Sports Coverage -- It's all About Celebrity Gossip Now

We posted a blog about Tiger Woods' downfall this weekend. It was commentary about Tiger Woods and his downfall not intended to be coverage of the Bridgestone Invitational. Still, are we guilty of getting into the cult of personalities?  Probably so.

What was more alarming was this evening's coverage on ESPN SportsCenter. While giving the PGA event top level coverage, the coverage was devoted almost exclusively to Tiger Woods' agony including a very broken looking Woods asked to account for his failings at the end of his play. That one of his shots hit a spectator and Woods responded by autographing one of his gloves and giving the fan the ball in play along with some splish-splashes, oops, how'd that get there shots, and lots of camera on a wincing, grimacing golfer continued to drive the story. The next big story line was devoted to Phil Mickelson, #2 in waiting, who likewise had a miserable day.

So didn't someone win the tournament? Did he or did he not face some competition in the back nine. It would be hard to know watching the Nation's premier sportscast. For the record, Hunter Mahan finished #1, 12 shots under par, a $1.4 million pay day. Ryan Palmer finished second, -10, taking home $840,000. How strange it is the fellow who finished tied for next to last in 78th place got all the attention. For his efforts, Tiger Woods took home $35,500, twenty strokes over par.

Following this precedent, should not ESPN spend most of Baseball Tonight's coverage following the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Next week, the tour moves on to the 4th major, the PGA. Could this please be about the competition for the lead and not the on-going soap opera about the former champ in disgrace?  Are we that sadistic we like seeing someone so miserable? 

Note to ESPN, we understand Tiger's mighty roar has been reduced to scared kitten's "mew," but there are dozens of other golfers whose story deserves to be told. Note to TNT and CBS, cover the golf not the soap opera. Let the cameras take us to Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin for GOLF!!!

Chris Berman -- Don't Encourage Him, Please!!!

The National Football League announced Chris Berman as recipient of the Pete Rozelle award, an award designed to enshrine significant contributors to the sport of football other than players, coaches, and owners. Most of the recipients are journalists and broadcasters.

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From this writer's perspective, Berman is a blowhard's blowhard, a bag of hot gas hell-bent on self-infatuation who perhaps had some value in the early days of ESPN but has long worn out his welcome.

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His football credentials consist of anchoring ESPN's Sunday morning pre-game show, ESPN NFL Countdown, and post game programming Sunday nights. Few presentations in sports broadcasting are more annoying than Berman's boorish highlight segmens complete with highly predictable schtick where Berman employs a variety of annoying and sophomoric routines from singing "tra-la's" to the tune of "If Only I Had a Brain" from the "Wizard of Oz," to his screams and "wappa-wappas," and his signature, "He....could....go....all....the.....waaaayyyyy!" Not a Berman orginal, that call goes to Howard Cosell. What's more annoying than his high pitched screams of "WHOOP!"?

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He's also been a major part of ESPN baseball coverage too. Naturally, when covering homeruns, his signature call is, "It....could....go...all...the....waaayyy!" Add to that something stolen from legendary broadcaster, Red Barber, he also calls homeruns with a call of, "back, back, back, back....!" (quite annoying) He also became well known for his bizarre player nicknames like Eddie "let's eat, drink, and be" Murray, Bert "be home by eleven," for Bert Blyleven, Brady "bunch" Anderson, Doyle "brandy" Alexander, Mike "enough" Aldretti, Barry "savings" Bonds, "Hey You Get Off of" Mike Cloud and John "I am not a" Kruk. HAR-HAR-HAR Another Bermanism features his uncanny ability to slip in bizarre cross references to rock n roll songs. To be fair when ESPN first launched in 1979 for the first few years, Berman was a fun character with a refreshing approach to presenting sports but as time went by his work showed no professional growth as he became increasingly more self-absorbed and tedious.

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Surely, there must be a loyal audience for Berman's frat-boy wannabe insanity. Almost certainly, the more alcohol one consumes and the less one appreciates the nuances of sports, the more appealing the Berman Blowhard might appear.

Tony Kornheiser's Not So Excellent Two Weeks Off

Tony Kornheiser has done it again. ESPN suspended him, this time for two weeks, for his smart assed comment about Sports Center anchor, Hannah Storm. The acerbic dean of sarcasm quipped:

“I know she's very good, and I'm not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won't. But Hannah Storm, come on now! Stop! What are you doing?"

"She's got on red go-go boots and a Catholic-school plaid skirt. Way too short for somebody in her 40s - or maybe early 50s by now. She's got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body,"

Sports talk radio is all about expressing opinions which is exactly what Kornheiser did. While his remarks aren’t exactly noble, they are far less demeaning than those in the mainstream media on a daily basis. How is this worse, for instance, than David Letterman’s comment about Sarah Palin’s daughter being knocked up by Alex Rodriguez. Letterman was not suspended. Consider the stuff that is regular chatter from guys like Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann. They’re still going strong like the Energizer Bunny.

Tony Kornheiser’s remarks were not made while on ESPN’s nationally broadcast program, “Pardon the Interruption.” It was on an ESPN affiliate in Washington DC for a local show that is syndicated elsewhere.

Looking at pictures from Hannah Storm’s Sports Center broadcast, it’s surely not the kind of outfit dignified professional ladies would wear, but certainly is not necessarily out of bounds for a sports program. It’s certainly more campy and quirky than pushing the lines for too sexy, but her outfit almost certainly was one that would invite comments.

So what’s going on here? Is ESPN being insanely politically correct?

If so, get over it. Others might find some of Chris Berman’s nonsense offensive. For people who are easily offended, scouring EPSN’s transcripts would almost certainly bug somebody.

Is it that Kornheiser dared to badmouth another ESPN personality?

If so on that count, there’s lots of crazy banter that probably approaches this level of nonsense pretty regularly.

Is ESPN management trying to make an example out of Kornheiser?

If so, what’s the example? What’s the message?

ESPN over the last three decades has become an indispensible institution in virtually all sports fans lives. When they stick to sports, they generally do quite well though some of their personalities can be boorish and annoying. There isn’t a big jerk in our book than Chris Berman. We used to appreciate Linda Cohn tremendously, but in recent years she’s started talking in a very exaggerated New York Jewish accent that at times sounds like it’s derogatory but perhaps because she is Jewish, she gets some license. Her act has become annoying and tasteless leaving the viewer to wonder what the accent is all about.

While we’re at, haven’t some of their docudramas been a joke and guilty of terrible stereotyping?

Surely Tony Kornheiser fans will flock to his defense. Hannah Storm fans will flock to her. Surely many ESPN viewers appreciate both of them. ESPN released the following statement through its Executive Vice President, John Skipper:

“Tony Kornheiser's comments about Hannah Storm were entirely inappropriate. Hurtful and personal comments such as these are not acceptable and have significant consequences."

Oh come on now. Hannah Storm is a big girl. Can we not expect her to have a sense of responsibility and accept that provocative attire provokes comment? We’ve seen nothing to suggest she’s reacted in any controversial way toward Kornheiser’s comments. She just continues to do her job and do it well. If she wants to have a little fun with how she dresses.

We’re looking for some clincher to wrap this up, but there’s not much more we can say about Kornheiser other than “boys will be boys” for better or worse and this wasn’t that bad.

For more, read the following article:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2010/02/23/2010-02-23_espn_supsends_kornheiser_for_storm_comments.html#ixzz0gUcJrIKG

Tony k. We'll Miss You

It might be sacrilegious for a Baltimore sports fan to say this for his occasional barbs at Crab City sports, but we will miss Tony Kornheiser on Monday Night Football. We agree with him a lot of the time, disagree with him frequently, and are left just saying, HUH??" many times, but Tony is a very knowledgeable fellow not afraid to express his opinion with a dry sense of humor. He's a true original, not a dull-witted pretty boy who is glib with the stats. His daily show with Michael Wilbon, Pardon the Interruption, is aways entertaining, a great transition from the working day into the evening.

As Tony would say, "Good night, Canada!"

ESPN Does It Again -- Shills for Obama

CORPORATE MEDIA'S BIAS GONE WILD: ESPN SUCKS UP TO OBAMA AGAIN

Would someone tell the bigshots at ESPN, a lot of us are tuning in to ESPN more than we would otherwise because we DON'T want to see all the Obama garbage from the DNC convention. If ESPN is going to go into this business, what are John McCain's sporting interests even if it's croquet. I don't ever recall a story about President Bush and his love for baseball or experience as a Texas Rangers owner.

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Hooray, hoorah, Stuart Scott interviewed the chosen one, to reveal that Doctor J. was his boyhood favorite player and if he were picking an athlete as a running mate, he'd pick "a Chicago guy"... Walter Payton or Michael Jordan. If the White Sox played the Cubs in the World Series, he'd support the White Sox. He even took a little bit of a swing at Cubs fans!!! More proof the guy's a world class ass!

That ESPN has now gone from their weekly magazine as a blatant attempt to promote Obama with a feel good story to now putting him front and center on SportsCenter shows just how far the infotainment community is going to promote the worst major candidate for President easily since George Wallace, who ran as an independent in 1968.

Supposedly Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen will be a big part of the Invesco Field specticle on Friday.

ESPN should be ashamed of themselves for shamelessly promoting Obama, free advertising with no attempt to put the story of his persona in any perspective. It's an adoring fan piece just like something dedicated to a retiring athlete or up and coming star. Well, it was ESPN who unleased Keith Olbermann, the worst person in the wooooorrrrlllddd on us, and if there's a blowhard on the planet who could rival Joe Biden, it could be, it might be, it is -- Chris Berman!!!

ENOUGH ALREADY.

NASCAR: Bristol, Small Tennessee Town Inivtes 160,000 for Saturday Night Party!

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ATTENTION RACE FANS: Are You Ready for Some Serious Fun? Two Nights Under the Lights at Bristol

Here it is, summer’s fading fast but one of its great last hoorahs is NASCAR weekend in Thunder Valley, Bristol, Tennessee, right where I-81 crosses into Tennessee from Virginia, where enough fans to fill three Yankee stadiums will pack the small, bowl-like short track, one of the most unique and wildly competitive venues on the entire schedule.

The Craftsman truck series ran last night, and BOO-HISS, Kyle Busch, BOO-HISS, won another one. It would be one thing if the Shrub were just so darned good, he dominated everything, but he just has a horrible way of getting under everyone else’s skin like the eternal neighborhood punk that nothing short of a two-by-four with a spike through the end for a good whack would seem adequate rewards. The kid needs to learn how to win graciously. Even some of T.O.’s and Chad Johnson’s end zone antics aren’t as irritating as this rising star’s antics. This commentator doesn’t have much use for burn-outs at the end of races, got it?

We can’t look forward to this weekend’s activities without one ugly bit of unfinished business, the Joe Gibbs Racing penalties after as yet unidentified crew members installed magnetic stents that would inhibit full accelerator response that would lower post race dynamometer test results. This is serious business, intentional interference with the NASCAR inspection process. It’s bad to not pass the tests. It’s far worse to screw around with the tests. As such both JGR Busch teams are in the hot seat for the rest of the year. First, both teams are stripped of 150 drivers and owners’ points, the crew chiefs and engine tuners are suspended for the rest of the year, both teams are on probation through the end of the calendar year, and significant fines assessed. Neither team owner, Joe Gibbs nor his son, JGR President, J.D. Gibbs, are offering any excuses of defense for the action. They are contrite accepting absolute responsibility and promising severe in house sanctions as well. Joe Gibbs has long been known for his squeaky clean image but also a guy who is a ferocious smart competitor who will maximize every benefit available to him to win with in the rules. Given the extent to which the JGR Toyota program has dominated Nationwide competition this year, these infractions are particularly noteworthy. They also cast shadows over the Saturday series racing for Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, and star of the future, phenom, Joey Logono. This kid’s rising star reminds fans of what Kyle Busch has just recently accomplished by so far Logono exhibits charm, tact and maturity for such a young talent.

Some quick news setting the stage for this weekend’s big races: Reed Sorenson’s crew chief, Donnie Wingo, car #41, was fined $25,000 for an improperly attached weight. Do these guys ever learn or are they just so ignorant of specifics that NASCAR will not allow any hanky-panks with their new Car of Tomorrow set-up. It’s much more like the old IROC series than stock car racing of yesteryear. Aside from a few cosmetics and the engine packages, all cars, Chevy, Dodge, Ford, and Toyota are essentially the same. Don’t mess with the package or else.

Ken Schrader whose been missing in action from all NASCAR prime series for a few weeks will be racing the #96 Hall of Fame racing entry. Welcome back Kenny! Sam Hornish, #77 Dodge, will have a new chief barking on the radio at the Saturday night demolition derby. Penske racing announced Travis Geisler is in; Chris Carrier is out. Geisler was team engineer for the #12 Daytona 500 winner. Aric Almirola, not Mark Martin will race the #8 US Army DEI entry.

Getting ready for Cup action, 47 cars will be looking to squeeze into the 43 car field. The #21 Motorcraft Ford slips in #21 using Bill Elliot with a Past Champion’s provisional in play to secure a spot for the free-falling Wood Brothers operation, (oops, failed to note “legendary” Wood Brothers, sorry. –ed.) Here’s the “go or go home gang,” the nervous numbers include: #45, Kyle Petty making his first race appearance in weeks. Does anyone suspect the investors in Petty Enterprises are suggesting the pony-tailed errant prince retires for the broadcasting profession where he seems to be such a natural? #08 finds Johnny Sauter racing the John Carter Dodge. In the #66, Scott Riggs races the State Water Heater around the track with a Chevy bow-tie on board. #84 finds A.J. Allmendinger in the Red Bull Toyota, a team that’s starting to really gel. Hall of Fame racing is studying for the future as it hopes its #96 car makes the show with veteran driver, Ken Schrader as previously noted, #78 is Joe Nemechek a good qualifier but no so fortunate race in the Furniture Row Chevy. In the #00 Mike Skinner attempts to stabilize the floundering Michael Waltrip Toyota effort. For an open wheel guy attempting to mature in his NASCAR rookie season, Patrick Carpentier in the #10 Valvoline Dodge encounters an experience that has no parallel in any IRL racing. The #70 team is in lame duck status awaiting the dynamic duo of Stewart and Newman next season limiting the #70 with Tony Raines a Pizza Delivery for Haas Racing. #34 finds Jeff Green resurfacing as he attempts to go “Front Row” in a Chevy. Wow look at this, #09 Sterling Marlin attempts for a stunning comeback performance in the James Finch Chevrolet, and finally in #50 Stanton Barrett races the NOS Energy Drink Chevy for Chris Lencheski.

We’ll be focused on the chase to get in the Chase, but here’s the scary underside of the competition, 99 points separate position 29, the DEI #01 car from position 35, Haas racing’s #66 only 13 points ahead the possible “go home gang” with the up and coming #84 Red Bull ride whose recent run of success makes them look more and more likely to secure a top 35 spot. The following cars are all in this bunch, #41 (Sorenson), 7 (Robby Gordon), 22 (Blaney), 55 (Mikey), and 77 (Hornish).

The quietest part of the owner standings are positions #15 to #28 where only a series of incredible calamities would knock them from the top 35 but on the upside, the chances of chase action are essentially impossible. Drivers and crew chiefs in this zone are fighting for new contracts or to keep their jobs, but the action is not as frantic as what’s going on at the top and bottom of the pile.

The stage is set for an all out explosion of flying fenders, twisted steel, and shattered fiberglass with shreds of rubber everywhere as 43 drivers take the green flag where only a fortunate few will be around to see checkers. In the past, NASCAR fans used to speak of short track specialists like Rusty Wallace and Darrell Waltrip, but more recently the drivers who dominate Richmond, Martinsville, and Bristol vary significantly, and truthfully, the racing challenges are quite different between the three shortest tracks. In the spring Bristol race, Kurt Busch has been the dominant driver with Jeff Burton winning in the spring; however, the Saturday night brawl has found Jack Roush drivers winning four out of the last five races, Matt Kenseth the last three.

This would be a great race for Kenseth to dominate. He is still right in the thick of the struggle with only a 74 margin securing his spot. Beneath him, Kasey Kahne and Denny Hamlin are in; David Ragan and Clint Bowyer are out with only a 47 point margin between moving closer to a final safe spot after Richmond or wait until next year for two competitors who wind up in 13th and 14th spot. Only pure hell would seem capable of knocking Tony Stewart or Greg Biffle from the chase at this point, but life is not so good for Kevin Harvick, 39 points ahead of Kenseth, thus 113 out of oblivion, and four time series champion, Jeff Gordon, is in even worse danger, 8 points ahead of Kenseth, 82 points from “see you later.”

Way up top, the show is all about Kyle Busch, 222 points ahead of Carl Edwards with 8 wins to Edwards’ 5. Only third place, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne have two victories. Only six other drivers have reached victory lane with Penske drivers Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman way out of Chase contention. 13 out 23 wins, 56% of the wins belong to two drivers, hardly as dominant as JGR in Nationwide, but still a dominant showing.

The smart money is on the Roush drivers to bring home to goods from the Sharpie 500. Carl Edwards is on a roll but recently Bristol has been teammate, Matt Kenseth’s track. Meanwhile, the top driver least likely to win most popular driver, already has a truck victory, Kyle Busch comes in hot off a truck victory.

Rest assured, the Bristol field quickly spreads out, lap traffic is everywhere, and races with in the race are everywhere to be found around the tiny half mile surface. The banging and slamming will destroy the fortunes of major competitors and cellar dwellers who will find the ladder out of the basement knocked out from under them. ESPN best have the seven second delay in good working order as tempers explode and some times fists fly as fast as speeding race cars. Still, this is fun racing. There’s no letup in the action from stop to finish. The instant a fan observes, “Gee, it’s been a long time since a caution.” BANG!! Trouble!!! Yellow flag, yellow, flag. Any lucky dogs out there?

The Friday night Nationwide Race is always a great opening act for the Saturday night demolition derby at half the length, it would be hard to say the Friday night fights bring half the excitement. A huge of dare devils, Nationwide regulars, and Sprint Cup invaders shows 24 Chevy’s, 9 Dodge’s, 12 Fords, 7 Toyotas filling 52 entries to make the 43 car field. Cup chase contenders: Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, David Ragan, Greg Biffle, and Denny Hamlin will use the event to warm up for Saturday night’s glory. While nine drivers will go home disappointed not even getting a starting spot before having to pack up and go home, it’s hard to imagine a no-name snatching the trophy. Betting money would best go to a driver with previous Bristol experience, probably a Cup regular. While there’s is no “Chase” for the Nationwide contenders, right now Clint Boyer leads Carl Edwards by 113 points with Brad Keselowski 132 points in arrears as Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s billion dollar baby and possibly a rich future ahead of him in Sprint Cup racing in 2011. Below those competitors, Mike Bliss (-359) and David Reutimann (-363) appear to be far out of championship expectations. A big factor as summer transitions to autumn in the Nationwide Series and even the Craftsman Truck Series is seeing what young drivers are emerging as possible competitors at the senior level as surely with the shuffling going on at the top level could provide opportunities for some fresh faces.

Come Sunday morning, while some will be boasting, other teams will be nursing bruised egos, twisted metal and broken dreams. It doesn’t get much better than this!

Gentlemen and Kyle Busch: Start your engines!!! Pit Crews: Inflate your tires!!!

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EPSN In the Tank for Obama

Are you still questioning me about the extent of media bias favoring Liberal points of view and their candidates?

ENOUGH ALREADY!

This is a sad day for real men in America, after all, ESPN is the lifeblood of the American male. Sure Chris Berman is a boorish blowhard and they did donate Keith Olbermann to the world, but what's not to love about sports 24x7 until they endorse the ultimate scourge to what manhood is all about when you look at the whimpy, whiny, America is bad, bad, bad mindset of Barrack almighty, media icon and Hollywood's hero.

There’s some stuff we might expect from Viacom on MTV “Rock the Boat,” HBO with the hip-socialist idiot Bill Mayer, or in all kinds of formats on NBC and its stations like MSNBC.

Now Disney, owner of ABC and ESPN is getting in the “Obama is Superman” on ESPN, the leader in sports broadcasting (so they say) with a softball segment on tonight’s E:60 with a sappy feel good story about Barack Obama and his special friendship with former Duke Blue Devil, Reggie Love. Love’s job essentially amounts to being a very high profile gopher for the pitiful excuse of a Presidential Candidate the Democrats are serving up this year.

The New York Times profiles Love’s job with the Obama campaign. See following link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/us/politics/27reggie.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

E:60 is ESPN’s sports world version of a hipper version of 60 Minutes, a news magazine focused primarily on sports while maintaining a Hollywood sense of social (ir)responsibility.

The networks are stopping at nothing to brainwash the public, even those apolitical guys who watch EPSN for SPORTS not MSNBC or CNN type soft news garbage. Give us a break.

Meanwhile as an avid ACC hoops fan, this will make routing for The North Carolina Tar Heels and Maryland Terps that much more satisfying next season. Those Cameron Crazies are a particularly obnoxious breed aren’t they?

Michigan Motor Madness

Carl Edwards Dominates Field at Michigan as Jack Roush Boys Finish 1, 3, 4, 5 and 10; "The Shrub" Finishes Second While Chase for the Chase Gets Even Crazier

Did someone say something about “getting back to normal” at Michigan this week? To the extent that there were none of the controversies or peculiarities of the last three races, the action for the 3M Performance 400 Presented by Bondo was devoid of gripes about the track, tires, and other “X” factors. The conditions were darned close to perfect, bright sunshine, moderate temperatures, and a relatively predictable racing surface. If normal means a typical Michigan kind of race, forget it!!!

First it was difficult day for the Hendricks racers as Jeff Gordon once again was having mechanical problems then suffered a race ending wreck. This dropped him from sixth in the point standings down to ninth only 82 points ahead of 13th place putting him right in the thick of those chasing for the Chase with now three races to go before everything gets settled after Rock n Roll hits the racetrack at Richmond on Saturday, September 6. Finishing 23rd, a lap down, did nothing to help right the ship for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the #88 team while Jimmie Johnson finished in 17th at the tail end of the lead lap not advancing his prospects either. Things did not go well for chaser, Denny Hamlin who blew an engine and his temper after the race dropping 3 spots down to 12th in the Chase standings. Kasey Kahne also had bad day at the office, likewise dropping three positions, down to 11th exploding his Dodge engine.

The happy fellows were Greg Biffle and “Happy” Harvick both gaining three positions while Matt Kenseth was outside looking in two weeks ago now sits in 10th gaining two spots in the standings. Feeding off the calamity of others in the Chase chase, a 12th place finish was good enough to elevate Tony Stewart one rank in the standings.

The competition in spots 13 and 14 remain exceptionally close. Clint Bowyer and David Ragan are tied just 26 points behind 12th place the infuriated unhappy Hamlin.

Here’s the full race data from NASCAR.COM.
Unofficial race results: http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008/data/standings_unofficial.html
Unofficial standings: http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008/23/data/results_unofficial.html

As a sad footnote to the results, Marcos Ambrose, a road racing specialist who dazzled the field last week at Watkins Glen finished in dead last for the #21 Wood Brothers, Little Debbie entry. For NASCAR history buffs the obliteration of the once legendary team that has fallen even deeper into obscurity this season. In the era of the super multicar teams with wealthy investors, this single car, family owned business is not even on life support when they don’t have Bill Elliot’s past champion provisionals available to gain a spot in the starting lineup. Though young Jon Wood is supposed to be the team’s future, it’s hard not to imagine the only other link besides the Petty’s to NASCAR’s early days isn’t soon headed down the path of Bud Moore and others who are now just legends in Motorsports museums. Without big investors, more technology, and a second team, the Wood Brothers unable to secure a spot in the top 35, their days are numbered.

Next Saturday night, it’s off to the Moonshine Mountains of northeastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, destination Bristol, “Thunder Valley,” Bristol Motor Speedway, the .533 mile oval with banking up to 30 degrees in the curves and a hard concrete surface with over 160,000 raving race fans looking on in what almost looks like a large college football stadium some have likened the action to being like watching jet fighters flying around inside a gymnasium. The formula is to take 43 bright shiny race cars, line ‘em up in qualifying order, toss them in a blender, set the switch for high, push the “on” button and stand back!!! Sheet metal crumbles, fiberglass flies, tempers erupt, and yellow flags fly like swing flags in a marching band. When the evening is over, NASCAR officials might be standing in the way of opposing drivers and crew members ready to show a little “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” action in. The drivers competing for the Chase could find the standings totally frapped. Post race reporters should receive hazardous duty pay from PRN, ESPN, and SPEED-TV. All is well. It’s just another end of August race in Sprint Cup racing.

What a show, however, this year the scramble in the standings after Michigan played out much like a Bristol race. Confusing? Nope, that’s racing, folks.

NASCAR's Nationwide Series: How Does Saturday Action Get the Best Traction?

The Nationwide Series: Edwards Wins Today in Michigan, Long Term - Many Questions About Series Future Persist

The NASCAR junior circuit, once the Grand Nationals, then the Busch series, has gone through quite a quirky evolution through the years. Since growing out of some older NASCAR series, what became the Nationwide series of today, began racing full time with Anheuser-Busch sponsorship. From 1982-1988, only Ford and GM cars competed, with Fords racing Fairmont and Thunderbird bodies and GM trying different platforms from large compacts to Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Cutlass, and Buick Century mid-sized cars. Different engine setups were employed as well. From 1989-2007, the “Saturday Series” was more or less the same as the Sunday Cup cars with a shorter wheelbase, 105” instead of 110”, engines were less powerful, initially V-6’s were used generating a distinctive Busch buzz sound, a higher pitched buzzing sound rather than the throaty roar of V-8 engines. In 1995, the series switched over to V-8’s creating even less distinction between the Saturday and Sunday rides for NASCAR competitors. In 2007, NASCAR began introducing its “Car of Tomorrow” on selected racetracks before going series wide in 2008. The Nationwide Cars continue to run on their old platforms with a Nationwide Car of Tomorrow in development, but the deployment date remains uncertain, perhaps 2010 at the earliest.

The Nationwide series has 35 points earning events with no exhibition races compared to Sprint Cup’s 36 points events, and two exhibitions, the Bud Shootout and Charlotte All-Star event. Twenty six of the Nationwide events are held as the Saturday event at the same track where a Cup race is being held elsewhere. Of the nine remaining, the late July event at O’Reilly Raceway in Indianapolis is held the same weekend as the Brickyard 400. The remaining events are a mixture of newer tracks that haven’t found a date on the Cup series such as Kentucky and Gateway (across the Mississippi River from St. Louis), established tracks, Nashville (2 events), Memphis, and the Milwaukee Mile, and an a road course race in Montreal. The Mexico City race will not be held next year. Its date will be reassigned to another facility. In times past, the Busch series had more of a short track orientation maintaining races at the historic Hickory track in North Carolina and also visiting South Boston, Virginia and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Another popular event was the Nazareth Speedway in Pennsylvania. Even NASCAR’s junior circuit was not immune to the lure of bigger markets and more geographic diversity.

In 2007, the Nationwide Series is a sporting event in search of an identity. Clearly, NASCAR’s two other major series, the Truck (in need of a naming sponsor) and Sprint Cup do. The Sprint Cup is the major leagues, the big show, the grand enchilada. The truck series has fewer races tagged on as an introduction to a Cup race. Its drivers consist of a blend of veterans either at the end of their career or who never really broke through at the higher levels and a field of young drivers coming up from ARCA and the regional series as their first step toward bigger and better things. Through the mid-90’s, ironically about the same time the Craftsman Truck Series began, that was pretty much the character of the Busch series though there were more Cup series drivers crossing over to Busch than currently participate in truck events.

Up until the mid-90’s, the Busch series drivers were mostly regulars who competed every week with separate ownership from the Cup series. Some teams were owned by Cup series drivers dabbling in the management side of racing and having a shop from which they could compete on Saturdays in select events. Other ownership groups were not quite rich enough to be prime time players in cup racing. The series also allowed room for quite a number of open spots where occasional competitors from all around the racing planet from small budget operations to participants who primarily fought in other series would attempt to qualify for a handful of races. In the mid-90’s, the big boys started to come to play. Childress and Roush provided full-time entries not just a seat for their regulars when they wanted some of that Saturday money. Racers like Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt used to own their Saturday ride, but Dale Earnhardt had bigger things in mind. While focusing his racing energy exclusively on Winston Cup events, he maintained his Busch operation as a dominant force running for the series championship with a pathway to running as regular Sunday drivers. First Steve Park piloted the #3 car on Saturdays becoming the first DEI Cup series driver in the #1 car. Then DEI’s fortunes went wild when Earnhardt the next generation started is show. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won back-to-back championships before graduating to the #8 Budweiser car on Sundays.

Deeper into the 1990’s into the new decade, big money and big ownership started to snatch up starting spots in Busch racing where certain drivers and teams were considered “developmental” teams for future Cup series fortunes. Increasingly, for a period of time, one year’s Busch champion would be the top prospect for Rookie of the Year the following year. In recent years, a handful of Sprint Cup drivers have committed to run all events in both series shuttling back and forth by private jet to race in one city on Saturday and another venue on Sunday. At times it became necessary to employ surrogates for qualifying and practice. The last two championships, Kevin Harvick in 2006 and Carl Edwards last year, were won by drivers competing full time in both series. Both drivers were also “Chase” competitors in the Cup series. This year, Cup regular, Clint Bowyer maintains a commanding lead for this year’s championship. Not only have the top spots been dominated by Cup regulars, but the phenomenon of what was called Busch-whacking until the sponsors changed, Cup series drivers seeking fortune on Saturday has taken more and more top spots away from series regulars. Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, David Ragan, David Reutimann, Jeff Burton, Kasey Kahne, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have all raced competitively in Nationwide events this year, while Bowyer (#1), Edwards (#3), Reutimann (#4) Ragan (#5) not only enjoy top five spots, they also have raced in every event. Kyle Busch has missed three races, but has two wins and 12 top ten finishes in the 7th points position. Only Hendricks-Earnhardt entry, Brad Keselowski in 2nd place is the only regular non-Cup driver in the hunt.

Confused? Yeah!!! What is the Nationwide series all about? The bottom line is having Sprint Cup drivers in the starting grid sells tickets. Fans are attracted to familiar racers who have a good shot at winning. From another perspective, it’s another one of those rich get richer while the rest roll their pennies. Another look at the top five, by owners reveals: Childress, Hendricks, Roush, Michael Waltrip Racing, Roush, all Cup series owners. Fourteen of the top 43 spots in points are owned by Cup series owners or drivers. How does this give owners and drivers with no Sprint Cup connection a shot at the title much less victories in individual events. With Carl Edwards winning today’s event at Michigan, 19 out of 25 events show Cup regulars in victory lane. Four more races were won by Cup owners. More startling, Joe Gibbs racing owns 14 victories between the #20 and #18 cars. Only three races were from Nationwide Series owners, Tad Geschickter, 2 wins, and Todd Braun, 1 win. Of the owners with the most top 10 finishes, nine of the top ten are Cup owners or drivers, Earnhardt Jr. (with Hendricks support) #4 and Delana Harvick #9. From an owners’ standpoint, they’re putting in all that investment only to be 10th in top 10 finishes with only three trips to victory lane?

With the economics of the sport being what it is today, fewer companies willing to invest in a product fewer fans can afford to attend with a lucrative television contract for ESPN to cover all the races, mostly on ESPN2 with a few races on ESPN and ABC, what leeway does NASCAR have to tinker with the series’ format? Manufacturers want top name drivers with big sponsorships to provide maximum exposure for their racing efforts. Fans relate to drivers they know. Track owners, mostly ISC (the France Family) and SMI (Bruton Smith) are looking for the best draw to put fannies in seats. These realities heavily favor the present situation with Cup owners and drivers dominating the field, but at what cost?

Trouble could be on the horizon. Lesser teams struggle to find sponsorship. Events are finding it tougher and tougher to fill out the complete 43 car field. Were NASCAR to reduce the field to a smaller number like the truck series, the situation could only worsen for the Nationwide only drivers who might not make the field. On a weekly basis, money comes from winning and placing high in the standings. At the end of the year, the championship and top ten teams earn the big bucks. Where do sponsors and owners look to get a return for their investment when the top spots are locked down by Sprint Cup Series regulars.

What are the options? As discussed above, limiting Cup teams with the current schedule and format looks dangerous. What’s left? One possibility is to attempt to open up more markets for big NASCAR events. Where are there other tracks that would draw fans and sponsorship where some of the dates parallel to Sprint Cup events could be relocated? Hello Rockingham, North Carolina! It’s doubtful the series would return to small tracks it has abandoned like South Boston or Hickory. The Iowa speedway Rusty Wallace owns is an attractive venue and could replace the Mexico date. Looking at the ARCA series, for instance, there aren’t suitable tracks up to NASCAR standards where ARCA isn’t racing already. Likewise, IRL events don’t offer much hope. The tracks in the United States and Canada that would be suitable for NASCAR have already been put on the schedule unless NASCAR were to consider something bold like a street race. Now that’s a concept! That’s something completely different from anything NASCAR currently does and could help create a unique identity for the Saturday racers. NASCAR could tinker with the race format attempting different ways to stage the race rather than making Nationwide events just shorter versions of the Sprint Cup events.

Regardless, by any measure, the Nationwide Series is the nation’s second most popular form of motorsports second only to Sprint Cup, but it’s not a healthy sport. There too many issues nipping at its heels to assure long term viability. Some will go away once the economy stabilizes. In the meantime, tight dollars and expensive travel expenses makes it harder and harder to attract fans in the stands.

WATKINS GLEN: Aftermath

#18 M&M Ride Wins

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Q--What does a peanut M&M have in common with Kyle Busch's helmet???

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A--Both have a hard shell covering a real nut.

The trips to Sears Point and Watkins Glen are always an interesting diversion during the long Sprint Cup season. Some fans argue, "This ain't NASCAR racin'" and would eliminate these events. Many fans would cherish more NASCAR on the road. For live racing, these tracks aren't the best place to watch a race especially at Watkins Glen that doesn't have the advantage of elevation at Infineon Motor Speedway. Fans can only see a small segment of the race and if not near the start/finish line, it's pretty confusing. Still, many fans believe there should be a road race during the chase. There are some fine road courses that could house a Cup event.

This year's venture to Watkins Glen started off like gang busters as the big three from the Hendricks garage did everything they could do to contain Joe Gibbs' brat. Likewise, Tony Stewart was coming on like this race could finally make him the boss with the hot sauce at a track he has dominated in recent years. Early on, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmy Johnson went roaring past the M&M's bag with Jeff Gordon making that Dupont logo look huge in the 18 car's rear view mirror.

What could have been Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s day, perhaps his first win at a road course went down the drain as some of his other failures this year have. Pit stops never benefited #88 all day, but late in the race where one additional pit stop would be required, a yellow flag stop would have burried Earnhardt deep in the field. ESPN's cameras showed crew chief, Tony Eury Jr. calling Dale Jr. to pit. He did not heed the call, the yellow flag fell, and Junior was buried deep in the field, finishing in 22nd position dropping him from 2nd in the points standing to 4th. While Dale Earnhardt Jr. is almost guaranteed a spot in the chase, championship hopes don't look as sharp when a contender stumbles into the chase.

Aside for #88 fans' hurt feelings, there was a much bigger disaster on the Upstate New York track. Drivers David Gilliland (#28) and Michael McDowell (#00) engaged in vicious automotive rough-housing leading to circumstances that got out of hand when the #00 rear ended the #28 causing on of the most vicious multi-car smash ups ever seen outside of Talladega or Daytona "big ones." The heavy, stable new cars were flying about like Frisbees as some actually leaped in the air. This lap 83 crash lead to a lengthy red flag to collect debris and repair barriers. Veteran good guy, Bobby Labonte riding in the King's #43, was rushed to a near by hospital for attention. While this accident ended the day for the drivers mentioned plus Dave Blaney, Sam Hornish Jr., Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Max Papis, Reed Sorenson, and Michael Waltrip, ten cars in all. McDowell and Gilliland were summoned to the "Oval Office" for a frank exchange of views on road racing technique, when to engage the accelerator and brake pedals, and surely some anger management theory.

The Tasmanian devil appeared in a NASCAR sanctioned fire suit driving the #21 Wood Brothers Ford as Marcose Ambrose, the South Pacific sensation stated in the back of the field to finish a convincing third with only Tony Stewart (2nd) and Kyle Busch ahead of him.

Aside from the drivers collected in the wreck and possibly Little E's misfortune, the biggest loser of the day had to be Ryan Newman who faced numerous late race issues including a car that had trouble staying fired up even having to be pushed to the pits by teammate Sam Hornish. Clint Bowyer dropped a spot putting him one place beneath a chase seeding, 22 points below Kenseth. David Ragan remained in 14th but lost by increasing his points deficit, 89 points out of the Chase.

While Baby Busch and and Ambrose were the big winners of the day, Carl Edwards can celebrate ascending into 2nd place in the standings and Jimmie Johnson moves up to 3rd as a result of Junior's jinx. Tony Stewart gained two places in the standings up to #7 only ten points behind Jeff Gordon who had a miserable day but held his 5th spot.

Now it's on to Michigan, with Bristol and California ahead before the Chase shakedown at Richmond. How ironic, the guys race on two almost identical tracks, California's design copying Michigan two tracks based largely on fuel economy and pit strategy, but sandwiched in between is the ultimate change of scenery, short track madness at its best, the annual Saturday Night Slugfest in Thunder valley.

Has the picture of who gets in the chase gotten any clearer than it was last Monday?

CREW CHIEFS: Make sure your boys INFLATE YOUR TIRES!!

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On To Watkins Glen

The NASCAR Sprint Cup racers invade Watkins Glen for their second of two road course races of the season. The configuration for Watkins Glen is radically different from Infineon Motor Speedway where they raced in June. Some rides will feature different drivers and a couple other drivers not usually involved in regular cup events will attempt to qualify as the road racing "specialists" mix in with series regulars.

UPDATE: Qualifying Rained Out -- Starting Lineup Determined by Owner's Points

Brian Sino and Boris Said knocked out of field unable to qualify; Said will command the #45 Petty Enterprises ride.-

The road racing "ringers" driving on Sunday find themselves down toward the bottom of the pile beginning with the 32nd spot, pilotted by Ron Fellows in car #01, for DEI. The most noteworthy development of this week's driver's shuffle will have P. J. Jones starting 38th in car# 96 for Jeff Mourad's Hall of Fame Racing. In the midst of an operation-wide shake up, J.J. Yeley has been dismissed from the team. Nationwide series regular, Brad Coleman, will man the #96 team for the rest of the season. Max Papis nearly scrapes bottom starting 42nd behind the wheel of the #70 Haas Racing Chevrolet. The "legendary*" Wood Brothers round out the field with Marcose Ambrose and his thunder from down under manning the controls of the #21 Ford.
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Since road course racing format is so radically different from conventional oval formats, some drivers are known particularly as road racing experts, these include Jeff Gordon, Robby Gordon, Tony Stewart, Mark Martin. Tony Stewart has won four out of six races at the Glen since 2002. Mark Martin won three consecutive years, 1993-95. Jeff Gordon owns four Watkins Glen victories, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2001. Other active drivers with Watkins Glen victories are -- Kevin Harvick, 2006; Robby Gordon, 2003; Kyle Petty, 1992, and Terry Labonte, 1987 and 1991.
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The road course race is one of the most unpredictable events as the "race for the chase" intensifies. Only Bristol upcoming at month's end is more notorious for scrambling the finishing order as its high banks and short track bumps and grinds becomes a demolition derby. The role of the road racing specialists filling in for series regulars will be to finish as high in the standings as possible to gain ground in locking down a spot in the top 35 in owner's points and the guaranteed spot in the starting lineup that assures. Meanwhile the tight battle to secure a space for the chase continues to intensify as positions 7 to 14 are separated by only 126 points. While Matt Kennseth in 13th spot is 11 points out of the chase and Roush-Fenway teammate is 46 points out. For any driver in this tight pack, a dreadful finish could make competing for championship honors a long shot as there will only be three more races: Michigan, Bristol, and California before the Saturday night Shootout at Richmond on September 6. In the remaining races, a carefully crafted strategy aimed at track position, avoiding getting caught back in the field and faulty pit stops, will divide the contenders from the also-rans. Six drivers will be racing for a shot at the championship; the other two will be left with nothing but glory for their fall competition.
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Track position is a particularly difficult game at road courses. Falling out of the lead lap spells certain doom and aggressive passing usually results in piles of metal being collected.
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How will points leader phenom, Kyle Busch, handle his #18 Toyota? Will he attempt to shoot for glory or play it safe as he's in a position where essentially things can only get worse given his position in the standings and lead in victories which also provide bonus points in establishing chase positioning? This weekend could be a tough weekend for Dale Earnhardt Jr. who has only two top fives and three top tens at Watkins Glen with an average finishing position of 20.6.
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Among the "crunch for the chase," those eight drivers trying to secure a spot in the championship run, based on past experience, this could be Tony Stewart's big day. Looking at the rest of the field, Kasey Kahne has never placed in the top ten with an average finish of 19.8 at the Glen. Greg Biffle has only one top ten and an alarming 30.2 average finish. It could be a happy day for Denny Hamlin who has 1 top five and 2 top tens with a fine average finish of 6 in upstate New York. Kevin Harvick with two top fives and four top tens averages a 12th spot at Watkins Glen, not bad! With very limited experience at the Glen, Clint Boyer has maintained an average finish of 15. Matt Kenseth, normally Mr. Consistency, shows no top fives and three top tens averaging 16.8 handling the right and left turns. Finally, David Ragan, a relative newcomer at Watkins Glen has only a dismal average finish of 32.0 to show for his efforts.
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The remaining three drivers looking like sure bets for the chase have done nothing to distinguish themselves nor would their history indicate any significant problems on the road course deep in Yankee territory.
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Here's the big thing to look for. The "crunch bunch" has to go all out to secure top ten spots. Remember last week, a normally respectable 11th place finish knocked Matt Kenseth out of the top 12 which would have been fatal at Richmond next month. The track position game is further complicated as the road racing "ringers" usually do their job where drivers like Marcos Ambrose, Ron Fellows, and Boris Said can easily sneak into the top 10 and regular Robby Gordon can come from deep in the pack on other races and score big time in this competition.
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Things are getting a little tense in the garage area as crew chiefs, engineers, crew members, and drivers look for every advantage from cars that NASCAR has restricted so thoroughly for a clever crew chief to employ even the most subtle little tweak. Microscopic measurements make huge differences and seconds last an eternity at the highest level, the elite, of American motorsports.
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Who's going to win? Keep an eye on Tony Stewart. He's long overdue for a victory, is a strong second half performer, and Watkins Glen has been very, very good for "Smoke" in recent years. Keep an eye on Gibbs teammate, Denny Hamlin. One more driver to keep an eye on would have to be Ol' "Happy" Harvick. Meanwhile, the Roush Fenway drivers and Kasey Kahne will have more than enough to handle to keep their chase prospects good.
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The competitors also could be racing the heavens as scattered thunderstorms with air temperature in the low 70's forecast up in New York's Finger Lake region.
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Gentlemen, start your engines AND DON'T FORGET TO INFLATE YOUR TIRES.

*Wood Brothers -- In attempting to establish his street credibility as a free lance sports commentator providing commentary on NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing, "RMF" felt he should adhere to the industry standard of using the term, legendary, when invoking the name of the long-standing historical team from Virginia. For all race fans who started following NASCAR since Jeff Gordon was a pup, Gordon's rookie season was two years after future Winston Cup Champion, Dale Jarrett, scored a dramatic victory in the #21 CITGO Ford banging fenders with Davey Allison in the #28 Havoline Ford for Robert Yates racing. Since then Michael Waltrip won a "Winston" and Morgan Shepherd and Elliot Sadler have wins too, don't they? if we talk of legend as meaning a really old legacy like the Twelve Labors of Hercules going back to Neil Bonnett, but before Neil there were some of the early heroes of the sport among them at various times included: Curtis Turner, Marvin Panch, Fireball Roberts, Parnelli Jones, Tiny Lund, Junior Johnson, Speedy Thompson, Fred Lorenzen, and Cale Yarborough. The Wood Brothers were creditted with inventing the modern pit stop even taking their talents to the Indy 500 and Formula I. The 1970's would be their glory decade, with David Pearson rivalry against the King proved to be one of the hottest rivalries in sports. The 1980's showed a sport in transition. Neil Bonnett started with the Brothers Wood then left returning late in decade with Buddy Baker and Kyle Petty driving for the team in between. It was Kyle's ride to success in NASCAR before moving to the Felix Sabates team. The elder Woods would move on leaving the team to younger Woods to run the operation. Meanwhile, NASCAR was becoming a sport dominated by big money and super teams as Hendricks, Yates, and Roush were in their infancy and starting to compete by the end of the decade. The 90's found the Wood Brothers stepping back from the sports elites. In 1990, Neil Bonnett sustained serious injuries that should have ended his career at Darlingon opening a seat for Dale Jarrett. A new breed of drivers were now coming into their prime as drivers, Terry Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Davey Allison, and Bill Elliot. The Dale Jarrett victory seemed like the old magic was back in August of 1991 only to lose Jarrett to the start-up venture of Joe Gibbs Racing that would in many ways become like a modern day Wood Brothers. For much of the 90's, the Wood Brothers would provide a great starting point for rising stars whether it was getting Michael Waltrip to take a checkered flag for the first time or introducing Elliot Sadler to the Cup level. The new millenium could appear to be the sunset on the famous operation. Instead of being the ride for where promising drivers would start, it has become a place for senior drivers like Ken Schrader, Ricky Rudd, and Bill Elliot driving the #21 car near the end of their lines. The future of the Wood Brothers appears to rest on the shoulders of favorite son, Jon Wood. There you have it, race fans, a brief history of one of NASCAR's greatest teams. As the geniuses behind the modern pit stop, be assured the "legendary" brothers would remind all race fans to remember to do something that if not attended to properly on the race track could see a car go flying into the wall, INFLATE YOUR TIRES.

Pocono Postmortem

Edwards Goes Head Over Heels Once Again Celebrating Victory

(photo from "That's Racin'" Charlotte Observer)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup racers headed to the Poconos, that great mystical moutainous land for honeymooners, and a real NASCAR race actually broke out. Given the horrible tire fiasco one week earlier at the Brickyard and all the whining about the Pennsylvania track including some negative comments from high profile drivers like Jeff Gordon amid speculation that Bruton Smith is ready to open his wallet to buy one or both of the Mid-Atlantic tracks to gain a date for his Kentucky track and possibly a second event in Vegas, the August Pocono race was the raciest event in the tranquil setting of Long Pond, PA in ages.

Each pit stop meant something where twelve drivers lead a lap and Mark Martin, a huge fan favorite looked poised to dominate the race early on leading the most laps before some pit crew errors ruined his day. Showing just how competative the "Race for the Chase" is, Matt Kennseth finished a respectable 11th but slipped back to 13th spot in the standings down two positions, 11 points back, and outside looking in were this the determining race at Richmond on what would normally look like a brilliant day for the Roush-Fenway team having the winning driver and all five cars in the top 13.

Despite ESPN's dreadful quick exit at the end of the race never giving the point standings as in "oh well, they're going to watch SportsCenter anyway" they at least had time to stuff a microphone in Tony Stewart's puss, who acted downright cheerful and friendly finishing second. Tony must have gotten all the vinegar out of his system after last week's USAC race that got him in hot water and $10,000 poorer for "faulty behavior" blasting officials for "playing God" on calling cautions. Kurt Busch haters were rewarded with a miserable performance from the brash overnight sensation who looked more like an over anxious rookie than a championship contender. Kasey Kahne and Kevin Harvick in addition to Stewart, Martin, and Edwards were racers who saw the greatest gain in the standings at race's end.

All in all, the second Pocono race was one of the most exciting races at the track in a long time where recently it has seemed like a handful of drivers have found the right setup and the rest of the teams struggle. NASCAR fans and press were anxious to pounce on anything wrong this weekend given how the Indy experience tested their patience the previous week. Even the rain delay was quick and ESPN's coverage was rather substantial and not the usual chit-chat to kill time during such events.

While watching the race and looking at the clock even prior to the rain delay, this fan couldn't help but thinking that calling the Coca Cola 600 the longest race in Charlotte might be a little bit of a misnomer. It would be interesting to check if the Pocono races take more time though the Charlotte event is 100 miles longer. If NASCAR's premier division is going to continue to peform on the "tricky triangle," the race should be shortened so there is high impact racing for the whole event. It's also not fair to the fans who generally have substantial drives home to Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Washington, and further on a Sunday night. The ESPN commentators discussed that one even suggesting they go as low as a 300K race which might be a little too short. Still, the expectation should be a race should finish in no more than 3 1/2 to 4 hours under normal circumstances. It's just asking too much of fans to be locked into race coverage from noon until after six allowing for the necessary pre and post race coverage. In truth, there was virtually no post race coverage yesterday anyway as ESPN wouldn't want to shorten either SportsCenter for fear of stepping on their anchor's shtick, hype for the X Games, whatever they are, the Brett Favre soap opera, and baseball. At times, ESPN appears overbooked as calamity would surely break lose if the end of a race conflicted with their Sunday Night Baseball. That should be less of a problem in the east as sunset approaches the 8;00 pm mark, but in September, the coverage moves to ABC, over the air, where the network showed an anxiousness to cut early for the sake of prime time programs.

There is little disagreement the Pocono races need to be shortened. Who benefits from the longer events? Fans surely have purchased all the race trinkets and t-shirts they can possibly carry by about 3:30 in the afternoon, leaving only the beer and food vendors benefitting. Given the extra time is dedicated to beer guzzling more than anything, the driving public and the Pennsylvania State Police would probably also benefit from shorter events. The downside of such a good race for this year's second trip to Pennsylvania will subdue some of that fervor that was getting quite loud after Pocono I in June.

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On to another race in Yankee territory next week as the NASCAR fellows descend upon Watkins Glen to test their skill at turning right a few times as they navigate the road course. The entry list should be available soon as road course ringers like Boris Said and Marcos Ambrose will compete against the regulars some who will be given the afternoon off in favor of these "specialists." As there was not much movement in and out of the crucial top 35, the "go or go home" competition becomes ever more intense as drivers need to please sponsors and start looking toward locking in a spot in next year's Daytona 500 and first five races. Yes, it's that time of year already.