Subscribe to this blog's feed« Look Into My Crystal Ball | Main | King Of The Mountain; Mike Skinner »
March 19, 2007
Quick Takes on Atlanta
By Keith Ott
I have to send a heartfelt apology to the folks in Fontana. Compared to Atlanta, the California track was filled to the brim. The stands were so devoid of fans that I actually checked the TV menu to see if I hadn’t put the Busch re-run on. It was never mentioned in the booth, which was a shame. The racing was so poor it could have been the big story of the day.
Speaking of racing, did anyone see any? After 450 miles of saving their stuff, as the booth pointed out all afternoon, I guess they forgot where they put it. Everyone except Johnson, that is. He found his stuff and put it to good use.
The best quote of the day, hands down, goes to the NAPA commercial.
Waltrip: “Hey, Sammy, can ya turn down the amp a bit?”
Hagar: “Hey, you think you can drive a little faster?”
It’s good to see NAPA has a sense of humor. I wonder how long they’ll keep smiling.
And, lastly, them dang debris gremlins were as punctual as ever. Right when I was feeling the onset of a nap out they’d run onto the track. It’s probably just coincidental that the leader had about a 10sec lead and had almost lapped the field. Or, that some of the big names weren’t going to make it on fuel. Yep, probably just coincidental.
March 19, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
NAPA commercial
Some how I knew you would jump on this one. When I saw it you were the first person I thought of. He's is such a dork.
So the debris gremlins found the black device????
Posted by: Diane Sadler | Mar 19, 2007 8:59:06 AM
By good racing, do you mean crashing? Because there was only one of those, but those of us at the track saw good racing. I'm sure if it was like any other Sunday on TV you didn't see it. You probably saw the same 3 cars that were leading and not the ones further back passsing for position. I didn't see the debris on the last caution, but did for the others. I actually saw a piece of debris fly off of Kasey's car after he came out and they never cleaned that up.
Posted by: Kat | Mar 19, 2007 9:12:37 AM
Hey Keith,
Agree on the empty stands.
Disagree on the racing. I saw some good racing. Many "wrecks" that did not happen due to proffesional driving. They were haulin' butt.
It is a shame on the apparant "scripted" finish. Bunches the field, gets fuel and the 24 back on the lead lap.mmmmmmmmmmmm. It should be no surprise as it is nothing new.
Doing chores during breaks and cautions seemed to deflect my anger of the coverage. Did not see 3d, cool.
Since there weren't as many cautions we still get unwanted info and grapics during green flag racing. The window net, geez gimmie a break. ha.
Overall, an acceptable presentation.
I would like to see a change from the tv sponsors. Make the race an event "presented by" instead of interrupted by.
Posted by: Larry | Mar 19, 2007 10:26:43 AM
Keith, we part company again. I thought this was a decent enough race. Watching Stewart, Gordon, and Johnson fight their way to the lead at various times was entertaining. Montoya put on a good show, as did my man in the 31, fighting up from 32d to finish 4th. Sometimes these races just unfold at a leisurely pace, and you need to watch the flow evolve over 10 or 20 laps.
The TV guys don't seem to care about the phantom cautions. They should go to NASCAR and demand to be clued in as to where the debris is so they can show it on TV.
And on behalf of those of us who go to Fontana, your apology is accepted. What stunned me is that there were some very good seats that were empty, not just the front ten rows that are often vacant.
Posted by: Doug | Mar 19, 2007 10:56:55 AM
I wonder if the empty stands (and lower TV ratings) have anything to do with debris on the track. 48 could not have won with out the debris???? on the track. Why watch a race when it always seems that the yellow just seems to fly when it is best for certain teams. Drive the track, protect your tires, fuel issues, none of that mattered, the yellow flys just as 48's crew tells him he doesn't have enough fuel to finish. Interesting 48 also drove the rubber off his tires, how many spots would he have lost if stayed green?
Posted by: Doug | Mar 19, 2007 11:19:49 AM
Fellow Doug, you're probably right, but the 20 and 48 were the class of the field yesterday, and it was totally fine that it came down to those two, regardless of fishy circumstances. And I don't think the yellow was thrown to help anyone in particular; rather, it was to bunch the field in hopes of a side-by-side finish. Hey, you like side-by side finishes? Try the NHRA.
I'd like to see one of the networks ask NASCAR for permission to do a live broadcast from race control some day so we can listen in as the phantom debris is reported.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Mar 19, 2007 12:13:34 PM
Doug, I couldn't agree more. If Nascar isn't careful they will lose what they have built. They are getting a little to big for their briches if you ask me. They are forgetting about the fans. These "debris" cautions that are thrown are getting out of control. Some will say they do this to make it more exciting for the fans. How insulting is that, to think we are that stupid to think we aren't on to how deliberate these cautions are getting. Whether your a fan of certain drivers it supposely benefits or not. While I believe Nascar can't control who actually wins these races, they are on the other hand contolling the outcome by making "shoot-outs". This isn't a natural progression of a sport. That would be like if the NFL started penalizing a team that was leading 27-10 in the fourth qtr to help the losing team catch up to make the game more exciting. While the NFL wouldn't be helping the team with 10 points win, they would be giving them a shot at the win. Jimmie Johnson did have a great car but at the end so did Tony and without that "debris" caution, the natural progression of the race, Tony would have won that race, presuming he had enough fuel. Seeing if guys could make it on fuel and who couldn't would have been cool but thanks to Nascar that didn't happen all in the name of giving us what we want!
Posted by: Julie Anderson | Mar 19, 2007 12:18:19 PM
Anyone could have predicted the race winner before it even started. After all didn't he carry the sponsor of the race.
Posted by: Smoke020 | Mar 19, 2007 12:53:07 PM
I called the debris caution yesterday. We are all getting used to it and I am growing very tired of it. Kat probably put it best. There was probably a ton of good racing but the TV guys don't think we care about what goes on in the midle to back of the pack.
Posted by: Mark | Mar 19, 2007 12:56:40 PM
FYI, Stewart was one lap short on fuel, they said it on the radio. Johnson was just as close. Would have been funny to see everyone run out of gas. But, please look back at it, Johnson acutally lost a position on pit road because of the caution that he had to make back up on the track. Clearly he had the better car. My only gripe is why didn't the go one more lap of caution to get a single file restart. It would have been more exciting.
Posted by: Michael | Mar 19, 2007 1:53:07 PM
My biggest disappointment with the racing was indeed the scripted caution at the end. I think the potential fuel drama would have been great. I liked the Busch initiative, long since discontinued, where they actually refrained from throwing the caution. The racers raced like men (or very tough women)and NASCAR treated 'em that way. Now, NASCAR, has set the caution standard so low it's like watching Girl Scout Troop 42 out there. Uh, Oh looks like a candy wrapper in turn2. Somebody's gonna trip on that. Better throw the flag. Jack Bauer needs to control the caution flag. There'd have to be a major part, human or car, on the track before he'd even look for it.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 19, 2007 2:30:30 PM
Mark,
If this was still Vegas, I'd be betting that the races without a caution, during the last 10, could be counted on one hand. For the tie-breaker I'd bet on at least 10 GWC's
Posted by: Keith | Mar 19, 2007 2:34:01 PM
Hi, my name is Doug (The Doug's Anonymous's greeting)...Both, Dougs touched on a interesting point. Why isn't "Race Control" specifying where the debris is? And, why haven't we seen inside race control? Here's my answer to that:
1) NASCAR probably sees the debris from the TV footage. The networks are choosing not to show us that it's all fake and just a ploy to get more commercials in.
2) Race Control, itself, most likely consists of 5 guys watching a plasma TV eating chicken wings. Probably watching the March Madness games last Sunday.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 19, 2007 2:47:46 PM
Oh come on, Keith! Dave Despain has a little "ghost graphic" on Wind Tunnel bearing the words "phantom caution." He knows it's a joke, the drivers know it's a joke, but the networks just sorta decide to ignore the whole thing and not show us the debris? Then the networks are either deeper in Nascar's pocket than I thought, or they are simply lame.
As far as race control is concerned, someone made a quick decision not throw yellow at Daytona. You can argue that call one way or the other, but someone made the call. Who was it? Can we watch and hear this person during a race?
Posted by: Doug in CA | Mar 19, 2007 2:55:53 PM
Keith
As per instruction's I recieved from my higher up's I wanted you and your peoples to know that "nano" technology is gonna be used at Bristol this week.
All flags but the green and red (we do not want to see anyone seriously injured) will be treated with a special spray so that when waved they will all be green.
Also for the faint of heart drivers a glock 9mm is in each pit so they can end their day by shooting their car.
A special camera is going to stay on the 42 car, cause ain't no way he will like Bristol
Keep up the good work my freind
and thanks for watching 24
Jack
Posted by: Jack Bauer | Mar 19, 2007 3:04:56 PM
NOW THAT IS SOME FLIPPIN' FUNNY CHIT!!!!
That bit is ALMOST as good as Mikey getting dissed by Sammy Hagar.
Posted by: Mark | Mar 19, 2007 4:47:23 PM
I think Mikey should let Sammy drive the car. Do you really think he could do any worse?
Posted by: jeff | Mar 19, 2007 5:49:55 PM
Jeff,
I think I should drive the car. My Vette got slammed and I know I can drive faster than Mikey.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 19, 2007 5:59:00 PM
But could you really go from a Vette to a lowly Toyota? I'd have to say no thanks myself, slap them 55 decals on my Pinto Wagon and I will keep DJ company in the back of the pack.
Posted by: jeff | Mar 19, 2007 8:23:09 PM
If I understand correctly #5 (bud) is still looking for sponsorship for his Kia, and he is willing to paint it blue.
If he does, I want a job in the booth so I can say
"Boogaty Boogaty Boogaty"
Posted by: Trucker | Mar 20, 2007 9:22:25 AM
I watched Inside Nextel Cup last night (on tape) and thought it interesting that at least one of the drivers said he didn't have a big problem with NASCAR throwing a yellow to bunch the field. I think it was Biffle. That's sad. If the drivers don't get ticked off when NASCAR manipulates races, why should NASCAR listen to us? On top of that, NONE of the three seemed to make any serious claim that there really WAS debris. And two of them were actually there!
Speaking of that show, you gotta love Schrader. I admit to being a Waltrip fan, and those two have a great schtick going on that show.
Posted by: Doug in CA | Mar 20, 2007 3:58:15 PM
Doug in CA, I didn't really watch the Cup race in Atlanta, I was focusing on the NCAA tourney, so can't comment on what Keith and others wrote about the race.
But I did listen to Sirius NASCAR channel 128 Monday and heard the numerous callers discussing the debris caution with less that 20 to go.
And I also watched Inside Nextel Cup. As you stated: ".....none of the three seemed to make any serious claim that there really WAS debris."
Biffle mentioned he saw a spring rubber early in the race when a caution was displayed, but it was still there when the green was waved. Leave it to Kenny to reason that NASCAR probably left it there "just in case they needed it."
I love Schrader so much, I named a cat after him. I'm a Waltrip fan too, although no cats named after Darrell or Michael. And yes, Kenny and Michael do "have a great schtick going on that show."
Thanks for supporting a couple of my favorites, even if it was on Keith's blog. ;-)
Posted by: Shirley | Mar 21, 2007 1:55:30 PM
Post a comment
Advertisements
