I don’t always agree with Brad Keselowski. Sometimes I think he comes across as somewhat arrogant. However I do agree with him when he talks about the NASCAR Fox Sports broadcast team and some of them being biased.
Often times when I listen to Darrell Waltrip and his “rave reviews” about Danica Patrick I expect to find that he is a card-carrying member of her fan club or maybe even president of the group.
I have always had a problem with Michael Waltrip being a NASCAR car owner and driver and being a broadcaster. It really had smoke coming out my ears when Michael was allowed to show up in the broadcast booth wearing his Maxwell House Coffee driving uniform.
If it is OK for him then I guess it should be OK for the drivers who have been chosen to be a commentator for NASCAR Xfinity races. Keselowski should show up with his Miller Lite uniform and Bowyer should be wearing his Five Hour Energy outfit. Fair for one should be fair for others. However, quite frankly, I don’t think Michael Waltrip should be allowed to do it and none of the others should be able to do it.
How often do we see those in the broadcast booth in other sports, those with endorsement deals, wearing outfits that include logos from the companies they represent? It is just not allowed. And it should not be allowed in NASCAR broadcasts.
Just recently Keselowski brought attention to the situation when he felt that Jeff Gordon was “biased” in his coverage of the recent NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono. He took exception to the fact that Gordon is a car owner (partial owner of Jimmie Johnson entry) and has a financial interest in the Chase Elliott entry plus maintains an office at Hendrick Motorsports.
Keselowski was not happy about comments made by Gordon about Keselowski’s team suffering a penalty as a result of body modifications being made to the Miller Lite car while on pit road.
“They (TV) need to get some people that aren’t inbred to the sport and own teams and have internal knowledge, because that is pretty crappy. It is what it is,” said Keselowski to a group of reporters. “It’s not that I don’t like Jeff Gordon in the booth, it’s just that you need to have people in the booth that don’t own teams or have commercial interests to the sport, because they say things that are very biased.”
One only has to think back to the days of the Waltrips and Aaron’s Rental.
Quite frankly I like what Gordon does in the booth. He has great inside knowledge. However if his teams, those he has interest in, get caught in a problem situation with NASCAR how will Gordon handle that on air? I guess we will just have to wait until such a situation comes up or we can just ignore it as it seems fans do now.
* * *Retired racing legend Jeff Gordon has zoomed to the top of ABC’s short list to succeed Michael Strahan as Kelly Ripa’s new Live co-host, according to recent media reports.
Gordon has experience sitting alongside Ripa. During the Live With Regis and Kelly era, he served as Ripa’s sidekick nine times.
Since retiring from professional stock car racing in 2015, the 44-year-old Gordon has transitioned into broadcasting (he currently serves as a Fox NASCAR analyst). Should he snag the Live gig, his career path would closely mirror that of the man he’d be replacing; Strahan, who exited Live last month for a full-time gig at Good Morning America, also segued into broadcasting after retiring from the NFL.
Live is expected to continue pairing Ripa with a parade of guest co-hosts until a final decision is made later this summer. Other names in the permanent co-host mix include former Grinder star Rob Lowe and Ripa’s BFF Anderson Cooper.
Nothing is for certain so far.* * *
If you are a fan of wings this just may be the event for you. Pocono Raceway will host the 21st annual Pennsylvania Wing Festival on Saturday, August 13 and will award $4,000 in prizes.
The event benefits Monroe County Meals on Wheels which will use the funds to bridge the gap between what their clients can pay and what the meals actually cost to produce and deliver. Monroe County Meals on Wheels serves 230 clients monthly with volunteers collectively driving more than 450 miles a day.
Admission to the Pennsylvania Wing Festival is just $10. Event tickets may be purchased in advance, either online at www.poconoraceway.com/wingfest or by calling 1-800-RACEWAY. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the gate on event day. A $5 military discount will be offered and is available in-person with valid identification at the gate or in advance at the Pocono Raceway ticket office. Children under 48 inches are free. Wing tickets will be $1 and available for purchase at the event. Parking at Pocono Raceway is free.
The best wing joints from across the state will compete for bragging rights in addition to hefty prizes. Prizes will be awarded in four categories with $1,000 each going to the winners of hottest wing, best buffalo wing, best alternative wing and chef/VIP choice. Fans will vote on the best buffalo wing and best alternative wing, while judges will select hottest and chef/VIP choice.
Live music and children’s entertainment as well as fun for all ages will be offered. Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.poconoraceway.com/wingfest.
For restaurants interested in participating, or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Christina Rodis-Durst at crd@poconoraceway.com or visit www.poconoraceway.com/wingfest.
Pocono Raceway will host four additional national motorsports events during the balance of the 2016 racing season. The ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards Modspace 150 will be July 29; the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Pocono Mountains 150 is July 30 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Pennsylvania 400 is scheduled for July 31.The Verizon IndyCar Series ABC Supply 500 will be held on August 21. Tickets for all races are now on sale at www.poconoraceway.com or by calling 1-800-RACEWAY.
