The purpose of SpeedCouch is to provide feedback to the TV networks concerning their broadcasts of NASCAR (and other stock car) races. This site won't be reviewing the races themselves, but how well TV does in presenting the races to the viewers. Occasionally, we may also offer up opinions on some aspect of racing itself under the "Just My Opinion" section.
Because of many changes in NASCAR in the last two seasons, our interest has shifted a bit. We'll still be doing periodic broadcast reviews, but are also adding a new feature to the site: Short Track Profiles. This section will feature interviews with top drivers in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. We think any true fan of stock car racing will enjoy these articles as well as the other articles on this site.
VERSUS Coverage of the Sears Auto Center 200 - USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series
by Cheryl Lauer, April 6, 2008
We haven’t done a review of one of the USAR broadcasts in a couple of years, so I thought it was about time we did one. Last season was a transition year for the TV broadcasts for the Hooters Pro Cup Series, with the shows being reduced to one hour from the two-hour format that we’d seen for many years. This season saw another major change as the TV contract changed from SPEED TV to the VERSUS Network, so I thought this was a good time to provide some feedback to USAR and the TV folks. Despite the network change, the same group of hardworking folks are producing what you and I see on TV every race.
Like most fans of the series, we were not happy with the condensed coverage that began last year, but understood the need for the change due to rising costs for TV time for a smaller series like USAR. Personally, I was often not happy with how Hallbrook Productions (the company actually producing the package) used the limited time given them to cover the races. Maybe I’m a curmudgeon, but I didn’t like some of the “reality” touches added to the broadcasts last year. They seemed contrived and aimed at the short-attention span crowd. With only 40 actual minutes of race coverage after the required commercials in the 60 minute broadcast, I felt they should have focused on the racing a lot more. I wondered if it would it be the same this season.
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