All Jacked Up

Why is NASCAR coverage so bad?

Posted by: Jason Randall

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 2:54 AM

NASCAR already has a huge following, but just think what it would be like if television announcers didn't sound so unintelligent ... THEN speak to the viewers as if we're in the first grade.

I cringe every time Darrell Waltrip says "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity." I despise every time Larry McReynolds explains what it means to be loose and tight every single week, about 30 times a race. I absolutely hate Fox's coverage and how they always, and I mean always, try to be funny. Guys, face the facts. You are not funny. Not even slightly.

I understand and respect NASCAR's southern roots. But this is the very reason people make fun of the sport I love ... the sport that so many other Americans love.

You don't have to sound like a complete hilljack to call a race. That's not a requirement, yet Fox, ESPN, ABC, SPEED, NBC, TNT and every other station that covers racing marches out guys who resemble Cletus from "The Simpsons."

Darrell Waltrip is playing a character when he appears on camera and it's getting old. Frankly, it's disgusting. Larry McReynolds isn't much better. Mike Joy, well I like him, but he too dumbs it down too often.

There are people who don't like NASCAR who think they are better than those of us who do. Every time they turn on a NASCAR broadcast, they feel their case is being made for them.

Trust me, I like the insight that former drivers provide, but for the love of all that is good, get someone who doesn't sound like he has about three brain cells left. It won't turn off the fans who like the current voices in the booth ... they'll watch regardless. What it might do is not turn off those who don't want to listen to such garbage, which in turn would introduce more people to the sport, and that is a good thing.

I like "This Week in NASCAR." That's the show where Michael Waltrip and Greg Biffle appear on Mondays on SPEED. They talk about the race the day before and you get to hear a lot of "behind the scenes" type of things that are pretty good.

I also find the radio broadcasts of racing quite entertaining. They don't talk to the viewers as if they are toddlers.

I enjoyed ABC's "NASCAR in Primetime" and the current show along the same lines on SPEED called "NASCAR Confidential"

But overall, NASCAR broadcasts, especially on race day, are completely awful. Let's hope the broadcasts begin to evolve in the same manner as the sport itself. It probably will be a slow process, but if I never hear: "Darrell, pull them belts tight one more time!" "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity! Let's go racin' boys!" ever again, that would be fine with me. It doesn't have to be this way.

So my message to the NASCAR broadcasters out there is the following:
It's not cool, it's not funny, it's not clever, IT'S STUPID! You are not part of the show, you are supposed to talk about the race. That's it. Give the comedy routine a rest, get some real training and do your jobs the right way.

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