Looks like a nice night at Gateway. It rained earlier, so the Setup and the race broadcasts began with track drying. The command has been given and Ben Rhodes will lead the field to the green flag. Qualifying was cancelled due to rain. Vince Welch, Phil Parsons and Todd Bodine are doing the broadcast. It’s such a relief to not be tortured by Michael Waltrip. While this group may not be the A team, I like Vince and cheer for him to become the announcer/broadcaster he wants to be. The Onion is coming along nicely as he transitions to broadcaster. Philly is Philly. Other than when he makes that weird sound, like strangled yelling, and when he gets uber-competitive and tries to out-talk everyone, he’s fine on-air. So listening to the television broadcast should be enjoyable without Mikey. I’m looking forward to it. The starting line-up is based on practice speeds. Since the truck series uses the caution clock there won’t be a competition caution.
Rico Abreu wrecked his primary truck in practice. He’s in a backup. He came down pit road during the parade laps saying he had no clutch. The race is underway and Johnny Sauter, who shared the front row with Ben Rhodes, leads the first lap. Erik Jones is running Cody Coughlin’s truck. Cody had Late-Model obligations that conflicted with this race. Since the Xfinity series is off this week Erik was available.
Caution is out for the 63 of Jake Griffin blowing up on lap 15 of 160.
Caution on lap 25 of 160 and Cameron Hayley and Erik Jones spin into the wall. Unfortunately, once again, we were in the truck instead of watching the race from outside when it happened. This happens far too often these days during race coverage. I want to see what happened, not see the driver steering through it. I drive a car daily, so I know what it looks like to be behind the wheel of a vehicle. It’s just not that interesting. It’s particularly not more interesting to watch through the windshield the landscape change than to watch trucks hitting the wall or spinning or doing whatever they’re doing. Then again I’m not on Ritalin so I don’t need a new shot every few seconds to keep me occupied and not reading my phone. I’m actually interested in watching a race – which is why I tune in or attend a race. It’s also why I buy race swag. I have this nutty notion that NASCAR will make more money off people like me – people who are interested in racing – than they will people who have their attention drawn to NASCAR for a few minutes before they’re off to the next attention-grabber. Short term gains by short-sighted strategies.
Looks ike I’m finally going to see the caution clock affect the race. I’m the few truck races I’ve seen this season – I’ve fallen asleep during many of them – the caution clock has never run down while I’ve been awake.
Caution lap 65 of 160 for the caution clock expiration. Ah, it’s the seventh time in the ninth race that the caution clock has come into play, according to Vince Welch.
By the way, last week was the 24 hour of LeMans. I look forward to that race every year. I was so disgusted with the moving coverage of the race. Fox Sports did an awful job of presenting the race. I struggled to find the race and struggled to record what I couldn’t see. In the end they apparently moved the race before the conclusion. Since I’d fallen asleep after watching it into the wee hours of the morning I had to find out who won instead of being able to watch my recording of the missed hours. Very frustrating!!! FoxSports needs to stop imitating an airline and over booking!
Phil is one of those guys on television who needs to learn that when you’re constantly yelling for every little thing your display of ‘excitement’ becomes ineffective since you seem to yell at everything which leads the viewer to tune it out. He should take a cue from Vince and Bodine and speak like a normal human being and only talk about the things that need to be said, leading the viewer to believe if he’s talking about something it’s notable and worthy of attention and excitement.
Caution on lap 72 of 160 as Daniel Hemric spins and taps the wall.
Caution on lap 112 of 160 for caution clock expiration.
Caution with 42 to go as Austin Wayne Self and Jordan Anderson get into the wall then Jennifer Jo Cobb plowed into Austin Wayne Self. Red flag is out on lap 120 of 160. Looked like JJ was trying to power by the wreck and Austin Wayne Self rolled down the track in front of her.
Caution is out with 17 laps remaining as John Wes Townley smacks the wall.
Caution is out with 12 to go as Tyler Reddick goes around and collects Matt Crafton (88) and ran John Hunter Nemechek (8) into the wall and the 33 of Ben Kennedy got a piece of it also. Crafton is a little slow getting out of the truck. He had a hard hit into the wall. The race is red flagged again on lap 149. He walks to the ambulance, but paused to lean over before getting in. Looks like German Quiroga in the 11 (subbing for Matt Tifft who has a back injury) managed to miss the wreck as it happened in front of him. William Byron (9) got some of it also.
There will be seven laps remaining when the green flag is displayed.
Caution is out for the 23 of Spencer Gallagher and the 05 of John Wes Towney getting together with both turned around. John Wes lunged at Spencer and they’re fighting on the track. Red flag on lap 155 of 160. They’re putting them in separate ambulances and they have been summoned to the NASCAR hauler after their trip to the infield care center.
Christopher Bell has taken the inside position on lap 158 of 160 for the restart. The outside has been the best line for the restart the entire race. Christopher makes it work and Ben Rhodes can’t get around him.
Christopher Bell wins. It is win number 50 for Kyle Busch Motorsports tying the Truck Series all-time win record. Congrats KyBu!
Vince, Phil and Toddy had a lot of fun – not mean-spirited – with the fight and generally with the broadcast. It was an enjoyable watch. I’d still love for Philly to stop that weird loud strangled shouting thing he does, but if that’s the worst of the aggravations during a broadcast, please sign me up! The lack of Michael Waltrip and Larry McReynolds more than makes up for Phil Parson’s constant alerts. This race has me looking forward to the next Truck race for a change. Good job broadcast team and NASCAR for the caution clock.
NASCAR News:
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- Company employing suspect in NASCAR attack loses contract.
- NASCAR driver Mike Wallace attacked after Charlotte concert.
- Rain forces cancellation of Truck Series qualifying at Gateway.
- Tony Stewart, Ernie Irvan inducted into Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame | FOX Sports.
- Double Duty for Jeff Gordon?.
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- No Fun for Stewart.
- Microsoft Race Management App Debuts.
- Earnhardt Throwback Scheme for Darlington.
- Kansas to Perform Darlington Pre-Race Concert.
- Montgomery Gentry In Concert At Daytona.
- Tony Stewart flips off Jamie McMurray, can’t wait for retirement.
- Kyle Busch crushes jackrabbit with car during Sprint Cup practice at Sonoma.
- Six Crew Chiefs Placed On Probation.
- Nemechek Docked 10 Points.