Bleacher Report - Articles by Kody Lancaster

NASCAR: Which Coverage is Your Favorite?

Kody Lancaster — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:48:22 -0400

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!

Kurt Busch: When Your Favorite Driver Wins, You Write About It

Kody Lancaster — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:08:38 -0400

When the rain started falling in New Hampshire Kurt Busch and the number 2 car were in the lead...it kept raining and the race was called and Kurt Busch won.

Am I excited? Hell yes I am. He is my favorite driver.

Now I am sure there are people who think it's a bullshit win and that he doesn't deserve it but a win is a win and like Kurt himself said, "We may not of had the best car or deserved to win but the record books will still say Kurt Busch won The Lennox Industrial Tools 301."

The best cars don't always win. That's just a fact in NASCAR racing. I am a firm believer that nobody deserves to win more than somebody else, you have to earn your finishes. Kurt Busch did just that.

After starting 26th he ran around between 11th and 20th or so all day. The number 2 car as well as a few other cars pitted when most of the field stayed out which put the cars who pitted in position to make it the distance on fuel.

The cautions fell where they fell putting the leaders back in the running order and next thing you know number 2 is leading and it's raining and the caution is out, the cars are brought down pit road, and soon there after called due to the rain...Kurt Busch is the winner!

As a race fan...yes...I would of liked to have seen a green flag finish because I do actually think Kurt could of pulled it off under green. The first car from the lead pack group was Denny Hamlin in eighth. In fewer than 20 laps, eighth to first is hard to do.

The fact is that these races can be won from on top of the pit box and with a little luck. Kurt Busch had good strategy and luck on his side and he won and no matter who it is, not just my favorite driver, those wins in the rain and on fuel mileage and other strategy are legitimate. Just look at Dale Jr. at Michigan or Jeff Gordon at Pocono last year.

As a Kurt Busch fan it was just great to see something good happen because the number 2 car has had such a dismal year excluding the Daytona 500. I will be putting back frosty Miller Lites well into the night celebrating. Way to go Kurt and everyone on the number 2 car!

Cup Series: Can't Help But Pull for the Good Guys

Kody Lancaster — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 05:33:37 -0400

I am not a big Kasey Kahne fan. I am not going to go out and buy a BUD t-shirt or hat, but I can't help but be happy for him when he does well or wins like he did in this past weekend's Pocono 500. The same goes for a few other drivers in the Sprint Cup Series who I just can't help pull for.

Drivers like Bobby Labonte, David Ragan, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Elliott Sadler, Travis Kvapil, Jamie McMurray, and Jeff Burton are just the good ole boys in my opinion. There are many Kevin Harvick fans out there but I bet even they were just a little upset to see Mark Martin beaten the way he was in the 2007 Daytona 500!

How about David Ragan? This guy has really come on this season. David tore up more cars than I can count last season, but even after those accidents he always had a positive attitude about the car or what they were going to do the next week.

Even if he was down on himself or the team, he never let it show. Now this season he is running great and that same positive attitude has teamed up with confidence—don't be surprised when you see David Ragan pulling into victory lane for the first time this season.

I don't know about you, but I think what Travis Kvapil and that blank sponsor-less number 28 is doing this season is great! They are not leading a lot of laps or finishing top-5 every week, but they seem to put together a solid run every time they go to the racetrack and to be doing what they are doing without a sponsor is awesome!

Travis and Rates Racing are in the top-20 and beating cars that come from well funded teams and sponsors. And how can you not feel bad for Greg Biffle? Now I know Greg has had some great runs and finishes these past few weeks, but think what could of been in those weeks? Take away the bad luck and the 16 could have probably won 3 races already.

DARLINGTON! Oh my gosh I wanted to cry for him. He had the best car by far and to have the luck he did is almost like getting punched in the stomach! Greg Biffle is due and soon and its not just because I am a huge Greg Biffle fan but it will be a feel good story when the Greg brings his number 16 Ford in to victory lane.

When I saw that J.J. Yeley would not be in the field for the Pocono 500 my heart when out to him. I know because of J.J. going home Terry Labonte got to race in the 45 replacing Kyle Petty, but if Terry would have not been in that car J.J. would of made the field.

Don't get me wrong. Terry Labonte is a great champion and one of the good guys in this sport, but I gotta be honest; I would of rather seen J.J. I know this is a results business but I wanted to see Yeley in the field to get a chance to put himself back in the top-35.

I guess what I am trying to say is that there are more drivers in the Cup Series than just JR, Gordon, Stewart, and Johnson. I am not a fan of those drivers and I don't have a problem with people cheering for them, I just wish people would realize that are some great guys in this sport who get overlooked.