Live from our Southern Tour 2012

[Dan Bennett]

Originally Posted by Jared Jordan

So if enough of us beg, will someone that's there be kind enough to post qualifying sheets?

I haven't talked to anyone on the scene, but it sure sounds like no one is able to get a reliable signal at the track.

DRC reporters use the track's connection if possible, but all also carry a wireless card to use if there's a problem. The kicker is that the wireless cards don't have universal coverage, either. In addition, an ATT card might have no signal while a Verizon gets a weak one. And no, DRC isn't on a business model where they can afford reporters being supplied with all the carriers' different cards.

Once, in the deep south, I worked a race where the track didn't have internet or at least one they wanted to share. My air card didn't have a signal. Somehow I managed to use my cell phone (different carrier than the air card) as a dial-up modem. Used up a bunch of minutes, but the job got done.

According to the DRC message, later today there should be qualifying sheets posted at the very least. From having been in that situation, I'd imagine that the reporter knows he has a good signal back at the motel. So while the racers party and the rest of us fidget for results, someone has a very long night typing in all the details.

I'm as frustrated as the rest of you since this is one of the races I really look forward to every year. The thing is, I guarantee you the reporter on site is frustrated even more.