Today’s NBC broadcast of the final Nextel Cup Series race of the season really really pissed me off. And that’s putting it mildly. All they could talk about was Jimmie Johnson this and Jimmie Johnson that. I understand that the guy all but had the championship locked up before the race even started. But there are 42 other drivers out there on that track.

Martin Truex Jr made an awesome run during the green-white-checkers to end the race. He finished 2nd. And he lead laps earlier in the race. But could NBC be bothered to even talk to him? Hell no. The MRN broadcast interviewed him. Isn’t it customarily done that you interview at least the top 2 or 3 finishers. I guess someone should tell NBC that.

I was even so pissed, that I sent an email to NBC sports. I’m sure no one will even read it, but I felt the need to state my mind. And since I’m sure no one at NBC will care, I’m putting it up here (’cuz I can … it’s my blog … )

Subject: Comments on NASCAR coverage
To: nbcsports@nbcuni.com

To whom it may concern:

I just have to say how extremely upset I have been with the NASCAR coverage on NBC and TNT this season. I am extremely extremely upset about the Nextel Cup race coverage of the race on November 19, 2006 on NBC as well as the coverage of the Busch race on November 18, 2006.

Paul Menard finished 3rd in that race … he was the highest finishing NON-CUP driver in the race. Not only that, he finished 6th in points … again, the highest finishing NON-CUP driver. But TNT couldn’t even be bothered to interview him after the race. The MRN broadcast managed to interview him. Why couldn’t TNT.

And the same thing happened during the Nextel Cup race coverage. Martin Truex Jr finished 2nd after running strong all day long. But NBC couldn’t even be bothered to interview him. I understand that he wasn’t in the “Chase for the Championship”, but he did FINISH 2ND in the race. Again, MRN managed to interview him. NBC interviewed Jeff Gordon who wasn’t even a factor in the race and he didn’t even have a chance to win the Cup.

I guess I’m not surprised. The coverage by NBC and TNT the entire second half of the season has been extremely sub-par … and that’s putting it mildly. Unless you’re one of the limited number of drivers, you don’t bother talking about them. And you wonder why interest in the sport is waning. It’s because of the very poor coverage.

I’m sure this email either won’t be read or will fall on deaf ears. But I had to say my piece.

A VERY disappointed fan,
Becky XXXXXX
Fargo, ND

I’m watching NASCAR Victory Lane on the Speed Channel right now HOPING that they’ll have an interview with Martin. But I’m not holding my breath.

I’ll get down off my soapbox now. It doesn’t do any good to get all worked up over this anyways.

Mood: bitchy   NASCAR Victory Lane

My god! NBC/TNT usually shows a ton of commercials, but it’s getting riduculous today. I swear … I’ve seen more commercials than I have race today. This is TALLADEGA, for crying out loud. I wanna see the damn race. Thank goodness the race is on the radio, ‘cuz I’m getting more info from that than from the TV. I’m half tempted to leave the TV on mute for the entire race and just listen to the radio.

I know that I’m not the only fan who feels this way. Over on the PitBoard, they feel the same.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Dale Jr has a flat tire. Damn! And he was running so good today.

UPDATE - 3:17pm
I think I panicked too early. The rest of the field pitted not too long after Dale Jr had to come in for the tire. Maybe everything will be okay.

UPDATE - 3:35pm
Dale Jr ended up going a lap down due to the flat tire, but not any more. Debris caution just came out and Dale Jr is back on the lead lap. Lucky Dog baby!! The rest of the field better look out. Dale Jr’s got a pretty stout car today. Hopefully no more tire issues for the rest of the race (or any other mechanical issues).

Mood: bitchy   NASCAR race at Talladega

Today’s race is at Talladega. That is good news for my boyz …

The only thing I’m worried about is “The Big One“. I don’t wanna see ANY cars upsidedown … even the drives that I don’t like. It’s not good when cars go upside down. I’m hoping for a clean race … a good race … and one where my boyz finish 1 - 2- 3!!

Gotta go. Green flag. Boogity, boogity, boogity!!!!

Mood: anxious   NASCAR race at Talladega

I am in HEAVEN tonite. All of my favorite drivers are on tv. I’m watching Trackside on the Speed Channel. Paul Menard was on earlier. Martin Truex Jr is on right now. And Scott Riggs is gonna be on later. ALL 3 of ‘em on the same show … and they’re talking to them for more than 30 seconds. And later, Dale Jr is gonna be on QVC’s For Race Fans Only. I don’t know if I can handle much more …

I need to go back and plop myself back in front of the tv and drool some more …

Man I love my employer. And I’m being sincere here, not sarcastic. We have ‘Fun Hour’ on Fridays. Well, today they let everyone leave at 4pm instead of doing ‘Fun Hour’. They’ve done it for the past couple of weeks. So … I’m at home right now.

And since I’m at home right now, I’m watching Cup qualifying on tv. Woohoo!! And it’s live … not tape delayed.

But it’s just not the same as it could have been. Obviously I didn’t win the NASCAR race tickets last Friday. You probably would have HEARD me if I had. But oh well. Lisa and I had fun at the game. But I will say this … baseball is so damn slow paced. I’ll take NASCAR any day.

So … instead of being in Daytona watching the race live, I’ll be sitting on my couch. But I did stop and get some beer (Bud Light of course) to consume tonite and tomorrow nite watching the races. I’m going to order a pizza for supper too (I got paid yesterday … ). I’m half tempted to order it now. I’m STARVING. I guess the tuna salad I had for dinner wasn’t enough. I guess I could make a turkey sandwich to tide me over.

I’m gonna go watch qualifying now. And think of how much fun Lisa and I could have been having if I had won those tickets … we could have kidnapped Martin Truex Jr (after he won the Busch race of course) and Casey Mears … Martin for me and Casey for Lisa. THAT would have been fun. Of course, we would have returned them before next weekend’s race. Don’t wanna keep them from running races …

Mood: hungry

The Coca Cola 600 was a marathon of a race tonite. Yeah … it’s the longest race of the year … 100 miles longer than any other. But add in 22 cautions and 1 red flag … and it was a real doozie. Pre-race started at 4pm and the race didn’t get over ’til just after 10pm.

And talk about a rollercoaster of emotions. Martin Truex Jr brought out the first caution after he hit the wall. Dale Jr was falling backwards through the field. Dale Jr went a lap down and Martin almost did. Martin managed to get back on the lead lap and then Dale Jr did not too long after that. Dale Jr managed to get back in to the top 10 and then he forgot how to drive for a moment. He ran into Michael Waltrip on the straightway … talking Mike out as well as himself and Matt Kenseth and Terry Labonte. Let me say … I was not happy with him at that moment. Not only did he knock himself out of the top 10 … he knocked himself back to 15th in the points. Don’t get me wrong … I’m mad at Jr … but I’m still a fan of his. I’ll still be cheering him on next week and the week after that and …

On the upside … Martin finished 7th. Woohoo!!! He came back from adversity early in the race for an awesome finish. He definitely showed that he’s capable of running with the Cup boys. I hope that shuts up some of the people who last week said he had no business being in the All-Star race. Sure … he isn’t running all the Cup races this year … but it was NASCAR’s rules that made him eligible for it. HIS fans voted him in. It wasn’t because of Dale Jr that he got voted in. Martin has quite a fan base himself. I know … I’m a member of the message board on his official web site.

I am STILL wired after that race. And it’s been over for a hour and a half. I’m glad I don’t have to work tomorrow. It’s gonna be a while before I get to bed. I think I need to go crash on the couch and watch the rerun of CSI that’s on CBS right now.

Mood: indescribable

OMG … I can’t stop laughing. I found the NASCAR IMAX Movie on DVD at Walmart today. I just put it in. The beginning of that is fuckin’ hilarious. Lisa … you’re gonna love it …

It starts out like it was back in the moonshine runnin’ days. A car is being chased by the cops. In the car being chased … Jimmie Johnson is driving and Ryan Newman is the passenger. In the cop car (who doesn’t catch the other car), Mike Helton is driving.

I gotta go watch this. I really wish I could have seen it in an actual IMAX theater. But the nearest one is in the Cities, and that’s too far to go just to see a movie.

Mood: giggly

Finally … the 2005 racing season starts tonite. The pre-race for the Bud Shootout is in about 20 min. I can’t wait. I’ve got my bracelet all ready to go. And I won’t be on the computer once the race starts … silly superstition … Can’t wait to see Dale Jr back on the track. And TrackPass from NASCAR.com is free this weekend, so I can listen to the in-car audio. I only use it when it’s a free preview of it. I’m not gonna pay the outrageous prince they charge for it … especially when I read so many people having issues with it. Honestly, I hate NASCAR.com, but where else am I going to get my NASCAR updates. They really need to make their site more user-friendly.

Oooo … it’s down to about 15 minutes now … (do I really type that slow? no … just getting distracted by the tv … LOL). Better go get ready for the race.

Mood: ecstatic

As you may know … I’m a major NASCAR freak (mainly Dale Jr). When I first saw Cledus T. Judd’s video “I Love NASCAR”, I freaked. That song is PERFECT for me. I ran across a link to the full video online once but lost it. I just found it again. If you’re a NASCAR freak like me and haven’t seen it (or even if you have … it’s great) … check it out …

“I Love NASCAR” by Cledus T. Judd

Perfect timing for Happy Hour at Bristol and then the Busch Series race. Woohoo!

[P.S. It doesn’t wanna work in Firefox 0.9.1, so you’ll probably have to use IE … grrrr]

Mood: excited

If you’ve been a regular reader of my site or know me at all, then you know I’m a HUGE racing fanatic. I started watching about midway thru the 2000 season (Dale Jr’s rookie season). I don’t think there’s been a season since I started watching where I didn’t complain about the broadcast for one reason or another. Both FOX and NBC have ticked me off. Too many commercials … showing only the leader when there are no other cars around him … stupid and annoying announcers … the list goes on and on.

I found this article on a message board and just found it way too funny not to post here (might as well … I posted it on my Dale Jr site and my Chance 2 site and on Harold’s board … gotta spread the funny … ).
Read the rest of this entry »

Mood: silly