Media Matters 2.18 Can Dave Save NHRA ESPNs Sky Waves?

Dave Rieff is driving the top chair in the broadcast booth for ESPN2 as positions change there just as they do with racing team; how will he do? With a long background in drag race broadcasting for the sportsman category, he has the experience and excitement necessary to convey the action on the track. With Mike Dunn adding his expert commentary, a delivery that has gradually built over the years to now near perfection, the team is set to win. They also have another advantage: theyre younger, what appears to be a key for sports and motorsports broadcasting in general. Media Matters predicted Rieffs possibility of winning the coveted spot in a column following Indys rainout, published 09/15/2012 with these words: The quickly organized one-hour program updating the status of teams and publicizing the new dates and times was broadcast in lieu of the scheduled Labor Day finals. Interestingly, this update show featured Lucas Oil Sportsman broadcaster Rieff in a role that might be seen as a live audition for the post Page vacates at year-end. Teamed with Mike Dunn, his former partner on the now retired Sunday prerace show, their chemistry was instantly back, upbeat and given the drab overcast and quick nature of the preparations, quite bright. Maybe Rieff's comment to Hight: "Your best friend is Isaac" became a subconscious nod to himself. Without the storm camping right on top of Indianapolis, he would not have enjoyed this sterling opportunity to showcase his talent for filling the lead chair. The teams first broadcast at the OReilly Auto Parts 53rd Winternationals was seamless, best demonstrated with Top Fuel champion, Antron Brown, started the season with a frightening crash continuing from that last race here where he won while waiting all day for Brandon Bernstein to win it for him. Even Bernstein, standing next to his MAVTV dragster, concurred when he answered a question on a new segment, the E3 Plug Hot Shot. Coolest thing about 2012? I got Antron a championship, and he owes me!

Covering the crash and Browns condition as they had done for other incidents over time became much like broadcasting a story that gets retold over and over, but each time is exciting: a major crash. Would the LA Times have covered the race as fully if not this excitement? As senior reporter Gary Gerould noted for the king of dragsters class, Only certainty, nothing is easy in Top Fuel. Rieff opened with the major themes like Never had a 15-time champion and two daughters racing; its a highlight day. That story grew and grew until Courtney Force won the Funny Car class and the first race of the year. On her unusual featqualifying No. 1 and winning the Winternationals Force light-heartedly commented, It was definitely pretty unbelievable! The best prediction on the stories of the day came when reviewing 2012 Pro Stock champion Allen Johnsons Mopar Avenger; major competition is going to come from his teammates . . . and it did; both met in the finals. Vincent Nobiles Mountainview Tire Avenger defeated Jeg Coughlins Jegs.com Avenger to take the first Pro Stock win of the year. The days Marquee MatchupRon Capps NAPA Charger vs. John Forces Castrol Mustangyielded a stellar race . . . very nice from FastNews Network, but the real Capps/Force pairing showed in the finals. The broadcast sought fans prediction on the outcome; not surprising, they chose the champion. Not surprising, they chose wrong. Almost as a contrarian, one would have to choose against popularity and the popular view. The most interesting story off the track resulted from the re-hiring of Spencer Massey by Don Shumacher after firing him post-season. The reason? Bringing beer to a black-tie event. Whether a juvenile act deserved capital punishmentShumacher, I was afraid it would be a death-sentence to his NHRA careerthe decision reversed and Massey resides back in their camp. Such an initial reaction, though, relates to the change in the broadcast booth. Old school vs. new school, old rules vs. new rules. It is a fair wager the vast majority of those in the pits, much less the stands, could recall personal actions that would overwhelm beer-gate; probably some in the middle of the Shumacher team, too.

Rieff opened with, The 2012 Finale was one for the ages. The 2013 Winternationals, its resultant drama and racing qualified as foretelling a race year that may be one for the ages. Contact Phillip@ultrasuperior.com Twitter Lets Friend on FaceBook