As I sat down to watch the Lennox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on TNT, I got to think which NASCAR Sprint Cup racing coverage do you people like best?
Here is my opinion,
I dread the middle part of the season when TNT's coverage begins. I just don't think it is very good. I like Larry Mcreynolds, but there is just something about Bill Weber, Wally Dallenbach, and Kyle Petty I do not like.
Of course, I do miss Benny Parsons. I enjoyed B.P. quite a bit, but Benny is gone, and it looks as though Kyle Petty will be filling that broadcast seat for a while. Don't get me wrong, I think Kyle is a great guy and an amazing ambassador of NASCAR racing, but in my opinion, he is not cut out for broadcasting.
The only thing I do enjoy of the TNT coverage is the few times I get to see Lindsey Czarniak. Come on, we all like a pretty face.
ESPN/ABC is not so bad. Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty get on my nerves sometimes, and Tim Brewers is a little awkward, but I think they do a pretty good job. I enjoy watching their nationwide coverage, and I am looking forward to when their coverage of the Sprint Cup Series begins at The Brickyard.
They have tried to do some neat things with the in-race reporter and Tim Brewer's DISH-tech center, and I think they are just going to get better. Overall, their broadcasts are fun to watch and usually pretty informative.
My personal favorite is FOX. Mike Joy, Larry Mcreynolds, Jeff Hammond, Chris Myers, and Darrell Waltrip have a good ole time calling those races, and they make it fun to watch.
D.W. is corny at times, but you got to love the man for having so much passion about NASCAR racing. Dick Bergren and the other pit-reports are very good at what they do.
The Digger camera is one of the coolest things I have seen in any sports coverage. The shots they have from that thing are so awesome. The broadcasts on FOX are entertaining to watch, and I usually go away having learned something new.
I would like to see them stay on for the six races on TNT and then just transition right into the ESPN/ABC coverage.
All of these networks have other programming besides NASCAR racing, which is where SPEED channel comes in really handy! On Fridays, my TV is tuned to SPEED all day long for the practice sessions and qualifying and then Saturday during the practice sessions.
Michael Waltrip is corny like D.W. but he, Phil Parsons, and Rick Allen do an excellent job covering the Craftsman Truck races. I am glad SPEED carries them because I enjoy watching the trucks.
The lineup of NASCAR shows on speed is great. Everything from Trackside on Friday night to This Week in NASCAR on Monday. Kenny Wallace, Bob Dilner, John Roberts, Wendy Venturini, and Steve Burns are great as well as the guys that double on from FOX.
Hermie Sadler and Jimmy Spencer, I can take or leave, but altogether their speed coverage is great!
You know my opinions on all the different networks that cover NASCAR. I want to know what all of you think, so post comments of your opinions!
6 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
a m about 1 year ago
The TNT crew used to rib Wally all the time about him being a washed-up racer. But last year Wally had this look in his eye that said he was sick of it. The debasing of Wally has greatly reduced since.
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Tracy Noll about 1 year ago
The fox crew is the best! Digger is a wonderful tool for the fans to get an up close view of the speed and sometime accidents too.
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Adam Amick about 1 year ago
Of those on air today, Speed/FOX has the best crew. I like the Digger cam, but they need to run the graphic about twice a race, and that will do.
I don't like most of the ex-NBC crew, but BP could have replaced DW and I would have been fine with that. They seemed to focus more on themselves and back and forth banter that was useless. Especially Webber... Ugh! Wally Dallenbach is okay, but as pointed out, he's picked on too much, and I'd rather have a Dale Jarrett in the booth.
I am glad they (ESPN/ABC) replaced Crusty with Dale Jarrett in the booth, and got rid of Brent Musburger as host. I preferred Jerry Punch on pit road, and don't like the guy in the Dish Tech Center... (name is slipping me, Tim... something?) He never seems to go the extra sentence needed to complete an explanation of something.
Suzy Koebler is nice to look at, but she didn't belong there either. Krista Voda does a great job on the Truck Series races on Speed.
I miss the days of Bob Jenkins and Larry Neuber on ESPN.
Even more are the days of Ken Squirer, Ned Jarrett, and Chris Economacki (sp?) on CBS. When in-car cameras were new, and on-screen graphics were rarely used, and we didn't know what we were missing.
Those were the days...
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Clayton Caldwell about 1 year ago
I love Speed. Wendy Venturrini is Hot and is very knowledgeable! Same with Lindsey Czarniak! Good call on that!!
TNT stinks. Bill Weber is a Chris Myers with a better job! His voice is ANNOYING and he says the stupidest things sometimes.
ESPN would be awesome if they moved Jerry Punch back to the pits and brought up Alan Bestwick. Bestwick on NBC was 1000000x10 better then Weber. Bestwick's voice is better for play by play. Even though I do agree with Adam, Bob Jenkins would be the best fit. Suzy Kolber couldn't tell you the difference between a Stock car and an Indy car and has no right being anywhere near a track. Mike Massaro should have her spot and they should find another woman to do the pits. (Perhaps Krista Voda!)
And I miss CBS so bad! but Adam forgot to mention BUDDY BAKER!! His voice was so cool! No one compares to Buddy, Ned and of coure the legend Ken Squier! and you are right, THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!
Ken Squier's starting lineups for the Great American Race rocked! and I espically LOVED "Davey Allison in car 28!" Classic!
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Adam Amick about 1 year ago
You're right, I forgot about Buddy... My apologies for that oversight.
Krista Voda should stay on Speed Channel, and Mike Massaro can move up as you suggest.
Then maybe I can take his job in the pits. :-) (Heck, he was the racing guy on The V Show before I got the call... So it would follow suit)
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Clayton Caldwell about 1 year ago
lol!! No problem! I just love Buddy! And that is such a cool job you have!! That would be my dream!
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