ESPN/NHRA drop the ball again!

Lew Silverman · 02-20-2012, 04:50 PM

I had a chance to watch both the NHRA Full Throttle and Lucas Oil Sportsman coverage on ESPN this past weekend. No real surprises here, you either like the format/coverage or you don't. It's the only "game" on basic cable!

Two things that happened DID kind of bother me, and I felt the need to vent, so here goes -

During the hour-long coverage of the TAD/TAFC racing at Pomona an interview was conducted with Mr. Forrest Lucas, a man who I have great admiration and respect for. The gist of the interview was that Sportsman racing was very important because it was the "backbone of racing" and most of the Pro's started as Sportsman racers. I got the feeling from watching the interview that Mr. Lucas is very passionate about his love of Sportsman drag racing! I just wish his concern for the Sportsman racer equated into more coverage because at the end of the program they only showed about 45 seconds of the Class finals held on Monday. (More airtime was afforded the NHRA Jr. Dragster program!)

Then during the sign-off, I heard Dave Reiff and Bob Frey say that the next show would be in March from the Gator's. I thought for a second and realized, HEY, they're not running TAD/TAFC at Phoenix, so no Lucas Oil show next week! And that's when I got mad!

Here is a PERFECT opportunity to provide a national platform for the REAL "backbone of drag racing", and they're not taking advantage of it! One hour of air-time during the year when it would be possible to high-light the other classes of Sportsman drag racing, instead of the maybe 25 minutes we'll get ALL YEAR! How much more expensive would one more show be? The advertising and promotion capabilities remain the same, we just focus on the much larger number of Sportsman racers who compete at NHRA National as well as Divisional events. Here was a PERFECT opportunity to introduce Sportsman Class drag racing to a national audience. They could have explained all the different classes, handicap starts and the other unique things about Sportsman Class racing. Is it so hard to believe that enough interest would be generated to make a program like this feasible? Lucas Oil is still the sponsor and benefactor for this production, which is why they still have their syndicated "On the Edge" programming featuring "little-guy" drag racing every so often.

Does this make sense to anyone else?

(The above comments are my opinion only and are not meant to demean or insult anyone)

NHRAFAN156 · 02-20-2012, 05:14 PM

I think one of the reasons they don't put the rest of the sportsmen classes is because most of the people at home have not clue about what goes on in ST,SS,COMR,SC,SG,. But they do understand what heads up racing is.I would love to more of all the other classes on TV. It really sucks because I sure allot of sportsmen racers would be in front of the TV to watch.

Bret Kepner · 02-20-2012, 07:28 PM

This is really a non-issue anymore, guys. Every run of Sunday eliminations in every class is live on ESPN3. What in the world do you WANT?

blkjack · 02-20-2012, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

This is really a non-issue anymore, guys. Every run of Sunday eliminations in every class is live on ESPN3. What in the world do you WANT?

Obviously.....ESPN4

RACER1530 · 02-20-2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

This is really a non-issue anymore, guys. Every run of Sunday eliminations in every class is live on ESPN3. What in the world do you WANT?

well you asked, ( not trying to be a smart *****)

It would be nice to have the track anouncer feed when the ESPN guys are not announcing.

Not that I am complaining, I love espn3!!!!!

I bet you know who to talk to about this. Thank's Ray

tommy d · 02-20-2012, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

This is really a non-issue anymore, guys. Every run of Sunday eliminations in every class is live on ESPN3. What in the world do you WANT?

I don't know but I'm sure its not giant mutant bunny rabbitts!

bobbyd6 · 02-21-2012, 08:30 AM

ESPN3 is not available everywhere!! I would pay/subscribe to it but cant even do that!!

Lew Silverman · 02-21-2012, 08:38 AM

I guess my main complaint was that here was an opportunity to showcase OUR Class racing to a wider audience than just US, and maybe, just maybe, get other folks to realize that there are other people in competition at these events, NOT just the Funny Cars and Dragsters. It appears that I might be only one who thinks this way.

Lew

Mike Fuller · 02-21-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bret Kepner

This is really a non-issue anymore, guys. Every run of Sunday eliminations in every class is live on ESPN3. What in the world do you WANT?

We tap in to the audiocast and HDMI the ESPN3 feed into the TV and watch it live. It's fairly enjoyable.

BKSG1198 · 02-21-2012, 09:07 AM

I've found out with the ESPN3 Coverage you need to have the NHRA Audio going at the same time. That's what I did most of the time last year. Only problem is that the ESPN 3 Coverage is delayed a bit so the Audio is about 5 seconds faster then the coverage so cars are at mid-track and you already know who won but, I'll take it.

02-20-2012, 04:50 PM	#1
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,435 Likes: 371 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	ESPN/NHRA drop the ball again! I had a chance to watch both the NHRA Full Throttle and Lucas Oil Sportsman coverage on ESPN this past weekend. No real surprises here, you either like the format/coverage or you don't. It's the only "game" on basic cable! Two things that happened DID kind of bother me, and I felt the need to vent, so here goes - During the hour-long coverage of the TAD/TAFC racing at Pomona an interview was conducted with Mr. Forrest Lucas, a man who I have great admiration and respect for. The gist of the interview was that Sportsman racing was very important because it was the "backbone of racing" and most of the Pro's started as Sportsman racers. I got the feeling from watching the interview that Mr. Lucas is very passionate about his love of Sportsman drag racing! I just wish his concern for the Sportsman racer equated into more coverage because at the end of the program they only showed about 45 seconds of the Class finals held on Monday. (More airtime was afforded the NHRA Jr. Dragster program!) Then during the sign-off, I heard Dave Reiff and Bob Frey say that the next show would be in March from the Gator's. I thought for a second and realized, HEY, they're not running TAD/TAFC at Phoenix, so no Lucas Oil show next week! And that's when I got mad! Here is a PERFECT opportunity to provide a national platform for the REAL "backbone of drag racing", and they're not taking advantage of it! One hour of air-time during the year when it would be possible to high-light the other classes of Sportsman drag racing, instead of the maybe 25 minutes we'll get ALL YEAR! How much more expensive would one more show be? The advertising and promotion capabilities remain the same, we just focus on the much larger number of Sportsman racers who compete at NHRA National as well as Divisional events. Here was a PERFECT opportunity to introduce Sportsman Class drag racing to a national audience. They could have explained all the different classes, handicap starts and the other unique things about Sportsman Class racing. Is it so hard to believe that enough interest would be generated to make a program like this feasible? Lucas Oil is still the sponsor and benefactor for this production, which is why they still have their syndicated "On the Edge" programming featuring "little-guy" drag racing every so often. Does this make sense to anyone else? (The above comments are my opinion only and are not meant to demean or insult anyone) __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

02-20-2012, 05:14 PM	#2
NHRAFAN156 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 60 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: ESPN/NHRA drop the ball again! I think one of the reasons they don't put the rest of the sportsmen classes is because most of the people at home have not clue about what goes on in ST,SS,COMR,SC,SG,. But they do understand what heads up racing is.I would love to more of all the other classes on TV. It really sucks because I sure allot of sportsmen racers would be in front of the TV to watch.

02-20-2012, 07:28 PM	#3
Bret Kepner Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Saint Louis, Missouri, USA Posts: 418 Likes: 1 Liked 11 Times in 2 Posts	Re: ESPN/NHRA drop the ball again! This is really a non-issue anymore, guys. Every run of Sunday eliminations in every class is live on ESPN3. What in the world do you WANT? __________________ Bret Kepner BRETKEPNER@Prodigy.net Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

02-21-2012, 08:30 AM	#7
bobbyd6 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cozad, Nebraska Posts: 312 Likes: 341 Liked 92 Times in 34 Posts	Re: ESPN/NHRA drop the ball again! ESPN3 is not available everywhere!! I would pay/subscribe to it but cant even do that!! __________________ Bobby Devine

02-21-2012, 08:38 AM	#8
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,435 Likes: 371 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: ESPN/NHRA drop the ball again! I guess my main complaint was that here was an opportunity to showcase OUR Class racing to a wider audience than just US, and maybe, just maybe, get other folks to realize that there are other people in competition at these events, NOT just the Funny Cars and Dragsters. It appears that I might be only one who thinks this way. Lew __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

02-21-2012, 09:07 AM	#10
BKSG1198 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vineland, NJ Posts: 2,622 Likes: 95 Liked 1,279 Times in 389 Posts	Re: ESPN/NHRA drop the ball again! I've found out with the ESPN3 Coverage you need to have the NHRA Audio going at the same time. That's what I did most of the time last year. Only problem is that the ESPN 3 Coverage is delayed a bit so the Audio is about 5 seconds faster then the coverage so cars are at mid-track and you already know who won but, I'll take it.