A couple of days ago, you’ll recall I asked everyone for their opinions as to who they liked for broadcasting races. There were a lot of good answer pro and con.
Now it’s my turn. If I got a call from David Hill or some other TV network executive and he asked me to assemble a broadcast team using our current talent pool, this is what I’d do. Please keep in mind that this is in no way a slam on the people I passed over, this is just one guy’s opinion. As a radio broadcaster, I’d like to think it’s an informed opinion, but I have no illusions there will be disagreement.
Studio
Host- I want somebody who can really set up race. A knowledgeable broadcaster who has a sense of the moment. It has to be someone with a good voice and good delivery. He’d be one of a few that I’d re-assign from what he does presently- but I’d go with Dr. Jerry Punch from ESPN.
Co- host- Nothing against the retired crew chiefs and drivers who work the studios, but again, I want a professional broadcaster. I want someone who interacts well with others, a team player. Good chemistry with the co-host is a must. For this job, I’d hire FOX/SPEED reporter Krista Voda.
Co- host- The studio people set the tone. I want another broadcast professional with versatility and good people skills. Someone who can do interviews well and can work as a good “dance partner” with the other hosts. I really like Alan Bestwick from ESPN, and he’d be the number three person in the studio.
Feature Reporters
What I’m talking about here are the people who would prepare recorded pieces for the pre-race show. These folks would handle interviews and other elements of that nature.
There’s two people I like for this role:
Darrell Waltrip (FOX/SPEED). I know some critics will have a hard time with this, but you know what? Just as many people love him as people who don’t. As a former driver (and a pretty darn good one at that) he’s got the racer’s perspective. He can get away with asking questions others can’t or won’t. I also believe most drivers enjoy a good relationship with him.
Steve Byrnes (FOX/SPEED). I like his work. He’s just a steady guy who keeps his ego out of it, and again, a key for a good feature story is to have someone who has good rapport with the newsmakers, which I believe he does.
The Booth
Play-by-play (anchor)- Mike Joy (FOX), to me, is the best in the business. He’s experienced, a capable traffic cop to his partners and a true professional.I’ve done football and basketball play-by-play, but I think the most challenging has to be doing it for racing, because it is so fluid. You don’t have any time outs, you can’t really predict when something major is going to happen quite often until it does. It takes a real skill to juggle all that and sound professional.
Analyst- Dale Jarrett (ESPN). I’m banking on the notion Jarrett will emulate his father Ned and grow into that style of analyst who has substance over style. I also like the fact he has gravitas as a former champion, and also as a guy who’s raced today’s NASCAR.
Analyst- Kyle Petty (TNT). I wrestled with this a bit. With this line-up, you have the animated Petty as a complement to the buttoned-down Jarrett. Petty comes up with some clever ways to describe things out there, plus he does maybe that slight bent towards controversy once in a while.
The Pits
Dick Berggren- (FOX/SPEED). He has a very disarming approach with drivers that I think gives him better rapport. He doesn’t act like a reporter just trying to go out and stir the pot.
Wendy Venturini- (SPEED). She too has good rapport with the drivers. You’ll need to fall back on that when you have to approach one after a nasty wreck or mechanical failure.
Dave Burns- (ESPN). In the mix, you need a reporter who though business-like can also ask the tough, unpleasant question. He doesn’t flinch.
Tech Center Guy
Larry Mc Reynolds (FOX/SPEED/TNT)- Larry knows his stuff as a crew cheif to the likes of Earnhardt, Davey and Skinner and I believe he is generally pretty well accepted. He’s got a good sense of humor, and I think this is a role where you can have fun if you wanted to.
In my opinion every broadcast team in the business has it own strengths and weaknesses. If not for ESPN, I’m not sure we have the kind of TV coverage we have today, plus they do great studio shows and feature productions. In my estimation, TNT has a little bit of an old school charm to it. I believe FOX provides the best all-round race day coverage. I know many of you disagree, but for the reasons you do, I’ll just say I think there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that affects what you see.
Now what I’ve done here is combine what I think are some of the best elements from all of these networks. In reality- we have three doing the job- which in my mind is a far better alternative than only getting a partial schedule of coverage “back in the day.” My only real gripe is that at each network, you either have people miscast, broadcasters who do far better with other sports besides racing, or you even have a few people who just sound like they would really either be back on the track, covering some other event or hosting a TV game show.
Other than that, I give these folks credit doing a stressful job with a hectic schedule to meet the demands of the networks, the sponsors and a demanding audience to bring us all the action.
“Race Fan Ultimate” Give Away
iPhone and iPod Touch users, imagine having the latest NASCAR news, standings, race results and video available at your fingertips. The Race Fan Ultimate application is available now for your iPhone or iPod Touch. I’m not much of a techno geek, but I’ve had a chance to use the Race Fan Ultimate and found it quite easy to use and very handy. With this handy little application- everything NASCAR goes wherever you go.
Friday, May 22 at 9 pm Eastern, I will be making a “Fearless Forecast” for the Coca- Cola 600. The first 10 to comment with their own predictions on the Coca-Cola 600 will win a promo code that enables you to get this fun and functional application absolutely free!
Bump Drafts contributors and their families not eligible.
To learn more about the application, visit http://www.220software.com/2009/05/nascar-ultimate.html
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with most of what you have comiled here with one change. I would get rid of Mike Joy. Oftentimes it seems he is watching a different race than we are or he makes comments that are completely irrelevent. I like Alan Bestwick in this role. I would replace Alan with Jeff Hammond. I think he does a good job when he and Darrell and not together. I also like Jamie Little a little more than Krista Voda but both do an excellent job.
Solid choices, with a few exceptions I would agree. While any choices will, by nature be subjective.
I would NEVER, EVER, let anyone named Waltrip anyplace near a camera. That includes their other brother Darrell, who stayed in Owensborough to run the pool hall!
My host choice would be Dave Despain, as I feel he’s under worked.
Dr. Jerry, was a solid pit reporter, & probably still would be. I would only allow Dr. Dick, (Wow that sounds like a porno star, doesn’t it? )but, I digress, on camera, if he would agree to work W/O a hat. It worked for Willard Scott, it would work for him.
Kyle, & Dale are good choices. I think Kenny Schrader will be great. When someone is able to pry him out of a race car. I believe his sense of humor is dry, & genuine. Unlike Mikey’s which I think is a Sthick, for the camera.
I consider Steve Byrnes rapport with the drivers as nothing more than “sucking up to them”.
Instead of being objective, Darrell Waltrip has become a cheerleader in the booth. At times Darrell has some good moments but many of his predictions fall far short.
Larry Mac should do the show with Chad Knaus and nothing else.
Punch is very predictable. seems he is just waiting to talk about some drivers, the popular ones and favorites.
Mike Joy should stick to Barrett-Jackson.
There will in all likelihood never be a Jenkins-Ned Jarrett-Benny Parsons trio in the announcing booth again. At least they never attempted to cut each other off or tried one upmanship. They set a standard that the current clowns should try to emulate.
We need announcers that are objective and not afraid to go against the grain. Alot of time politcal correctness gets on people’s nerves. NASCAR has made some blunders and will continue to do so. Call them out on it instead of making excuses for them.
In closing, I think the economy is more responsible for the lower attendence at the tracks. The economy has very little to do with tv ratings. I think the reason the fans have left is that we see the same cast of characters just too much. Consequently you are hearing the same opinions over and over. Each NASCAR show should stand alone with a different crew.
It’s a shame but it is very doubtful that the fans that have turned their backs on the sport will return. In laymans terms they “blew it”.
Most of the retired race car drivers don’t belong there. Darrell Waltrip makes EVERYTHING about himself. He compares everything to when he raced and we all know how different the cars are today. Dale Jarrett can stay. And at the beginning of the race, I hit the mute button so I don’t have to listen to boogity, boogity, boogity. Now how sad is that?
Heres mine- Host- Allen bestwick Cohost-Dale Jarrett
Cohost- Dave Dispain
Tech Guy- Jeff hammond-
Booth-Mike Joy- Kyle Petty-Jimmy Spencer
Features – Jerry Punch- Steve Byrnes
Pits-Dick Berggren-Wendy Venturini-Krista Voda
I would like to find Matt Yocum a spot. He does great.
I also like the very tall reporter on Speed. He seems to asks questions and give information that the other reporters won’t. I just can’t remember his name. :(
John Roberts does a great job on RaceDay and keeps Kenny and Jimmie in check…at least as much as humanly possible!
Put Kyle Petty in the mix somewhere before “Back-Marker” Mikey Waltrip retires and gets the gig as the Fox Henhouse needs shaking up. The other networks are only minor players as the only person who stands out is Dale Jarrett who does a good credible job with ESPN. It’s bad enough watching 4 to 5 hours of really boring racing with the COT but to hear this active group of “Talking Heads” trying to “Hype” the racing along with their self-promotion of products such as Mikey Waltrip and Toyota. It will be great not having some form of Waltrip in our faces trying to sell something or themselves. I can only hope that all the “Talking Heads” quit drinking the France-Helton “Kool-Aid” and get with the program before they lose more viewership in the future. FOX should stick with their FOX NEWS motto of “FAIR & BALANCED” because it sure isn’t now!!(thank God for TIVO and DVR’s- That’s right Brian France, us “Old Schoolers” have found technology as we don’t waste 4-5 hours of our time watching your product live anymore as we “fast-forward” right through the self-promotion and most important-THE COMMERCIALS!!)
Old School & Proud Of IT!!!!!
In the booth I would like to try:
Mike Joy
Larry Mc
Kyle Petty
I think the first 2 would be able to do a much better job without having to contend with and balance out DW.
Marybeth
I have to agree with Alabove (#3 I think) – everyone is tired of the same ole group of characters. Personally I think Fox has killed me enjoying their time du to several reasons – the fist is the cameras. I remember early in NASCAR cameras followed the cars all the way aound the track and coiuld zoom in so close they didnt need pointers telling you which car was which. I think they should put in many more cameras or go back to the big camera with a telephoto lens. I am also tired of DW, MJ & JH. I LOVE Kyle Petty in the booth as well as Dale Jarrett. The last thing FOX has done to irritate me to death is the ‘digger’ cam. I could care less about seeing tires go by and that animated Digger at the beginning of their race season made me want to claw my eyes out. Stick to covering the race and use the money yu spent on animation for more cameras.
Play – by – play Doc Punch, Kyle Petty, Buddy Baker – Technical Tim Brewer – Pits Mike Joy, Dr. Bregerren – Dave Despain and PLEASE – PLEASE- PLEASE don’t even think about Larry McReynolds
Anybody that thinks that Darrell Waltrip doesnt belong on a broadcasting team should be punished and subjected to a year long sentence of listening to EVERY IndyCar/Cart race!
I just want someone who will announce the race and not try to be the entertainment. Bob Jenkins where are you.