are the ones who pay in the end, when the companies recoup this money.
Here it is, the time of the season when all is about to start and all we get is fluff. The economy is on all the minds of everyone involved but no one wants to admit we have a problem.
The networks that broadcast these races have GOT to start showing all the cars in the race. Not just the few that are running up front. If a sponsor puts out all the money to run a full time team that doesn’t run up front, why would they re-sign their contract when he never gets any TV exposure? They put this money in to get that exposure.
Show the cars and for goodness sakes, show the race! That’s what made the truck series have better ratings last year. They would show all the trucks and they would show the race. No rodents, no draft track, and no fluff, just good racing!
Thanks for the comments folks!
Mistake? NASCAR has been scamming fans for a long time. When honesty comes out it’s called a mistake. Go figure.
Keeping tight control over what the reporters who hold NASCAR credentials report was one thing NASCAR could get away with for years when the sport wasn’t so popular. Now, thanks to the sport’s popularity and the Internet, I suspect that NASCAR will find keeping their dirt under the rug next to impossible. I’ve watched and attended races for over 25 years. Last year was the first year that I didn’t attend a race since 1989. I could easily have afforded going as the country’s economic troubles (knock on wood) haven’t found their way into my household, but I’ve lost a lot of interest in the sport due to the homogenized product being pushed on us. Cookie-cutter tracks, cookie-cutter cars, and cookie-cutter drivers may have made the sport a little more palatable to some, but the effort to broaden NASCAR’s appeal that brought about these things sure hit rock-bottom with me. I’m afraid the NASCAR has nowhere to go but down and I don’t think NASCAR will be able to keep the lid on Pandora’s Box, no matter how many reporters and producers they strong-arm.
nascar’s house,and they have to play by house rules,but all was said was what any 30 plus year fan is saying.brian and family needs to give up some of dad’s money to save the sport,or it’ll be like most 3rd generation companies,out of business before there is a 4th generation.SAD.
Well Doug Kirkpatrick, I don’t think I could say it better then you did. I will still be attending races this year but only around 10 to 12 races. I have to agree also, reporters need to give the facts not what the morons on the board of NASCAR, such as Brian, Michael, John and Jim, want us to only hear. We as fans are not idiots and know times are tight. We know the fields are not set like they usually are by this time just days before we get going. Drivers knew who they were driving for and who they had as sponsors by now. So for DW and others to speak truths off cameras but yet when back on they have to out and out lie to satisfy the moron board of NASCAR. I thought we lived in the USA where freedom of speech was allowed. As are 44th president said Things are about to change in AMERICA, I guess was not meant for NASCAR.
Steve,
I saw the blunder on the 4pm (PST). It was fixed by the time they reaired it later that night.
It was shown on purpose i believe because of the content they caught – Thats why it started and stopped when that subject started and ended. It was a tape delayed show because it was 7pm eastern time when it aired and it was bright sunshine outside their window. Someone wanted that to be seen. Now a biiger authority im sure had it removed by the later reair