To great fanfare, NBC returned to NASCAR coverage with this weekend’s Coke Zero 400 race at Daytona, kicking off a ten-year contract with the racing series that will see the peacock network broadcast the last half of the year, including the Chase for the Sprint Cup, between it’s cable arm, NBCSN, and the network mothership, NBC.
NBC’s return to the sport has been much heralded, and with a mostly-new broadcast team compared to when they signed off at the end of 2006, I’ve run the rule over their debut broadcast from Daytona to come up with this report card:
A+
Rick Allen: the new voice of NASCAR on NBC has more than paid his due in getting to the lofty position of calling Sprint Cup Series races for the Peacock – and Allen definitely deserves his new gig. Allen is equal parts exciting and informative, but also knows when to say nothing and let the pictures do the talking. His voice is smooth, his knowledge is sound, and we’re pretty lucky to have him in the booth, calling races. Better than Bill Weber!
Mike Flood: the NBC race director showed FOX exactly how to broadcast a race. Wide shots wherever possible, judicious use of on-board camera, and an ability to match pictures to what the broadcast crew are discussing. So often, that didn’t happen with FOX. Flood’s helped revolutionise IndyCar broadcasts for NBC, and he hasn’t lost his touch. The gauntlet is laid down to FOX, now.
A
Steve Letarte: For mine, the revelation of the weekend. The former crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a breath of fresh air as far as crew chief analysts go. The difference between Letarte and FOX’s Larry McReynolds is that Letarte is just six months removed from calling the shots on pit road and dealing with the nuances of these new cars. His ability to accurately diagnose what’s going on in a way that even casual fans can understand is impeccable. He’s got a good sense of humour, too, and doesn’t mind poking fun at himself.
Jeff Burton: Similar to Letarte, Burton has fairly recent experience in a Sprint Cup Series car, and uses it to his advantage as NBC’s driver analyst. It’s hard not to compare Burton to Darrell Waltrip, his counterpart over at FOX, and the difference is night and day. DW seems like he’s in the game these days just to tell his own stories, whether the racing on the track warrants it or not. Burton does exactly what an analyst should do: explain the on-screen action, not waffle off on a tangent. I wasn't sure if Burton over Dale Jarrett in the booth was a good idea, but it clearly is. He’s great already, and only going to get better.
Marty Snider: One of only two holdovers from NBC’s first run with NASCAR, Snider is as good as they come on pit road. He’s obviously popular with the drivers – something that you couldn’t always say about the ESPN crew – and asks incisive questions that provoke real responses, rather than the bland, “Tell us how you feel.” Snider is a pro. Great to have him back in NASCAR.
B
Kelli Stavast: I’ve watched Stavast for years on sports car broadcasts, and was glad to see her get a NASCAR gig. NBC have chosen well. She was brilliant first time out of the gate on Sunday, and will only get better with more time around NASCAR.
Mike Massaro: once the face of ESPN’s NASCAR coverage when they didn’t have the rights, and was shuffled into the background once they did. Now on pit road for NBC, and excelling.
Krista Voda: the former FOX host moved on because Chris Myers occupies the main hosting position for Sprint Cup Series races on that network, and has found a great home at NBC. As polished a host as there is in the sport, and it showed with plenty of fill-in coverage due to the length rain delay. The perfect person for directing the broadcast traffic.
Dale Jarrett: the former Daytona 500 champion was a great analyst with ESPN – maybe the best part of that broadcast team – and brings the same level-headed thoughtfulness across to NBC. He’s a solid and familiar voice of experience in the pre-race show. Will probably call some Xfinity Series races from the booth, too.
C
Dave Burns: not the most energetic guy I’ve ever heard on a broadcast, but a solid pit reporter, and one of the guys who was patrolling pit road back in NBC’s first run with NASCAR.
D
Kyle Petty: Everyone else in NBC’s crew – at least, the former drivers and crew chiefs on the roster – have serious resumes which give what they say a whole lot more credence than Petty. Simply put, he wasn't a champion racer, and only lasted as long as he did because of his family connection. Petty just isn’t my favourite guy to listen to. He talks fast and tends to tow the NASCAR line pretty solidly. I’d much prefer seeing someone like Ricky Craven, unsung over at ESPN, in the pit road studio than Petty. The only bad move NBC have made, for mine.
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