Why Did NASCAR on ESPN FAIL?

What do you remember most about NASCAR’s second stint with ESPN from 2007-2014?

Don’t care for ESPN’s new format of multiple talk shows, that feature 3 loudmouths and an annoying chick in each of them. Trash.

Here Are My 3 Problems With NASCAR on ESPN:
1. They Pulled A Heidi Game By Switching Channels During Races Due To Scheduling Conflicts.
2. They Didn't Show Any Of The Replays Of Elliot Sadler's 2010 Pocono Crash.
3. Marty Reid Messing Up His Commentary.

It was definitely the culture at ESPN at the time. Their first tenure was great. But ESPN’s second run was at a network where they would prefer sick and ball sports (NFL, MLB, NBA) over any other sport that was out there. Even though they eventually got all four tennis majors, they treat every game no matter the sport as just a game. They wanted to move to debate, even though the only debate show worth watching was PTI. In general, I think the recent ESPN run was mired by the fact that they just got the rights to say they’re more inclusive to other sports when they were not. They don’t even cover soccer in proper fashion. In the end, they just one of those big three league’s. Even if their coverage on all leagues was ultimately lackluster compared to NBC or FOX. In the end, ESPN just saw NASCAR as another product, not as an asset to be nurtured.

Why did modern espn nascar fail? No Bob Jenkins obviously

The problem was, is that they DIDN’T care about NASCAR enough to put it on free tv, where everyone could get it. Fox during that time put all of their races on free tv, with the exception of the all-Star race on Speed/FS1, as it’s not a points race, and it’s always been on cable networks to begin with. TNT I could understand, as they didn’t have NBC as their partner, but there was no excuse for ESPN not putting more NASCAR races on free tv.

They went woke that’s what happened

ESPN sucked and to this day still sucks. They treated NASCAR like it really wasn’t a sport, and thus ESPN never really cared for NASCAR. They hardly ever cover NASCAR to this day! They don’t deserve to air NASCAR ever again.

this just popped up in the algorithm, right after the deal with espn and srx was announced

I remember those times finding out a race would air on TNT or ESPN, since my family doesn't have cable. Thank goodness this is the online era.

I usually hate this complaining about wokeism mostly because I believe people who complain about being woke are racist assholes or people defending racist assholes. However, most ESPN talents don't talk about NASCAR and the same goes for FS1 outside of Race Hub. I don't see Colin Cowherd or Skip and Shannon talking about NASCAR either.

RIP Bob & Benny

Can any one tell me why Jeff Burtons car was smoking on caution laps but not when up to speed at Talladega in late 1997 or 98 . I was there and never heard what the problem was .

I Have A Feeling ESPN Is Losing It's Touch...

They should've had Bestwick, Wallace/Jarrett and Petree from the start. By taking so long to get the booth right, that's what caused the failure.

Never liked Rusty and did enjoy DJ !!!
JP was enjoyable and overall liked ESPN ! Beswick was Numero Uno !
The Big Cheeses wanted to turn all of the viewers to their way of thinking 🤔 is exactly what killed NASCAR on ESPN ! Their was nothing wrong with having many different mindsets watching but they wanted everyone to think their way !! Wrong !!

I heard ESPN and ABC will cover NASCAR again (with the Xfinity races airing after Saturday morning cartoons on the ABC network on most weekends like in the '90s when Jodie Sweetin was still hot and Fox aired Power Rangers after school) with hosts Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett and Brad Daugherty - lap by lap commentator Jerry Punch - color analysts Jeff Burton and Andy Petree - pit reporters Mike Massaro, Rutledge Wood and Kelli Stavast. All I heard for now.

Because nascar sucks

I thought replacing Brent Musberger with Suzy Kolber was odd because they even used her as pre and postrace host for Sunday races before she had to work as host for Monday Night Football the next night. I know they even did that once with Sam Ponder for College Football coverage, even when she did the College Football Gameday shows, but talk about too much travel in less time.

ESPN failed with nascar because they didn't care about the sport and only wanted playoff races viewers that's when they lost all of my respect

I like Marty Reid

I think the 2025 TV contract will be Fox Sports and ESPN

I loved Bob and AB Alan Bestwick

I watched the nationwide race at Kentucky on espn in 2010

I remember FOX went to commercial with 2 to go at Bristol once and after the commercials straight to victory lane. 🤨

NASCAR on ESPN , who knew?

Plus the final ABC race at Charlotte missed the opening laps due to various events went overtime or was still going in regulation at the time. On the other ESPN channels Ultimately you could only access it via the PRN radio coverage.

I think the reason that nascar and espn failed is the same reason that viewership iis down today. Nascar being a family owned corporation, in truth is interested in one thing above all else; making more money for the France family. The same problems exist today with Xfinity. Since they came aboard, more and more races are shuffled to pay only channels. Unfortunately, in some cases, still get moved from nbc to nbcsn to end a race. That should never happen, especially when 30 minutes to an hour of time is completely wasted on a pre race show that anyone who is a fan of the sport, gets nothing out of. It wil be even worse next year with the demise of nbcsn. Hopefully, Ben Kennedy can bring the sport back to what it needs to be. As time goes on, we all know the majority of the profits come from tv packages and just maybe nascar will finally put the at home viewer first. I used to go to more races in the 80's and 90's but got tired of being robbed for hotel rooms jacked up food prices. I look back at espn and don't really think it was that bad. Of course, i don't need an announcer to tell me what is happening.

Love the nascar thunder background music.

I blame Marty Reid. His calls of the 2010 Chase had one good moment (at Texas, I am a Denny Hamlin fan) but he was god awful.

Bestwick was awesome though!!!

NASCAR on ESPN is the reason of why the drivers started to HATE Jenna Fryer's AP gang and reporters.

My family never had the money for any race or even cable, so ESPN back then and still now I see as a luxury and I'll never watch ESPN as a paid item, yes I watch ESPN but that was while I was in the navy and at sports bars other than that, espn is never something I'll never pay for

Rip Bob Jenkins

I think it was intentional by ESPN and as you said before they were going to a agenda based on stereotype with government models that don't exist in the real world and in an area where the outsiders stay away in the Insiders enjoy the religion of NASCAR and whatever they deem important in life and they have the middle finger attitude to anybody that would denigrate it and that's what ESPN did they intentionally sabotage that way of life on a national scale with TV coverage and their none the worst for doing it and no one's held them to accountability except now

Those of us in in the Midwest call ESPN the Eastern Sports Network. 3/4th of their air time is dedicated towards the handful of huge coastie sports teams: Yankees and Red Sox in baseball, LA Lakers in basketball, etc.

ESPN purchased a lemon. Realized it, then stopped putting money into it. The sport was dying. They did not want to die with it.

Lol i recognized the 2005 total team control ost put a huge smile on my face lol

Same reason the UFC on FOX sucks, they're good at sports that only require one ball. They suck if you need a full sack.

The very last thing you said about the whole political movement with ESPN was the nail in the coffin

NASCAR has become a sad joke.

Allen Bestwick was the saving grace of ESPN's 2nd stint because aside from him the rest of the broadcasting crew were about as entertaining as watching grass grow. Andy Petree and Dale Jarrett were terrible in the booth and Marty Reid was a downright embarrassment. When all 3 of them got together, it was just a trifecta of agonizing boredom.

ESPN sould replace Fox in 2023

I can't even think of the last time I watched ESPN on purpose. Screw ESPN.

Smoke and shiny objects will not change Why......ESPN became Political Left, the Auto Racing
fan base are movers and shakers with a can do attitude.....That attitude does not think favorably
of socialist dreams.....There, wrapped it up for you.....ESPN and Lately NASCAR, folded to
the ultimate nonsense of the Lenin-Stalin-Marx- wet dream.....

Yes shot themselves in the foot for cash.

And Clint Bowyer is in the lead!!!!

Clint: in 4th crossing the line🤣🤣🤣

Jamie might be the most unknown talented commentator. She always got content