Wednesday, May 15, 2013

An Open Letter to Darrell Waltrip

Dear DW:

Earlier this week I wrote a blog post headlined: “In Need of a Boogity, Boogity, Boogity Break.”  You can find it after this one, along with more than 50 comments from readers. 

I wrote that I’d heard too much from you during coverage of the Darlington 500 about how great the Gen 6 race cars were.  I was tired of hearing how much Kyle Busch has matured and how Danica Patrick has improved.  While all three are true (at least I think Busch has matured), I felt it showed a lack of respect for true race fans, the heart of the sport, to keep telling them the same thing over-and-over.  We know a good race when we see one.  We know who’s driving a good race.  Who is getting better and who is showing more maturity.  We’re fans – real fans.  We get it. 

This wasn’t a spur of the moment blog post.  Twice before this season I started to write similar columns but stopped before publishing them.  I wondered if I was the only one who felt this way, that it might be unfair.  But Darlington was over the top.  I kept hearing how great the car and the racing was early on – and it wasn’t.  We were repeatedly updated on Patrick as she fell further and further behind.  Then there was the Busch discussion – about how much more mature he was and how badly Busch felt about crashing Kasey Kahne at Talladega.  That did it.

I was surprised – stunned would be a better word – by the response to my blog.  The 50 plus people commenting were easily more than I’ve ever heard from before.  By a wide margin.  More importantly, these must be considered diehard NASCAR fans, searching the hinterlands of the blogosphere for stories on the sport they love, before stumbling across my blog and taking the time to write a comment.

The vast majority of the comments were respectful (not always the case) and I was struck by the common themes expressed by many.  Like me, some had wondered if they were the only ones unhappy with the broadcasts.  They were tired of the incessant drumbeat in support of the Gen 6 race car.  Many acknowledged the car is a vast improvement (so do I), but it is not the be-all, end-all and we don’t need to be told it repeatedly how great it is.  It’s better.  We expect it will continue to get better.  But it’s not there yet.

Sorry, but it doesn’t look as if the Mikey and Darrell combination is being well received.   Many questioned a possible conflict of interest, given the relationship you and your brother have with Toyota.  I’ve never felt either of you have gone over the line, but others obviously have.  I am surprised that Fox would allow even the appearance of a conflict.  In a situation like this, broadcasters must be absolutely beyond question.

For many of those writing a comment, “boogity, boogity, boogity” has run its course.  Frankly, my original headline was more of a metaphor then a comment on the phrase itself.  To me, the racing season doesn’t start every year until I hear my first “boogity.”  But my wife hates the phrase – and so apparently do many others. 

Finally, please note that many wrote fondly of your days as a driver and even an announcer.  They long for the old Jaws.  They long for a voice.  With NASCAR instituting a virtual gag order on drivers, the sport – your sport and our sport – needs a critical voice. 

You could still be it.

#darrellwaltrip

55 comments:

  1. OMG, keep it up...maybe just maybe Legend In His Own Mind might buy a clue..but I doubt it..Fox for that matter too!

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  2. Well written both articles, I for one am sad to say being a fan for 30 plus years I cannot take the hype of it all from Danica to the Gen-6 and the repetitive of it all..From Junebug to "Miss Hamlin"...just disgusting. Haven't watch the races in a few weeks and it bothers me..I watch NW with the mute button on....

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  3. Loved DW as a driver, and his commentary wasnt too bad up until the last few years. Its the same stories every week. How Kyle is showing so much more maturity (where was he after the race?) How great Danica is doing (Started 40th and finished 28th several laps down) How the racing is great (Watch this race 10 years ago if you want to see good racing) - Heres how DW and fox should keep it fair - Talk about the back markers as much as Danica, Kyle, Jr., and so on. Lets be fair about it. Those guys in 30th run just as hard if not harder than Danica and dont get near as much TV time because they dont have long hair and a storyline boyfriend. It is too much of a soap opera. Racing isnt what it used to be be any means. Gone are the days of the Labonte brothers being title contenders, Rusty tearing up Bristol, Dale Sr intimidating the field, 43 cars that REALLY could contend with each other for a victory on any given Sunday. I watch old Youtube races sometimes just to see how much better the racing really was. I miss the good commentators too. Alan Bestwick is the best we have and I have never cared much for him. Too bad BP died, he was great, Ned Jarrett was amazing for CBS, now we have so much inexperience with so much technology, it just is irritating. We dont have races anymore, we have commercials with race breaks. Everything is "The Official ________________ of NASCAR" Pit stops are always "Driver X just got a full tank of SUNOCO race fuel and 4 GOODYEAR tires" - do we really need to be reminded of the brand names every time they stop? How about when they reference Winston Cup days and call it Sprint cup? Am I the only one annoyed by this? Call it what it was. It was also the Busch series and Craftsman truck series. Im ranting...but I dont ever comment on these things. Maybe the author will catch this and have a few ideas. Who knows? NASCAR is far too commercial, far too big for its britches. Less is more. Lets just all take a moment to bow our heads and thank baby Jesus that the stupid groundhog doesnt pop up on the track anymore!!

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  4. I agree with all of the above. And just think, for everyone who has taken the time to comment here, there are thousands more who don't have the time to read blogs or surf the web that feel the same way. They work their asses off at thankless jobs and just would like to sit down for a few hours on the weekend and watch a race without hearing a Waltrip droning on like a broken record. Its just time for the Waltrip's to go away.

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  5. Well done again. If you have a hard card the chances of it being taken away is increasing with every rant. As one of only a few to voice the truth I hope you continue. As for more fuel for the fire, just saw the rules change for this weeks SHOW, notice I didn't call it a RACE, which sez the winner of the fan vote can advance for the showdown if not on the lead lap if car is raceable. Me thinks we can call it "The Princess Trick Pony Exception Rule". Of course that's just what it looks like to me. Makes me think the fan vote winner has already been decided. Keep it up Art and well done!

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  6. I agree with most of everything said and want to add that not just myself but all of my friends who have been watching since the 80's there is quite a bit of us are really sick and tired of between the announcers and the commercials it is like a constant Toyota commercial. This Was truly a American sport and it as sold out, we do not watch or go to races anymore other than to make fun of how bad it has gotten to be just look at the stands. I took my family to Bristol this spring just to show them the place it had been 7 years since I had been there and could not believe the change it was amazing the number of empty seats I talked to a lot of fellow fans there and all had the same feeling. If Nascar and the media wanted to do what the fans wanted instead of selling out to the highest bidder they would not be were they are now, They do not even make public the attendance numbers anymore.

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  7. The advertisers on Fox are being hoodwinked. Most folks I know
    have the TV on but muted, while listening with other devices.
    No real race fan is going to put up with the babble and poor
    fixed point or one-car camera work. Showing several cars would
    also have to include the stands and NA$CAR is avoiding the fan count.

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  8. I am well aware that if there is no "BUCKS", there is no "BUCK RODGERS", but give me a break! We are given a "SHOW" of commercials and if we are real lucky, a race breaks out. I will NEVER understand how these races are directed. No race fan would ever watch a race the way the camera give us the pictures. When a break takes place we see the action on replays. I have said before, why bother seeing the race live. Watch race hub, or victory lane, no nonsense less commercials and NO WALTRIPS. How valuable is the opinion of a former driver who Never drove a COT in competition or a GEN 6! The man won three titles driving for Junior Johnson, then he took the next twenty five years to capitalize on it. He ran his career into the ground as well as the folks who sponsored him. He makes the most absurd comments and is paired with a man who did little as an individual and not much as a crew chief, but the best is he was unable to secure backing for a team of his own. The "tires are round", REALLY. Whatever the BOOGETY BOYS contributed to NASCAR, they have made a nice living, at the expense of the NASCAR fan. They have run CUP racing into the ground. The most bias opinions spew of their lips at every chance. The decline in attendance both at the track and the ratings do not lie, real fans are bailing out every week.

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  9. Rob said it all. Thanks.

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  10. Mr. Garner: I just don't agree overall with the internet demographic of NASCAR fans and it just gets old, with all due respect. First the racing was bad/unsafe so we got the CoT. Then NASCAR just has to race at Kentucky, why aren't they? Then they start racing there and the races are long and boring on all these cookie cutters. Then they re-pave Bristol because the racing was "bad" according to the fans (even though they had the same racing product there in the early 90s and now all of a sudden it's bad?) and the stands are still half-full. Then they two-car draft at restrictor plate tracks and for some reason that's awful (apparently not many of us watched back in the 80s when there were no packs whatsoever), so they bring back pack racing and still don't fill the stands. Then the racing is still "bad" so they build a new car. The racing is "bad" at the Daytona 500 this year and the same people go up in arms. In fact the racing has been great. I'm sorry that the finishes aren't 10-wide photo finishes every week at the finish line, or that there aren't 95 lead changes or wrecking each other on the last lap. By the way: I don't know what on Earth you expected at Darlington. That is a narrow racetrack and there are never many passes for position. Add to that new pavement and faster cars and it is going to have long green flag runs. I don't know what you are talking about and neither do you. Drivers race the track when they're at Darlington, and they don't race each other until the very end. I don't really know about FOX's coverage at all; I don't like the Boogity Boogity Boogity either, but if I were Darrell Waltrip, knowing that you and other internet fans can't be satisfied, my response would be "why listen to you?" I'd rather have low ratings than the others of you who watch and are never satisfied to start with. It's a wonder you still watch NASCAR.

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    1. Why didn't you have the guts to put your name to your rant?

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    2. I believe you've answered the author's entire point in the very last sentence. People aren't watching anymore... because it's a "show" not a race.

      Nascar is probably the biggest scripted reality show on earth every week. The fans are tired of it, and they are doing other things now on race day other than watching races on TV.

      Things are so out of whack with this sport that the racing, the teams, and the machines have taken a backseat to sponsor profiling, amateur psychological profiles of drivers, bad race coverage, poor reporting, atrocious grammar, malicious conflicts of interest, rigged rules, favoritism for certain drivers, teams and sponsors, and generally a poor excuse for the sport that we all once loved. Until these Nascar zombies get off their high horses and put the racing back into the sport, they are doomed to continue down this slippery slope.

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  11. Thank You Art for writing what most fans I know are thinking. I hate and despise being negative as I just want to turn on the TV and relax and enjoy, but when I try to enjoy the Waltrip brothers come along with an on air style that grates on me to no end. Listen to Bob Jenkins do the Indy car TV and you will see someone who gets what fans want to hear. Low key, fun , enjoyable, the exact opposite of the Waltrip style.Wayne

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  12. My friends and I have been wondering if we're the only ones having problems with SPEED/FOX/the Waltrips TV. It's reassuring to learn we aren't alone and can also agree with much of what Rob and others have posted. I now refer to the SPEED/FOX pre-race/race broadcast as the "DW/MW/MWR Show"; produced by Rob Kauffman and Toyota; brought to us by the Waltrips and their annoying sponsor mentions/commercials. I lower the volume during the races and listen to my scanner because of that. Plus, I freeze any live show whenever I happen to see/hear the Waltrips, their drivers, or sponsors on the screen. So, I basically end up DVRing entire events and use the fast forward button, a lot. Imo, The Hub and Victory Lane do provide more info, are fun, and seldom aggravate me. I've said many times that I think DW does wonderful 'one on one' interviews. There are times when he shows a very caring, sentimental side. However, both he and Mikey need to control their emotions/mouths (at least) while they're in the broadcast booth. Imo, neither one should be there in the first place, and much less both at the same time. Also, they both need to widen their view beyond themselves and what they care about (at least) when they are in the booth. Thank you, Rob!

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    1. I agree that most of my friends are sick and tired of the DW/MW Show! I would like to see a serious coverage of Nascar rather than the circus atmosphere that Mikey and Darrell bring to the programming. Jeff Hammond and Dr. Punch would lend an aura of respectability. Thanks for you comment above!

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  13. Rob you said what I have been thinking for years--why can't we call them Winston Cup champs anymore--hell Sprint was involved!! It was the Bud Pole Award--it doesn't get changed to the current sponser.
    And while we're on the elusive sponsers. NASCAR owns a piece of this also--Sprint Cup series, so viable sponsers like AT&T and Verizon aren't allowed on the cars. Used to be a Coors car before they became the official beer of NASCAR and sponsor the pole award. As soon as we add another Offical whatever of NASCAR, seems like potential sponsers go away!!
    I miss announcers like Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett, and Eli Gould. I have not yet figured out what Mikey brings to the table. Guess that is the best part of signing up for Race Scanner and having the headset on during broadcasts!!

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  14. Philip Rivers just put on his Riddell helmet as he takes the field folks, walking across the Scotts grass to the huddle. He drops back and throws the Rawlings football to Melvin Smith who catches it in his Acme gloved hands. Notice how much the running back has improved, because he's only dropped the Rawlings football three times this game, which is awesome, and the game is more exciting then ever beacuse the Rawlings football kas been kicked by the Nike shoe of the kicker through the US Steel uprights three times now for an exciting score of 6 to 3. What an improvement since the NFL comissioners instituted the rule preventing physical contact between players of opposing teams!

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    1. uSCGMCK

      I see what you did!

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    2. Awesome. That puts everything in perspective.

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  15. USCGMCK
    I too am a little tired of the Fox product. Being a Mopar guy I came back to Nascar with Dodge. It was clear from the start Dodge or its team and drivers would not get the coverage of other guys. That includes ESPN and TNT as well.

    Then it happened I was traveling on a Sunday and looking for something to listen to on the radio (I know old school) and caught the Nascar radio broadcast(PRN) it was great, I had never listened to radio coverage. You could actually see the race as it was being described. They did a good job of covering the field the entire field, teams, drivers and brands.

    The Fox problem is you are WATCHING it and someone is trying to tell you what you are seeing or what you should be seeing. I think this is where both the casual and diehard fans get frustrated DW and the gang talk to us like this is our first race. No only are we to buy what they are selling on the track but they know all these drivers intimately and everything about how they think and drive. So in essence their stuff don't stink but alas it does.

    I am sure Mikey-DW-Larry-Mike are good decent men but..........enough.

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  16. Get rid of the "boogity"

    Put Hammond back in the Hotel

    Get rid of Michael Waltrip

    Stop hyping Danica...she is a back marker and we don't care who her boyfriend is.

    Was Danica winning the pole at the Daytona 500 fixed?

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    1. Yes, it was fixed. Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and every other driver went into the biggest race of the year, knowing the front 2 spots in qualifying wouldn't have to race for a good starting position, and said, "you know what? To heck with the the millions of dollars sponsors pay me to compete, or the expectations of my fans and car owner. I want Danica to win the pole." NASCAR knows you're on to them now!!

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    2. It wasn't fixed. Simply put, starting P1 at Dega or Daytona is the most overated accomplishment in Nascar. Not to mention the most useless. Sadly it gave Nascar to a reason to go full bore in Danica overdrive. As if they needed a reason to begin with.

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    3. It doesn't matter how badly other drivers want the pole when you're the one handing out restrictor plates. You can't control the race but you can get the guide the story leading up to the race. In the hands of a good driver, 10 extra horsepower is all you need to take pole. The way I figure it, this time they needed a plate with a hole as large as Kim Kardashian's %#$$@

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  17. The problem is NASCAR is dictating what these guys have to say and what they can't say. They have to build up their Darling Danica or NASCAR will pull their credentials. Let's look at the Gen 6 car. For the very first time in the history of the sport NASCAR is running a car that doesn't exist. There is not a Chevy Dealer in the USA today that has a 2013 Chevy SS on it's showroom floor and they never will have a 2013 Chevey SS as one will never be made. Yet This is never brought up. Why? Because NASCAR will pull the credentials of anyone who has passes to Race. Last Kyle Busch, The best wheel man on the track and Yea, DW goes a little overboard, but you just don't see talent like that very often.

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    1. This deal with Chevy running a non-production car is really pissing me off. If I were Ford, I'd pull my cars off the track and put my money into drag racing and IndyCar.

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    2. No kidding. Makes you wonder if Mike Helton and his boys are on General Motors or HMS payroll?

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  18. Art, you have written down what I have been thinking, so thanks. For the first time in many years I have missed watching the last three races from start to finish, but did enjoy listening to the radio coverage. Why can't FOX give us announcers who love racing instead of self promoters telling us things we are not seeing? This year is definitely showing me that there are better things to do on Sunday afternoons and Saturday nights. BTW, I am (was) a rabid fan who normally has been glued to the TV/computer anytime the Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup cars are on a track -- practice, qualifying, and racing (and race rewind, even).

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  19. I'm on the fence about DW anymore. I have tremendous amounts of respect for him and what he has done for the sport in the past. Honestly I think the root of the problem is FOX. You can't talk about Danica without the camera on her. And from FOX the orders come right down from NASCAR with the constant promotion of the product on track. (We all know how they feel about their product, just as Denny Hamlin.) But as NASCAR has gone farther away from their roots (short tracks) and closer to their capital gains (more suites at cookie cutters), so has the racing and its getting tiring of it turning into a giant billboard. I never used to watch Indycar or Formula 1, but I have recently in the past few years, mostly because its about people becoming excited about the racing thats happening on the track instead of more excited about the product thats been put on it.

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  20. I would like to thank DW for several things. First for all of the excitement he provided during the years he was the "loose nut" behind the wheel. He was definitely one of the greatest, passionate drivers and champion that our sport has witnessed. Second would be for coming into NASCAR and breaking the status quo. He spoke out and flapped his jaws but he always backed it up on the track. I believe he was instrumental in the explosion of sport both with the fans (love him or hate him) and the sponsors. Lastly I would like to thank him for forcing me to turn off the FOX audio and turn on Dave Moody and the MRN gang. I grew up listening to all of the races on MRN and now I’m back to that. I enjoy the race more as well as have a much better idea of what is going on during the entire race. The MRN gang are truly passionate about the racing and appreciate having the honor to bring the race to the fans with no personal agenda.

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  21. To much Waltrips, Mikey needs to stay out of booth when his cars
    are racing, and Darrel needs to retire.

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  22. Art, you are dead onabout BBB.. way past it's "best before Date" but, we all know that DW was 3 years past his best before date as well when he left active racing.

    As well, your point about dedicated long time NASCAR fans having to suffer through the same stats and history week after week is dull and extremely boring.

    If NASCAR wants to know why TV rating a are down, it'sbecause people like me after watching this crud over and over every race are tuning out PVRing and just watching the hilite4s we choose. We are fast forwrding Daryl and Larry Mac

    We wanrt news and happenings, not dreams and conjecture

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  23. I think this is the 5th year DW has been pushing the BS that Kyle is "maturing". And you are SPOT ON that it has gotten beyond tiring to have DW lecture to us. I'm STILL laughing at DW declaring Clint Bowyer as the best in restrictor plate racing. We all know it's cuz Bowyer is in a Toyota. DW, the NASCAR fan base is totally on to your schtick. The louder you say something, the less likely that it's true. You are simply a shill and little else. If you had any damn dignity you'd go quietly to your retirement. NASCAR has also managed to do the impossible to Darlington; the Gen 6 has tamed the track too tough to tame. Congrats Daytona you done mucked up another one. I'm no longer watching the live races; I record them and fast forward through most of it. I gave up pre-race shows 3 years ago. Havn't attended a race since 2011. Probably won't this year either. NASCAR's pulse is weak and thready and the coroner is on call.

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  24. I have been a NASCAR fan for 21 years and I do not miss a race telecast. But, here lately I have been wondering if I should record the races and watch them afterwards. The reasons, the Waltrip's! DW's nickname"Jaws" doesn't even come close to what it should be. I know that "Back in the day" was his time to shine, but now it is time to swallow those 4 little words and forget that they were even spoken. Hearing him say them, all the time, is like fingernails down a chalk board. Then there is MW, who is so boring that he can put you to sleep. The fact that he thinks that he is the best announcer that there ever was is appalling. Ok, so he has won at Daytona and Talledega, WOW! A one track wonder! With just 4 wins to his credit after how many starts, what does he know about winning? Absolutely nothing. Yes, it is time for the Waltrip's to accept the fact that the fans are tired of hearing them babble on about nothing. Just say goodbye and go away already.

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  25. Well I must agree completely. DW is all the good that has already been said but he has become a NASCAR mouth piece instead of an impartial broadcaster. I'm an Earnhardt fan started with Sr and have continued with Jr. I have stuck by Jr getting his act together and DW has championed him but I will admit DW's gone way over board to the point I didn't want to hear it any longer. It's as if he is so afraid of losing what he has conformed to what ever Fox or NASCAR tells him to do.

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  26. Great article. For me, the racing season starts when Fox finishes. Someone should tell DDub & Larry that Hee Haw ain't comin' back no more.

    Keith from Canada

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  27. agree with all of the above! lost all interest in racing, and stopped going to the races in 2010!had been goint to bristol, since back in the 60's! cannot stand d.w. mikey, larry, jeff ,and do not watch any of the race shows! so, sick of the jimmy and miss pretty! lol. they never show any of the other drivers, no wonder they can't get sponcers for their cars.! nascar is on its last legs!

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  28. Agree and to Fox....we are all stunned that you let Michael Waltrip serve as an announcer (poor one) and mention his cars and sponsors. It is bad enough DW mentioning them all the time. This should absolutely not happen next season.

    It would be fine w/ most NASCAR fans if they never heard from another Waltrip, Wallace, or Bodine again.

    Long time Nascar fan from Nashville

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  29. The really sad thing in all this is DW has the capability of being and excellent sportscaster. His history with the sport, his success...regardless he's been muzzled and replaced by a corporate mouth piece. Bring back Jaws...let him say what he wants.

    Frankly Nascar is really out of options. The Chase, G-W-C, double file restarts have killed this sport. Wanna know why the stands are half full...all of the above. It hasn't improved racing, just the opposite. Racing isn't a sport your can manufacturer excitement. Because racing itself...man-machine vs. man-machine should always have been enough. Change is fine...everyone needs to grow but breaking something that wasn't broken in the first place...just to say you fixed it or bending at the every whim of the casual fan will destroy you every time. Prime example...The Chase, what an epic failure. Have the ratings gone up since it's implementation? Nope. Down. Same as attendance...down. Why...well in the process of completely devaluing every race leading up to The Chase you've also tried to manufacturer excitement. As Brian said "playoff moments". Sorry Brian this isn't a stick and ball sport. Just give us 20 laps shootouts and heat races if you want to do that. How does this tie into Darrell...well, I'd say he agrees 100% with me. Somebody is gonna have to step up one day and tell it like it is. DW was that guy, could be that guy. But the once opinionated, quick witted never without a headline remark has been replaced by a corporate shill.

    Disappointing to say the least. As has been the direction of my favorite sport for the last 8 years.

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  30. Please, let's see finally if this momentum spreads...so many of us feel the same way but the folks at Nascar and Fox got their money and they are going to do what they dang well please. Fox doesn't know the first thing about racing, apparently King Brian doesn't either. Too bad.

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  31. Having watched NASCAR for as long as I can remember things of late have become very disapointing. We all understand that the sponsors are a necessity however, so are the fans. Every week we are subjected to the broadcast booth treating us like preschoolers. I understand trying to bring in new fans and that not all fans are as knowledgeable as some, but give us break with the yellow line already. Personally I dont need an hour of prerace coverage give us more race coverage. Danica really, lets just think how much we have to listen about her if the name was just Dan, hell I doubt he would still have a ride. The Waltrips antics are old over played and just plain annoying. I know they run Goodyears, fill up with Sunoco so that is just a waste of breath saying it everytime any car hits pit road. I also believe that Kyle Bush has matured but he still has his tantrums and make mistakes just ask Kasey Kane, these things happen lets move on and not coddle him. We all know Toyota is in NASCAR and have been for awhile now no need to point it out every chance they get. As far as DW goes is there even one track left on the circuit that he has raced on that has not had any major changes done to it? NASCAR needs to loosen up the reins and let people tell it how it is. If your driver is not running in the top ten or not Danica the only update you ever get is from the position tracker across the top of the screen and that is sad. No owner should ever be allowed to call a race.

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  32. Really, are you kidding me, FOX sports has by far the best NASCAR coverage of everyone who broadcasts the races. The boogity boogity boogity may be getting a little tiresome but considering it takes approximately three seconds to say and then its done and over with, I can handle it. The Gen 6 coverage is merrited because the COT was such a piece of crap that with the new car the drivers can actually race each other again. Any Danica coverage is too much. Chris Myers does a good job in the studio and Mikey's passion for racing comes out in his analysis (although sometimes in a goofy way). I have also noticed that Mikey does not talk about his own drivers unless it is warranted. Overall i think you are barking up the wrong tree on this one

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  33. Thanks for all your comments. Obviously a lot of people have similar feelings. I also appreciate that the discussion was carried on in a respectful manner.

    I hope to talk with DW and get his response to your comments. Stay tuned...

    Art

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    1. ha, good luck with that! DW never responds to criticism, it hurts his feelings and he is NEVER wrong.

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    2. He will never listen. In his mind he's the greatest broadcaster of all time and need no improvement. The fact is that he has SO MANY shortcomings that it ruins the races for me. I mute him all the time, I would be interested in knowing how people many MUTE him as well or listen to MRN solely because of him. I'm sure there are those who like him and his style, but everyone I know who watches cannot stand him any longer.Wayne

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  34. I still think a lot of folks don't get it. NASCAR Is dictating what the announcers can and cannot say. Just like the drivers. You can't talk about how bad the racing is or you get fined, and in their case fired. You must talk about Dale Junior and Danica and how well they are doing or you will be fired, It's NASCAR people, not Fox or it's announcers., TNT and ESPN will do the exact same thing only a little worse, Hide and Watch.

    mikeyfan5599

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    1. I agree with your statement that ESPN is not better. TNT now that Bill Weber is no longer in the booth is more tolerable. However they have the worst races on the schedule (except for Daytona - if you like RP tracks)to broadcast.

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  35. Read the first article and agree with this one as well. DW and the Fox team were great during the first years of the NASCAR broadcast contract. Once it was renewed however, we've gotten this bogus nonsense, along with the implementation of the Brainless France method of conducting business. Now we have a "playoff series" that we didn't need, a spec car and lots and lots of rules. And to be honest, it's not JUST Fox and DW who do a lousy race broadcast, ESPN has its own issues with Rusty and Brad (mr. I am totally useless)who were/are also active owners of race teams. I simply can't be bothered watching a full race broadcast any more. It isn't because I can't pay attention for that long, it's that the broadcast isn't interesting to bother with. The first 26 races are all for seeding purposes and then the last 10 (on some of the most boring tracks ever) will be for the 10 race trophy. Whoopee.

    I'll listen to the radio coverage and maybe come inside to watch the last 20 laps - if I haven't gone on to doing something better.

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  36. Great article! The Waltrips need to go! The sport has enough redneck connotations without these two hillbillys and their constant corn pone sayings.

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  37. I watch the race broadcasts just to hear Larry Mac invent words and mangle the english language.....

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  38. I tried watching the truck race Friday evening - then MW and his constant inane babble made me again put it on mute. That is an instant invitation for a nap. I did wake up for the last few laps. I hope the middle 3/4s of the race was decent though. We need some announcers and color commentators who don't have a stake somewhere in a NA$CAR team. Benny we miss you. Ned, reconsider your retirement. Buddy, you bumbled, but weren't a jerk.

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  39. I won't watch anything with either Waltrip in it.
    Been a fan from the beginning of nascar. Either Waltrip in the both and the TV is on mute and the radio coverage on.

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  40. Wow, just like being back at the track, surrounded by so many like minded people. I too cannot take Waltrip's any longer, both need to go. Boogity bullshit also makes you want to change the channel. Rusty Wallace sucked at announcing and they got rid of him pretty quick...haven't heard a good ex driver announcer since Ned Jarrett.

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