How much Pre Race hype do you need?

[RGM Fan]

God I hate this about NASCAR. They're now 30 minutes past the start time listed on pit command. Do you really need two hours of pre-race hype? Did anyone learn anything about the race or the series that they couldn't have learned in five minutes by reading Jayski?

I haven't watched a single green flag this year because I don't ever know when the race is going to start. I have to get a lot of stuff done on Sunday and the only reason I care about watching this flag to flag is because Robby Gordon is on the front row.

This is one big reason why I don't watch as many races as I used to. You have no idea when they're going to start. Starting a 500 mile race at 2:30 in the afternoon effectively kills much of your Sunday. I cut my trip to the gym short to catch what I figured was a 4 p.m. start and an hour later they are just getting it under way. Amature, rude, ratings grabbing morons.

Is there something wrong with starting at a published start time? The NFL, NHL, and Champ Car all manage to start their events at or near the published start time, why not NASCAR?

[e2mtt]

I also think it is incredibily stupid. At the very least, show a countdown timer until the flag drops.

I don't have a problem with a long preshow, as long as the TV guide lists it as such, and they are upfront about when the actual start is.

Go Robby!

[blakebeatty]

It is literally as simple as going to the race track's website and seeing what the start time is listed as there. This is generally right around the time of the anthem...

[Mark in Oshawa]

I am tired of it. It was listed by my satellite provider as starting at 15:30 yet drivers start your engines didn't come about til 1700 edt. A joke. I have an hour and half of tape of BS and hype for a race that will be good yes, but hype and BS. We hear the same crap every week more or less. It isn't like the Cup series isn't running every week, and contrary to popular belief, we don't need 10 story lines to enjoy a race.....

[Sparky1329]

I hate all the pre-race crap but you can find the race start time pretty easily by checking out a few places on the web. I like this one.

http://www.geocities.com/racefantv/USTV.htm

[Mark in Oshawa]

I shouldn't have to do 10 minutes of research. If the broadcast is 1 to 5, then have the race start 30mins in. I don't need an hour and a half of "news", even on weekends such as this one where a lot happened. They will talk about the ringers, there is about 5 mins, they will talk about Jimmie and Jeff getting put in the back, there is 10,and then they will yap about how the COT needs to be tuned to turn right. Spare me dragging this out for an hour and a half. I like the silly season rumours and shows dedicated to the news of the sport, but put that during the week. ON Sunday, give me racing....

[muggle not]

Oh come on. If you don't like all the pre-race stuff then don't watch it. It is actually pretty easy to find out when the actual race starts, within 10 or 15 minutes. Some people enjoy watchin all the stuff and some don't. No one is forced to watch that I know of. :)

[Lee Roy]

God I hate this about NASCAR. They're now 30 minutes past the start time listed on pit command. Do you really need two hours of pre-race hype? Did anyone learn anything about the race or the series that they couldn't have learned in five minutes by reading Jayski?

I haven't watched a single green flag this year because I don't ever know when the race is going to start. I have to get a lot of stuff done on Sunday and the only reason I care about watching this flag to flag is because Robby Gordon is on the front row.

This is one big reason why I don't watch as many races as I used to. You have no idea when they're going to start. Starting a 500 mile race at 2:30 in the afternoon effectively kills much of your Sunday. I cut my trip to the gym short to catch what I figured was a 4 p.m. start and an hour later they are just getting it under way. Amature, rude, ratings grabbing morons.

Is there something wrong with starting at a published start time? The NFL, NHL, and Champ Car all manage to start their events at or near the published start time, why not NASCAR?

DVR makes watching NASCAR (or any other racing series) much better. Blast past the pre-race pablum . . . . past the poor singing of the Anthem . . . . . slow down and watch the fly-over . . . . . to the start of the race . . . . and then fly through the commercials . . . . and save 2 hours for something more productive.

[e2mtt]

What really bugs me is when they, (after a long prerace of course) cut short and don't even show postrace interviews. I like postrace interviews, and not only of the winner.

[RGM Fan]

Oh come on. If you don't like all the pre-race stuff then don't watch it. It is actually pretty easy to find out when the actual race starts, within 10 or 15 minutes. Some people enjoy watchin all the stuff and some don't. No one is forced to watch that I know of. :)

Yeah, its soo easy to find NASCAR posts it front and center on their website.

Oh, no wait. They intentionaly post false information. Also, if it looks like rain you've just missed the start by two hours.

We get it, you're starting races later to get a bigger west coast audience.

I don't see why NASCAR can't just come up with a set time to start all their races like the NFL. Say all day races drop the green flag at 2:15 Eastern, or even 3:30 if you want to cater to the west coast, but that way I don't have to waste any time watching crap I don't care about.

[Mark in Oshawa]

RGM, your idea would work if NASCAR is paying attention. I only wish I had a DVR, so I wouldn't care, but when you are taping a race that will be listed in the listings from 2 to 7 and then it runs a hour late because of weather, you think about the 2 hours of CRAP you taped, and even though you know better, you didn't run the tape long. I have to be rich like Lee Roy and get myself a DVR!!

I don't sweat missing races much as a rule. You do get all the highlights ad nauseum on Speed all the next week, but it is nice to have the race as it unfolds..... Sunday is a busy day for me often, and I just don't get a chance to watch the races live. Some of us have a life.....

[Old3Fan]

I only wish I had a DVR, I have to be rich like Lee Roy and get myself a DVR!! .

Are you watching on free TV? You don't have to be rich to get cable or Dish/DirectTV. Dish and Direct are probably both cheaper than cable but you get a free DVR with all of them. If you smoke knock off a few cigaretts a day or if you like beer, knock off 1 per day. Good for you health in general and should cover getting yourself much better TV programing including a DVR.