Sunday, September 26, 2010

Live Blogging Sprint Cup Series From Dover (ESPN2/ESPN - 12PM ET)


Since the Chase races have moved to ESPN, this is another week where the NASCAR Countdown pre-race show will be on ESPN2 due to NFL programming. Then, the race coverage will remain on ESPN through the end of the event.

Allen Bestwick will host from the Infield Pit Studio with Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty alongside. These three will have an interesting hour to fill. The Harvick vs. Hamlin fireworks, the RCR penalties, the Dover race, the 2010 Chase and the race weather all have to be on the agenda. It should be interesting.

Marty Reid has been welcomed to NASCAR with some tough Sprint Cup Series races. These longer events have proven to be a challenge for this veteran motorsports play-by-play announcer. The fast and intense action of Dover with many caution periods and restarts should again be a challenge for Reid.

Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree have been a team on ESPN for several seasons. This year, they are again calling the practice, qualifying and races in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series. We'll see today just how much energy they bring to the table after working both series this weekend.

The regular crew of Jamie Little, Dave Burns, Vince Welch and Dr. Jerry Punch will be on pit road. Punch is by far the best of this bunch. Burns and Welch fly below the radar, but Little still has the habit of pushing things just a little too far.

Dover is one of the toughest tracks to cover for the TV team. Two bridges must be cut out of every single lap by the camera operators and the director. The accidents, often caused by blown tires, happen so fast it's almost pure luck to catch them.

In-car camera views must be quick because passing on this track takes place at the end of the straights and is always tricky. Overhead shots work well to show the two grooves and how tough it is to complete the pass once alongside. In the past, cautions have bred cautions even after a race full of long runs.

This post will serve to host your comments on the ESPN coverage of the Sprint Cup Series race from Dover. To add your TV-related opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind while posting. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.