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Did You Know There Were 43 Cars Racing At Richmond?by Mike Irwin ~ September 10th, 2007. Filed under: Mike's Musings. |
No?
That’s ok.
I, along with a few million other TV viewers of Richmond’s NASCAR Nextel Cup race, didn’t know either.
I know that “who will make the Chase?” was the key story.
It seemed all we heard about was Kurt, Kevin, and Jr.
But there WAS other racing going on there.
I was frankly surprised there wasn’t a running “how far is Jr. away from getting in” graphic somewhere on the screen throughout the entire race.
Please don’t misunderstand. I’m not knocking those three guys at all.
Jr. drove a gutsy and daring race, right up to the point when his engine grenaded. That’s 5 this year for those of you who are counting, by the way. Maybe “The Fly” had something to do with it?
Kevin and Kurt both drove well, and cautiously, as I would have expected them to.
But it’s sad when three up-and-coming drivers get their career-best Win…er… Sprin… um… Nextel Cup finishes, and there’s hardly a mention of any, especially post-race.
I’m talking about David Ragan (3rd), Johnny Sauter (5th), and David Reutimann (13th).
Bobby Labonte had his worst finish in the last 4 races, coming in at 16th, still a good showing for the #43 team. It was also his 500th start, which they DID at least mention once or twice.
And Kasey Kahne made the top 10, but nary a mention anywhere.
Did you notice how Jerry Punch laid it on really thick with the compliments after each return from the demos on the cutaway car with Tim Brewer? Naaw, he wasn’t reading a script… much.
Did you notice that the hats on the heads of all the post-race interview drivers were similar?
OK, it WAS late, and I wasn’t thinking so clearly.
I “guessed” it might have something to do with making the Chase, but a little confirmation would have been nice.
Speaking of which, did you notice Jeff Burton’s Chase hat? It had “31″ on it, not the AT&T “Death Star”.
I wonder if they’ll make up another set of those with the AT&T logo, now that the suits have been “settled”?
If so, that “31″ version might be a collector’s item.
Oh, by the way… Kevin finished 7th, Kurt finished 9th, and Junior finished 30th.
Did you notice?
September 10th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
I am so glad that the Chasers have been decided! Another couple races with “All Junior All the Time” probably would have sent me out on an errand so I could miss the race and play it later. I have gone to Tivoing the races so I can just watch it a little faster, I don’t have to listen to any of the anouncers unless I slow it to play to watch a part I am interested. THAT is how BAD things gotten this year. And not only was the interviewing afterward apalling by not interviewing Ragan and Sauter, it was insulting by NOT interviewing each and EVERY Chase maker live. And it just seems that maybe the next morning when I went to (I hope I can say this) NASCAR.com to see the picture of all12 guys, and intead they had one photo/article of Junior, one photo/article of Juniors car and one video of his interview and NO PICTURE of the Top 12! Horrible!
September 11th, 2007 at 1:27 am
I noticed the 31 hat as well. But then, Jeff Burton is one of “my guys” racing. After all the hassle NASCAR and Sprint/Nextel have given RCR for the last few months, either karma or poetic justice could propel Jeff to the championship just so their trademark could be utilized to the maximum during the banquet in December.
As to the forgotten 39 or 40 drivers working hard on the track, I propose that for each race, the director hire an assistant from the stands, sit next to him in the booth, and actually show what the guy tells him to. At least, one might actually get a glimpse of what is actually going on out there. I will NEVER understand the mindset that television has of switching from one camera to another to follow a single car. One word to send to the directors…PERSPECTIVE, as in relation of one or two cars to the rest of the field. If you are going to highlight one or two cars to the diminishment of the others, might as well just put two cars on the track, and tell the cameramen to follow them. Fill in the rest later.
For the first time, this weekend I muted the TV, and listened to the radio. I was very satisfied with the radio coverage. Sometimes it was in synch with what was happening on the TV, anthough the commentary was much more insightful and thorough….
“Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and CHEVROLET!!”
September 11th, 2007 at 7:53 am
Since ESPN has taken over racing duties it has been the Rusty show, this week he actually mixed it up some, it was the Rusty and Jr. Show!
September 11th, 2007 at 7:55 am
Why are the ratings down????Do you suppose Brian was watching??This was the worst broadcast of the season.The great NA$CARS #1 driver runs out of motor with a few laps left.I guess Brian needs to get another driver,one who can win,and maybe the ratings might accidentally go up.
September 11th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Soooooooo sick of ESPN &JR,that I’m looking forward to my next prostrate exam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 11th, 2007 at 8:46 am
The only thing left for these tv people is to keep track of where Jr. would be in the points if he had gotten in the chase. The last few years have been disgusting with nothing but Jr. There is some excitement up front but lets see how Jr. is doing five laps down. This is not Jr’s fault just move on to what is really happening each race no matter who is doing what. Nascar should mandate coverage of all the cars, that might even help with some sponsers.
September 11th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Write letters and make phone calls folks. The terrible tv broadcasts will only improve if we make ourselves loud enough to be heard by networks and sponsors. Speaking of sponsors, the AT&T battle was a good example of what the fans can do. NASCAR will say otherwise of course, but it was the backlash from the fans that got NASCAR and Sprint to back down from that ridiculous lawsuit.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:20 am
It Aint gonna change folks!!! It’s all about the money. You might as well quit moaning and either quit watching it or watch something else!!
September 11th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Not to worry folks - NASCRAP *will* fix this next year. Either by a fan voted in favorite, or by giving Jr a 10 lap head start at the begining of every race.
I am SO glad Jr. did not make it. I am tired of the lips to backside action the networks put on him, and 4 or 5 other drivers - each and every race. Like the article above pointed out - there are 43 cars in each race. Each car and sponsor deserves the same attention as the Animal Farm 6 (all 43 drivers are important. Some just more important than others) are shown.
Maybe ESPN (and the other broadcasters) can warm up the non-believers, with a hearty Ein Reich! Ein Volk! Ein Earnhardt! before each broadcast.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:45 am
The “chase” sucks!!
September 11th, 2007 at 11:03 am
I am happy to say that I have abandoned NASCAR this year. I have not watched a single lap…that’s it…I’m out. There is an absolute psychological rule that spec racing in this country will always spiral to failure. No one really wants to see who the best driver is. No one really wants to see 43 different paint jobs on the same car. No one really even wants parity. Let the purists whine and the beer bellies grumble, then ask them how popular the IROC series is. The flippin’ stands are completely empty and TV doesn’t even cover it (far as I know)…and those are the best drivers in the world! People want to see different and creative approaches to solve the problem of getting a car around a track faster than everyone else. Heck, even the driver personalities are becoming restricted in NASCAR. Why don’t “they” just run a computer simulation of the race so every aspect can be controlled? At least that would be better for the environment and possibly more entertaining.
On the subject of mega teams: Every sport needs a Yankees or a Tiger Woods. This is what makes it interesting to watch. Half the people want to see the champ take a beating, the other half want to see how the champ can win yet again.
This has forced me to find those “other” races (ALMS, WRC, SCCA, etc). These races are much more exciting to watch. Anyone who watched the ALMS GT2 battle at Sebring this year can vouch for that. There are wildly different cars competing head-to-head with great drivers.
I won’t be back to NASCAR until they remember what their name is…National Association of STOCK CAR Racing. If the auto companies are putting out terds for us to buy, NASCAR should be racing terds. That is that.
September 11th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Ditto numbers 10 and 11
September 11th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Spec Racing has always been boring. Did you know TMC has some really good,interesting old movies?
September 11th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
I’m fearful that all we’re going to hear for the next 10 weeks is something such as this. “Well, if Jr. had made the chase, he’d be in the (_____) spot now.”
They did, at least, show David Reagan battling Jeff Gordon for the third spot, but the demeanor of the commentators was on the edge of “How dare him to do that.”
If the chase had not been changed, we’d be watching Jeff Gordon, whom I am not a fan of, going for his sixth title and within a couple of years, he would supplant both Earnhardt (who was NOT the greatest ever) and Petty as the leader of the pack.
One other poster, unfortunately, has it right. There will be a “Fan Favorite” provision in the upcoming seasons. Probably 2009 after Jr., once again, doesn’t make it..
Finally, Gone are the days of the “Banjo’s, Smokey’s, Fireballs, Ned, Lee, Richard & etc.” and here come the days of Jaun, Jacques, Dario & etc.
September 11th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Re: comment #13… LOL!!! Or there’s always “MythBusters” or “Dirty Jobs”!
September 11th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Thank God there are others out there that share my beliefs. I too thought the broadcast was very one sided(Jr.) My son says to me “Who dives the 41? Oh Yeah, Reed Sorenson, to bad his name hasnt been mentioned all race!!” Unless you crash or your name is Jr., forget about having any TV time. I am very disapointed in the coverage all season. I was hoping ABC would have made a difference, but it was the worst all year. I hate to admit this, but I really miss D.W.
September 11th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Aw, C’mon. There are supposedly 43 cars raacing out there somewhere, almost half Chevy’s, but the NASCAR powers that be have only $$$ signs in mind. Next year maybe 16 cars for the chase so we can get Jr back in. 12 just didn’t cut it. On the present heading, NASCAR is doomed to failure. Rubber stamp designs with the COT, regulating speeds and making bad calls, then not enforcing others. If I were ATT, I think I would sponsor a good horse while Nextel, er Sprint wants to dominate who’s in, who’s out. A couple more tricks like that and they will begin to lose some of the big ones.
September 11th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Hey, I have an idea. Let all 43 teams race and let’s see who is the best at the end of the year. No matter if one team wins all of the next 10 races they can finish no better than 13th place. BRIAN is WRONG and I hate The Chase!!!
September 11th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Hey Tony, whats a “prostrate exam”?
September 11th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
we, as fans, are obviously not happy. Are the drivers happy,,,yeah–are the sponsors happy–yeah …are the Nascar “Gods that be” happy–yeah—
Point is–who spends their money on tickets, merchandise, sponsors, publications??? Stop!!! That will get their attention and keep an AMERICAN tradition from further degeneration….
We no longer go to races ( and believe me, that hurts) and even now if we miss a race we can always tivo and fast forward to the good stuff ( if there is any to be found ).
Sorry, guess I am stuck in an era where ‘racing was rubbing’ and we all could identify with our cars and drivers….
September 11th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
A “Prostrate exam” is… um, an exam when you’re laying prostrate on the examination table??? I think he is meaning “prostate exam”…
September 12th, 2007 at 9:20 am
I could not believe the way that Bobby was ignored with it being his 500th start. They did not even show a close up of his car that sported this 500th start on the hood. For the next twelve races or how ever many are left you can bet there are only going to be twelve drivers mentioned and paid attention to. I do not know why they even have the rest of the field racing??????? Why not for the last races to the chase just have those that are in contention since they will be the only ones recognized.
September 12th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Good article. They ignored alot of good efforts. Wonder if Johnny Sauter or David Ragan (not Reagan) had been leading and not Carl Edwards, or Jeff Gordon, or another chaser, if they would have been shown as much.
They had the same bad “coverage balance” issues in the past at Richmond. Wonder next year if I should turn down the volume and turn up MRN or are they as infatuated with the chase as ABC is?
September 13th, 2007 at 12:24 am
Anyone else notice another ABC/ESPN oversight Saturday in Richmond? Whenthe caution came out for the Boyer-Hamlin incident, Harvick was being shown in sixth place. But on the restart,he was back in the 20s, and as a result had to pull off his pass-in-the-grass to avoid the multi-car wreck, which included the Montoya fire. But ABC/ESPN never told us what happened on that pit stop that put Harvick that far back in the field. Now, had that been Junior who lost 20-some spots on a pitstop, it would have been the lead report on Nightline.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:32 am
Did you ever notice how they cut away from the leader (one of the TV faves) when certain others might get in the picture (for example when Kyle Petty is about to be lapped). What’s up with that?
There are other cars I’d love to see out front but, at least show ‘em on TV even if they’re being lapped. Show how hard they work to stay on the lead lap and/or keep in position for the lucky dog.
With Tivo it is actually possible to get a slight glimpse every now and again of some of the rest of the 43 cars: but it shouldn’t be that hard!
And, speaking of TV, why not show how some of the ‘other’ teams pit stops?
At least the trackpass scanner is a nice relief from the TV ‘personalities’ … I can listen to the driver and crew work on stuff (and yell at each other uncensored sometimes). Much more entertaining.
September 13th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Why in the world would they show the 70 or the 6 car. Last time I looked niether AAA or Yellow Frieght bought any commercial spots.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Well it seems it’s still Jr, Jr and more Jr on every site…Elvis has left the building and so has Jr. In eight years full time in the Cup Series Jr’s 4 for 4. Made the top 10 4 times…missed 4 times. Comes out at 50% to me…I’m glad he didn’t make it in the Chase just because the media and Nascar think he makes Nascar…give me the other 42 driver’s who make the field…good article.
September 15th, 2007 at 2:03 am
Carolyn is right! I am still only hearing about Junior! The media honestly are driving me crazy! I am sooo sick of it. Why do I have to watch any NASCAR show, and at least one story is about Junior. Usually 3-4 stories, but to minimize it I’ll say 1! I am sick of it!