NASCAR's Draft Track: More TV graphics we don't need
Excessive on-screen graphics and sports telecasts seem to go hand-in-hand. While some truly are innovative, there will always be crap that we can all do without. Some examples are more hideous than others -- the relentlessly annoying "FoxTrack" puck that made its debut in NHL telecasts back in '96 immediately leaps to mind. This week, ESPN introduced something that could become irritating in a hurry if overused. It's called Draft Track, and it's a graphical representation of the airflow over the race cars in the net's NASCAR Nextel Cup telecasts. Nice idea, but it happens to make the cars look like they're on fire in some kind of videogame. Sigh. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should, you know? Since we're talking TV graphics, we'll conclude by taking this opportunity to state that the inventor of the yellow first-down stripe used in football 'casts should have had a new Nobel Prize category created for him.
If you want to see what the Draft Track looks like in motion, head over to Jalopnik by clicking the image above or the "Read" link below. They captured some of the action and have video hosted at their place.
[Source: Jalopnik]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Viv 1:07PM (7/31/2007)
Overall the coverage of ESPN during the Brickyard 400 weekend was hideous to say the least. It has no where to go but up from last weekend. Midway during the race i turned off the volume on my TV and got my audio from the good folks over on the radio.
That drafttrack did nothing to illustrate the effects of aerodynamics. Just a bunch of lines.
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Jason 1:09PM (7/31/2007)
Seems like the pretty flashing colors should be enough to keep your average super-intelligent NASCAR viewer entertained between crashes... maybe they could add some beeping sounds, or a dancing Budweiser can animation in a corner of the screen.
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Viv 1:21PM (7/31/2007)
Shut up Jason. Get your snooty self over to F1 and drink your champagne.
Jason 1:23PM (7/31/2007)
Wow. That showed me.
Jon 1:29PM (7/31/2007)
You know, there really are NASCAR fans out there, and not all of them are overweight drunks who need to shave.
Justin 1:45PM (7/31/2007)
You're right Jon. Too bad 99% of them are fat drunks who live in trailers. Oh well.
NASCAR sucks, as does the coverage of it.
Michael 2:39PM (7/31/2007)
Rotflmao
Waaay too funny. My coworkers all just looked at me because I was laughing so hard. That was priceless Jason. I can't stand to watch any racing. It's right up there with watching Golf for me. Any "sport" that has a major figure most people hate because he speaks well is a joke to me.
J 3:50PM (7/31/2007)
You would think since this person Jason seems to think he is all-knowing about Nascar he would realize that the little gimmick was ESPN, not Nascar, ESPN Jason, you know the ones that broadcast all sports, ESPN, maybe ask your mom or boyfriend and they can explain.
YouFaceTheTick 1:18PM (7/31/2007)
At least you gave props to the first down line. I have no opinion on the Nascar thing as I won't watch car racing. I've never been one for watching people doing things I'd like to be doing (car racing, porn, etc).
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felipe 1:23PM (7/31/2007)
wish my car did that as i drove down the road.
this is kind of dumb, and even though its easier for the kids to follow hockey, i hate the puck trail too.
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JayP 1:26PM (7/31/2007)
Drivers turned sportscasters can be a disaster. Dale Jarrett?? I bet he wished he'd never seen a Toyota. Wallace, a great driver just tone it down. Give NASCAR back to Fox. I can handle Waltrip.
I did the same- worked on the car in the garage and listened to the radio.
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Alex Nunez 1:37PM (7/31/2007)
As a non-NASCAR watcher for the most part, I'm just curious: do you listen to the satellite radio feed, or are you in a market that actually carries the races over-the-air? Who does the radio call?
JayP 1:47PM (7/31/2007)
MRN is Nascar's broadcaster on radio. It's usually on the AM, but here it's on an FM talk station.
Except for Indy who has their own coverage with Bob Jenkins and gang, MRN is the 'Voice of NASCAR'. They said it, not me.
Carl 1:35PM (7/31/2007)
Betcha FOX is wishing they came up with this first...
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CDaggs 1:46PM (7/31/2007)
It should be stated that the people that created the yellow 1st down marker (and the the other markers such as the line of scrimmage, etc.) are the same ones who created the "draft track". Personally, i didn't really like it...it wasn't even used that much and if it was...it was during replays only.
I wish they'd do more of the car cut away stuff....that is FAR more interesting. NASCAR should have a program like Formula 1 has. I think its called Inside F1...this is an awesome show where they go over all sorts of topics relate to the REAL stars...the cars. i couldn't care less about what driver A said about Driver B's wifey...or that Driver X is now part of DNF Racing....NASCAR has its moments...but the soap opera it's trying to be isn't one of them.
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Viv 4:20PM (7/31/2007)
NASCAR already has such a program on Speed. It's called NASCAR Performance.
rjmhotrod 1:54PM (7/31/2007)
I don't believe ESPN overused the draft track graphics. I only remember seeing it maybe 2 or 3 times the whole race. While I thought it was vaguely interesting, I don't think it detracted from the race. Those graphics are intended for people who are new to watching NASCAR, not for the supposed ignorant, mindless blobs that Jason would have us believe represent the average NASCAR fan.
As far as ESPN's coverage is concerned, I would rank it a close second to NBC's coverage from previous years. In other words, close, but no cigar. FOX has set the standard for NASCAR broadcasts.
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greg 1:59PM (7/31/2007)
all of the graphics take up 2/3 of the screen to begin with just another gizmo to ignore while trying to enjoy our sports
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MrFuNKy 2:00PM (7/31/2007)
http://freon.shackspace.com/misc/nascar-boring.jpg
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DemaSRV 2:06PM (7/31/2007)
I was able to watch the brickyard on TV for the first time in a long time, because it was on ESPN and not local, its usually blacked out so I'm perfectly ok with ESPN covering the race...
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