The Diary Of A TV-Watching NASCAR Writer

alan4s shared this great piece by Jeff Gluck on FB.

Dear Diary,

Hi. Remember me? The last time we communicated, I was in third grade. I wrote to you about learning cursive in school. But you never wrote back. That hurt, so I gave up.

Anyway, after watching Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on FOX, I felt like writing to you again. You see, Mrs. Diary (Or is it Miss? Not trying to pry into your personal life; just asking), I have a job now that allows me to attend the vast majority of NASCAR races in person.

But there are some races I skip, and the Kansas Speedway race was the first one I've watched from home this season. I assume you didn't watch it – since diaries don't have eyes – so I wanted to let you know what the experience was like. You've always been a good listener, so here goes.

Overall, watching the race at home reminded me how I'm spoiled by being able to see it with my own eyes on a weekly basis. At the track, I control my own viewing destiny; at home, the race director in a TV truck shows me what he thinks is important.

Unfortunately, the race director also has to show me ~~a few~~ lots of commercials. I know that's how NASCAR broadcasts have always been – and it's the same whether it's FOX, TNT or ESPN – but being subjected to commercials during live action feels like the most frustrating experience a viewer can have.

It's like watching a movie and getting into the story, but then someone blindfolds you and mutes the sound for a few minutes – right in the middle of it! Except during NASCAR races, the images and sounds of the race are replaced by annoying AT&T ads about things being so 29 seconds ago.

Really? I'll tell you what was so 29 seconds ago: The race for the lead we just missed while the broadcast was showing an AT&T commercial!

Now, I know commercials interrupting NASCAR races are nothing new. But here's what I found troublesome about FOX's broadcast in particular: For three hours, everything seemed like a commercial – even during the race.

Read the rest....

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by J.R. Sands on April 23, 2012 at 8:16pm

Thanks WJM and Alan...It's just a shame that the whole thing has gotten to where it's at.

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Permalink Reply by Vlad Rogers on April 23, 2012 at 8:25pm

I cant believe the heavy metal music they play. Dont get me wrong, Im a rock guitarist, but dang, when I started watching NASCAR in the mid 90s, it was all country music and a down home feel.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on April 23, 2012 at 8:49pm

please read the article to completion.

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Permalink Reply by alan4s on April 23, 2012 at 8:57pm

I think all NASCAR reporters should be required to watch the TV coverage at least a couple of times each year, and comment on their experience.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Martinez on April 23, 2012 at 9:11pm

That's why you should use MRN. It is your own fault and your own fault alone if you do not put in the time and effort to locate an MRN feed. Myself was treated to a link by one of our members one time that I did not know about (thank you unknown member) and was spared----my AM radio was being a bitch---- and was spared the talking heads. I will not be a blow hard told ya so I'll simply say that complaining when there is a choice (for those at home) is not...no....does not paint you in an intelligent light..../p>

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Permalink Reply by WJM on April 23, 2012 at 10:30pm

I listen to MRN also but I can't change what is presented on screen. The only way to skip the broadcast drivel is to Tivo the race and wait two hours before watching but that blows the idea of listening to MRN (or participating in chat.) It shouldn't be this hard to simply enjoy a race.

F1 may not be the most exciting to watch at times but Varsha, Hobbs, and Matchett are outstanding at making even the most boring parade interesting. Even the old ESPN SpeedWorld NASCAR coverage back in the '80's and early 90's was ten times better than the non-stop Sham-Wow production we have now.

I'm unitelligent. Paint me.

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Permalink Reply by GTX - HEMI on May 2, 2012 at 12:03pm

Where is Johnny Hayes when you need him..................

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Permalink Reply by Wheaton56 on April 23, 2012 at 10:46pm

One fix DVR...
This may sound dumb, and I probably do fit into the never satisfied generation, needed to be occupied every 3.2 seconds.
But I dont waste my Time anymore watching comercials.

Now I can sit down at my leisure, and watch all 20-30 min of a race, yawn as needed, and see what I deem necessary to see. Its better for my kids and personal life and work that i do it this way. Also,with crying babies and things to do every day this is my new way of watching....and best of all I don't have to listen to DW blabber anymore.

Now...ill prob sit down through the entire road races and whatever race I feel like watching.
Now going to a race is a different story,but 1000s like me, can't drive 100s of miles to a race each year.

Besides, watching the races without RG is boring anyways, and I only care about where my fantasy drivers finished....well because there is money involved with that pool

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Permalink Reply by mj on April 23, 2012 at 11:05pm

Yet another reason it's called NASCRAP . It's nothing but a giant commercial for all the corporate assholes that have ruined it . The day WINSTON got booted was the pebble that started the snowball then Dale Sr died and that snowball became an avalanche cause they lost so many of the diehard fans . They did the only thing they could do SELL OUT to those fans and TRY to bring in new ones . Only problem is the new fans attention span is about 10 mins tops so what do they do to capitalize on that SHOW Another COMMERCIAL ! Pretty soon you wind up with more commercial than you do race . And that my friends is today's NASCRAP

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Smith on April 23, 2012 at 10:53pm

Why should anyone expect anything else with a Fox broadcast? Fox TV and radio are both about as über fucked up as anything can get. Nothing else I can add.